Robbimus Prime

Wait wait wait.....can you seriously use a cast iron camp skillet as a firepot? I mean I can't think of a reason why you couldn't, but... well I don't know. Sounds awesome really.

Would it be smart to line the base and/or walls with some sort of refractory type of material? Good to know about the rust, but I'm not concerned really. Kegs are available here and there as a brewer, from legitimate sources, and the bonus is that you know what was in it, and the bottom/ top are concave, with the top even having a 1+" heavy stainless port for airflow. However my question is would that be enough airflow with a crank blower?

Hi Fellas, I'll apologize ahead of time if this has been brought up already, the site's search function prohibited the search for "keg" because it had too few characters, so if this has been gone over already, apologies. Moving on... Has anyone tried using the top portion of a used beer keg in place of an oil drum in the Forge 55 design? Most kegs are stainless steel, and there is already a reasonably large (I want to say 1.5"? More maybe?) opening in the center (which is slightly recessed anyways) already, so there would be no guess work in locating or drilling the center. Being a TOTAL AND COMPLETE NEWBIE, I'm unsure of whether the stainless would hold up better than oil drums to heating, but having had to cut up oil drums for yadda yadda, and beer kegs to make brewing kettles, I can say that the beer kegs force more awful words out of my mouth, which generally equates to toughness in my mind. Thoughts? -Rob

Thanks Fellas, Good to know! I had suspected that might be the case with Hawaii. Alaska is looking less likely, so I might see if the wife will let me sneak an anvil and post vise in the shipping crate with the rest of our crap if/when we head to the islands..... Thanks again, this site is awesome!! -Rob

Greetings all! Brand spanking newbie from NH here, recently took an intro class (Prospect Hill Forge in Waltham, Mass) and really enjoyed it. I'm here to learn as much as I can and see what sorts of neat projects people are getting into. Currently no access to tools or a forge, so I guess we're in the research and observation phase, also partially because I'll soon be heading to a new place for work (either Oahu or Anchorage...what can I say I'm a fan of extremes). That said, is anyone familiar with places that offer beginners classes in either of those areas? My searches haven't turned anything up. Anyways, GREAT forum, awesome galleries, and a really helpful bunch of folks. Glad to be here! -Rob