So I decided I wanted to mash on some metal the other day and decided to build myself a forge.
I started with the following parts, or rather I ran all over town figuring out how I was going to build this contraption.
(1) 4.5 gallon galvanized bucket
(1) ten dollar hair dryer
(1) 2"d 90° black iron elbow
(1) 2"d galvanized pipe cap
(1) 2"d x 12" long threaded pipe
(1) 2"d aluminum heat riser hose (auto store)
(I) bag sand
(1) bag Portland cement
Foil tape
I started by making a hole for the 90° in the center of the bucket. Once that was fit, I drilled "jets" in the pipe cap. I then fitted the two together. Next I screwed in the pipe and used some copper plumbers tape affix it to the bottom of the bucket.
After assembling the working parts of the forge I mixed up some dry pack, 5p sand 1p cement, and I firmly tamped it into a dish shape. I then let is sit overnight.
In the morning I was ambitious to fire up the forge even though it was still a little wet. I figured this shouldn't be an issue though being how porous drypack is. I connected the hose to the pipe with some foil tape and the attached the hose to the blow dryer. (I later found a lamp dimmer necessary to better control the blower, ymmv) I started a small fire and let it warm up a bit, then started adding coal and heating a piece of rod I had laying around. I think it will end up making a nice poker.
