Black Maple Forge

Blksmth, That looks like a very good design. I will be working from the side of my forge, though (being that the side facing the chimney has little to no walking room). Yours has a good look (plus the round arch). Mine is just a basic square. Does yours have a smoke shelf? Mine does not, but it's not too late if anyone thinks it should have one...

For a foundation I have clay, then large bricks (mortared together) on top. I have a level that I was using, I just moved it for the pictures:D! So far, the chimney is going straight up (I decided to reduce the size by the slightest amount close to the ceiling-- in the picture of the chimney, this would be the top layer). Thanks!:cool:

I plan to build it all the way up (and an extra-at least-4 feet above the roof)!:D

Hello again! I am currently building a new forge (with my brothers' help) and I thought I'd share some pictures. It is a little dirty right now (having just been built up to the point it is at). It is a side draft chimney, and has a wood table section in the front (will soon be made to hold the firepot). Picture 1: The back of the chimney (Yes, we forgot to put a hole in for the air-pipe:o, I am just going to put it around to the side instead:rolleyes:). Picture 2: Side view (with the camera at a strange angle). Picture 3: View of where the firepot will go (where the wood crosses). Picture 4: A better, elongated view of the wood at the front. Picture 5: A look up the chimney (with a tarp over the hole in the ceiling to stop rain while the mortar set). Picture 6: A look at the back wall in the chimney-with extra mortar that fell down:rolleyes:. Picture 7: A view of where the bricks close (My favourite part!). Any comments? Advise? Thanks for looking! (I think, so far; so good!):D

Oh my! 2 (http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f23/one-mor-ohio-10880/#post104757) that aren't too far away!:o:o Welcome to you too!:D

Oh my! Can it be? Someone not too far away from me (Navarre, Ohio)? Welcome to the team!:D

That is a very good way to make a flatter! I must try it (when my new forge is done:D)!

Hello again, all! I was wondering, has anyone got any ideas on making a flatter? --I see that on Ebay people sell them for a tonne of money (compared to the price of making one, at least:D). My ideas were to make a flat piece of steel, then get it and a piece for a hammer head up to welding heat, then just hit them together. If anyone has any better ideas instead (or ones that WILL work:rolleyes:), please share. Thanks!

At the bottom of the make-shift firepot, there was a HUGE peice of clinker (It was circular and fit the whole bottom of the firepot and then some!) ~somewhere around 9 inches in diameter! It was hard to get off of the ashgate I made...

Well, I got to go out and forge yesterday. I used a make-shift portable forge, because my main forge is undergoing construction (see:http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/side-draft-chimney-info-10563/). It was a bottom blast- I am surprised how well it worked compared to a (falling apart) side blast. Anyway, I got quite a few welds made! Picture 1: Three welds I made ( The first two are a little sloppy -The heart's weld came undone:mad:; the last one is the first weld I have ever made.) Picture 2: The best weld I think I've ever made (3/8" stock). It is a cricular wall hook. Picture 3: A hot cut hardy I made (still rusty) and two square peices that I welded shut (they had holes in them)- Also a LOT of clinker. I had SO MUCH of it... Picture 4: The hot cut again (and two welds) Picture 5: The hot cut AGAIN! (I like taking it's picture!) Thought I'd share!

If the anvil is to stay put, put a large enough stump ~3 feet in the ground, and be sure it elevates the anvil to the appropriate height. Since I think you wanted it more mobile, I would just get a stump of wood the right size and just set it on even ground. I would also secure the anvil with long nails (~ US. 3d (penny) or more). I hope this helps!:D

Interesting designs. I didn't know that a smaller opening drew more smoke... :rolleyes:

Another question. Would a rectangular brick chimney of 10" (wide) x 15" (long) work well to vent smoke? It would give a good ~127.5 sq." of area, but I am not sure if a longer and more narrow design would work well as a side draft.:confused: Has anyone ever used a chimney like I described? I see a lot of pictures where the forges are wider than long, but what about the reverse?

Oh. I didn't see that. Pretty nice to know! Thanks Hofi (and Jeff for pointing out my miss:rolleyes:)!

I thought I'd share some pictures of another knife I made! This one may end up going to a buyer for once, so it is special:rolleyes:. It has a slight J shape (J-knife?) and a soft twist on the bottom of the handle. It is black painted on the bottom, and the blade was sharpeded and waxed. What do you think?

Glenn, Good point. I am curious to whether a round 10" x 10" will draw as much/as well as a square/rectangle 10" x 10". Does anyone know?

Not that I don't like my old chimney, but it when I forge, I practically have to scrub the soot out of my hair:o! I am thinking about making a side draft instead. I hear that 10" round pipe or 8" x 13" masonry works best (Coal Information). My question is, could I give or take a few inches on the brick chimney and have it work as efficiently? Like 7" x 14" or 8" x 14"... (All about getting bricks to fit well using the same size bricks) Thanks!

If it were me, I'd rush to a hospital! You might want to do the same.

I want to share a story of me and a dull, but mystic, knife... I went to a restaraunt, and got a usual meal, but in the end (as I'm sure most of us do:rolleyes:) I decided to look at my knife (I had pasta, and didn't need it). When I went to pick it up, my spoon went with it:o! It was as if a magnet was in the handle (a very strong magnet!). I am pretty sure there was no magnet. I even spun my spoon on its end, while it was on the knife. I did get a kick out of annoying all the waiters though (they wanted to know how I did it)! It wasn't just the spoon, I could pick up my fork too! Just thought I'd share a strange experiance!:D