BoOnTheGo

I just wanted to give an update to this set up. I have enjoyed it and has worked well for me. I did find that my sweet spot was a tad lower than I would like. So a few days ago I moved the pipe up so the bottom of it was approx 2 1/2 from the floor of the forge. So maybe up about 1/2 inch.It took around an hour to redo. I did it about a week ago and it does make in my mind a significant difference. A little dab will do ya'. Thanks again to all for your help and input. Now I just need to fine tune my charcoal making skills.....

Frosty, it must be happenstance, or my coffee hasn't kicked in yet.....

Wanted to update as I have been using this for a bit. I noticed that my sweet spot seemed to be rather low in my mind. I measured and sure enough it was. I think it must have moved down as I was packing the dirt. Easy fix though. This time I did add some fire brick under to prevent this from happening. I used it a bit after today and there was a big difference. Thanks again for everyone with your guidance and support.

Frosty, now that's hard core. I agree, my home forge is much more comfortable. I would say that 99% of the work that I do is from scrap. I'm surprised by the stuff people give me because they know that I can use it. One man's trash..... 

Hey Frosty! That's how I get most of the people for my class. I try to teach it as low cost as possible to give a taste. I think of it as Primitive. I am far from proficient in my skills and I am comfortable sharing what I know (as limited as it is) 

My first home 'anvil' was a big rock. I had to start somewhere. Needless to say, I became great at making smaller rocks...... 

jlpservicesinc, I know there are multiple ways to do it. I would like to see what you come up with. My wash tub worked well for the wood. I share the 'hole in the ground' method with bellows several weekends a year. I'm always up for learning something new. Thanks!

pnut, I did just that as I got going. I had saw that somewhere on here. Easy peasy. Very happy with the way it has turned out so far. I am looking forward to a full day of it

Frosty, now that is a neat idea. I have had no issues with using wood. It is a bit more time consuming to get going. And I have to make sure the wind is blowing the right way. I agree about the heat. It's nice in the colder months though.

Chris, so far so good! I'm pleased with this set up so far

As promised, here are a couple of pics from the first firing. I was only at it for about an hour, all the time I had. I felt the bottom and it was rather warm, not too hot to touch. Thanks for every's help with this. Several observations from today. Air- a little dab will do ya. really doesn't take much compared to what I was used too. Fuel, once again,  doesn't use very much. Takes no time to heat up. I'm looking forward to spending a day with it.

Chris, Thanks. The little ones love it

Thanks Daswulf. My Beloved does an awesome layout. If it was up to me, I'd probably have stuff sitting in buckets...... Yeah, other than the wood, it packs fairly well. I teach classes on this style 2 weekends a year. It's enough to let those that are interested see how to do it and it doesn't cost much at all for them to get set up. 

I always have 2 booths. One for product and the other for demo. My Beloved lays out the sales table and looks after it through the event

Glenn, I've been using wood for years. Use to and it works well for me. Charcoal has a lot less smoke to it. Easier on my eyes...

pnut, that makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying. 

pnut, I've started making charcoal, so hopefully fuel wont be an issue

Glenn, sounds like a plan. Thanks!

Glenn, Good idea! My washtub is a bottom blast, do you think it would work well for this?

Sorry Glenn, I was referring to my current set up which is a washtub type forge (first picture). That is the one that I am limited to heating the ends on. This was a big factor to looking into the JABOD set up. It seems to be much more flexible in configurations. I do plan on keeping the washtub forge. I am going to relocate it to another area with it's own anvil. Plus, I admit that I am kinda attached to it.......

That's is where I am trying to get to. Not all the time of course, to have the ability when I want, would be a perk. I think for me also was my current set up only allows me to heat the ends, so I am challenged on certain projects that I wand to do.
I really appreciate all your feed back, as well as others on this subject. I think it has really decreased the learning curve. As you can tell, I don't post a lot. Been a member of this site for 6+ years. It has always been a place for me to get solid information. I'm not a person to just say 'ditto'. For this project however, I though it was important to share what I had gathered so maybe it would be helpful to someone else. 

10 hours ago, Goods said:

what are the depths you have on the setup? Surface to turye(sp?), surface to bottom brick?

David,  I pretty much followed what Mr Stevens laid out. There is about 1/2" under the bottom brick (I was thinking of a tad bit more insulation) and used firebricks as the layout. The wood is 4x8 so that is about  7 1/4" in total height. I have about an inch from the bottom brick to the pipe.  There is about 5" in depth from bottom brick to top. I wanted it to be flush, so I cut the brick down along the back. I ended up cutting 2 bricks in half for the back and then laid 2 bricks along the top of them. I figured I could always add some bricks along the top to add depth as needed. I angled the bricks along the side and cut one in half to top it off. I hope this answers your questions.

11 hours ago, Chris The Curious said:

I recently found I wasn't allergic to coal smoke like I thought I was.  At some point in my blacksmithing journey I want to build a coal forge and you've really done your homework and have built a really nice one. 

Chris, thanks for the feedback. I am planning on using charcoal with this one. I am hopeful that within the next few weeks to be able to switch it out and get it going. I have found that this place has an enormous amount of information if taken the time to look. 

Thanks Laynne. This place is a wealth of information if one takes the time to look. I don't mind experimenting, and I would rather that be on working metal instead of trying to get it hot 

Pnut, will do!

Pnut, It's sitting about an inch up from the bottom. Sorry I don't have a better picture of it

Thanks Irondragon. I'm looking forward to putting it to use

Let me start by saying that I have really enjoyed this site. Whenever I have a question,  can always find it here. 

So, on with the story. For the last 6ish years I have been using a washtub bottom blast forge, with a hand crank cheesy blower. I can say it has worked well for me (I only know what I know), I have been able to do for the most part what I wanted. Up to this point I was using mainly wood, pine specifically. Reason, easy to get and plentiful. 

I started making charcoal and found that this set up, for me, doesn't work as well as I would like. So, off to the site i go. Found out about the JOBOD and spent several weeks reading everything I could from everyone's experiences. No need to recreate the wheel. And this is what I came up with. I know how pictures have helped me, so I am attaching what I have done. I needed to modify a bit as I went. I have not used it as of yet. I have a few project that needed to get done before I relocate it. I know there will be a learning curve, and couldn't afford the extra time. I hope this is as helpful to someone else as this place has been for me

I will circle back after the maiden firing and update. The box is 30x30. Total cost for me was about $40. I only had to get firebrick and the pipe. The rest was scrap I had laying around the house.

(not sure if I am doing the picture thing correctly)