LizT

Thanks so much for all your very helpful suggestions! I think I'll first try using the fire bricks to build a narrower yet deeper fire. That seems to me to solve my problem most quickly. JimsShip, I want to use 3' lengths of 1/4" round stock to make a few long hive tools for beekeeping...my other equipment intensive hobby. :) -Liz

Hello, all...this is my first post. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I'm learning some basic blacksmithing and welding from Christopher Daniel at Blue Hell Studios in Cincinnati. I love it. I easily lose track of the hours while I'm working with metal. I've got a little rivet forge set up (with a Buffalo Forge blower) and some nice coal (the coal came from the wonderful folks at Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil Blacksmithing Association)...and I can easily work small pieces in the fire. I'd like to work longer pieces, but I can't figure out how to get the fire and coals high enough to do it. In other words, I can work the ends of any piece into the fire, but I can't get anything deeper than 6 inches or so into the heat. My question: Is there some way to build a fire higher than the edges of the forge? Or will I eventually need to find a larger forge to handle longer pieces? Liz