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I Forge Iron

Smiths

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Everything posted by Smiths

  1. That helps me a lot. You've answered a couple of really important questions for me.
  2. Is 1" ID going to be a good diameter for this tywere? If I ever open up the holes for a long fire, it will be pretty long. Do I need a larger diameter pipe, or progressively larger "jets" as I move farther from the bellows?
  3. Great ideas. Thanks! Hopefully I can use the two circles we cut from the ends of the barrel and sandwich them together on some all-thread rod with some locking nuts. I don't know. Will it get too hot? We plan to use a box bellows. Will it get too hot inside the tywere when we quit pumping the bellows? I know it probably wouldn't be a problem with constant, forced air, but if we stop pumping will my ram rod melt? I don't have any welding equipment right now.
  4. I'm wondering what the best way is to build one. I haven't been to town to look in the hardware stores yet, but thought I would ask you guys before I go looking. Per some great advice I received here at the forum, I want to make a "ram rod" or plunger type air restrictor for the tywere I am building. I'm pretty sure the tywere pipe will be 1" ID set in a v-trough fire "bowl". I want to be able to use the plunger or ram-rod to shut off air jets for making smaller fires, while leaving me the ability to have longer, larger fires on occasion. So what would be the best way to make this plunger? Is there anything ready-made that is round, and the right size to make the plunger head out of? Will I need to fab something?
  5. I read the whole thing and bookmarked it too. That is a really good resource.
  6. Thanks for that link. I think it's going to help a lot. I've been on anvilfire a few times and had trouble finding my way around. Time to have another look, because that is some great info you sent me!
  7. GRiley904, Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. I was thinking about it being hard to fit both forges in the same setup. ThomasPowers suggested the long trough with a "ram rod" in the far end of the tywere pipe to shut off holes when needing a smaller fire. Right now I'm leaning that direction. Your input has certainly helped me in figuring this out. Thanks again.
  8. Fantastic advice! I can't believe my son and I didn't think of needing to operate the bellows with our left hands. I was still stuck thinking about air flow from the bellows to the pot. Goes to show we haven't actually worked any metal yet! Thanks for the "ram rod" tip. I had read about that before, but did not understand exactly what people meant. The light just came on in my head when I read it the way you worded it. It makes perfect sense now. You guys are being a great help to us. Thanks! I'll be putting up more pics on the build soon. Oh, and last night my brother dug a piece of RR track from his garage. So, I guess we'll figure out a way to mount that on end for a temporary anvil. Any ideas on the best way to set up the rail? In sand, cement, etc?
  9. That forge looks like a great start! I used to spend a lot of time in Joplin before I moved back up to Kansas.
  10. I took a closer look at all of your pics and reread your posts. Now I see exactly what you mean. Thanks, man. Let us know soon if it's working the way you had hoped.
  11. You've given me a new perspective: Your chimney is my forge! Gotta start somewhere though, right? And man, would I love to find an $18 blower!
  12. If I use the Box Bellows, and a smaller, round fire bowl, should I blast from the side or bottom? Also, does anyone know the best orientation of the bellows to the forge?
  13. Thanks Sweany, I have been looking at that page lately. It's good to put it in this thread though!
  14. Thanks for tip! So, you prefer more of a bowl over a trough. I can make a bowl any size right now. If I go for a bowl for what I'm planning is 12" diameter best? Is 12" too big or too small?
  15. Hey, that's cool. So when you say a "sloped circle", do you mean the "circle" is higher than the trough at the far end and gradually works it's way down to the trough?
  16. I'm interested in hearing and seeing more about your build. I'm just starting to build my first forge. I'm starting with a small drum livestock feeder which looks a lot like the cut-tank and stand you have there. I started a thread about it at: http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/27915-first-time-building-a-forge-need-advice-build-pics-inside/
  17. I signed up at this forum a couple of years ago, and just now am going to jump in. My son and I are building our first forge from scrounged materials found on the farm. I thought it might be helpful to someone else down the line if we document this. Plus it's a great way to get your help in figuring it all out! (I hope.) A few things about our plans (subject to change): We plan to make our own charcoal Planning on Bellows (probably Japanese Box) Right now, thinking of a "V" trough - shaped fire pot Planning to line / build-up with an adobe / kitty litter mixture We are interested in (this order): knife making, hooks, latches, pot racks. One day I'd like to make a garden gate (dreaming out loud) I would love my ideas to be ripped apart before we build it. Because, we will build it either way, but of course we would like to get it at least close to "right" the first time. Below are some pics of some of the stuff we've started on. I have been searching these forums and still think I need you all to chime in to help us come up with an effective design. I will be documenting everything from start to finish - and hopefully incorporating your advice tips and ideas. First, we came across this old baby-drum feeder a lady used to feed emus: It is 27-1/2" in length by 17" wide (inside the angle iron). 7-3/4" from belly bottom to the top of the angle iron. It has a solid frame and legs, but there was some rust in the belly which we have already cut out: We're thinking that since we are going to line it / build it up with a "refractory" mix that it should be fine to patch it up with this piece of sheet metal we stripped from the front door of a broken dish washing machine: So, our next step is to wire brush the whole thing and use some black rustoleum on it. I found an unused can in the basement. Some questions I have already, are: How long do you think the fire box should be? Is the V-trough a good idea for our desired uses? Can / should we just build up flush with the top of the angle iron, or does a forge like this need a cutout on the ends for feeding stock? Should I use a side-blast or a bottom blast? Looking forward to your wealth of knowledge. Please reply to this thread or even supply links with advice. I'll look at and listen to everything you have to offer. Thanks!
  18. That's awesome! I bookmarked your FB page. That bellows might be more than we can take on at the moment, but you've got me thinking. For now I think my son and I are going to build a natural charcoal forge with a "v-trough" ( kind of like the "Lively" style) with the air coming from the bottom.
  19. Thanks for the follow-up on your box bellows. My son and I are building a forge, and we're trying to figure out the forced air supply. Your post has been very helpful!
  20. I sent you a pm about the forge.
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