Hey all,
Let me preface with: 1) I am happy to find a cool forum like this, and 2) I am very new to the craft, as in, I've always wanted to, but have never done it. I have only watched about a hundred hours of video and read a bunch online. I know that does NOT take the place of actually doing it.
So I have been wanting to make my own DIY homemade forge and started looking around at steel recycle, scrapyards, etc. I got turned away from a couple (they just didn't have what I needed), but they were both pointing me in the right direction. I finally, and with their help, found a place that was like, "yeah, go back and see what you can find and you can just have it." So I ended up walking away with an old brake rotor, a steel wheel (15"), and a leaf spring. "Awesome find for free!" I thought. It's a good thing I didn't bring a truck back there and didn't have to walk the 250 yards carrying everything.
My question is: should I go ahead with the rotor to build my forge? Or a drum? Or the wheel?
Rotor details:
About 4" deep
Inside diameter: 8" (mostly), 9.5" at the top 0.75"
I plan on inserting it into a metal 4-wheel cart (w/ locking wheels! )
So would a brake drum be better? It would be bigger, so more coal, coke, etc. But is bigger better? I am not looking to do smaller knife stock at this point. I am looking for what would be better for all around blacksmithing; utilitarian, artistic, whatever. I don't have a drum to compare it to here, but for the wheel...
Wheel details:
15" steel
Many many holes
Again, I plan on inserting it into a metal 4-wheel cart (w/ locking wheels!)
I don't think I've ever seen a wheel forge before...
My problem with the wheel, if I were to use it instead of the rotor or a drum, is that it has so many holes (side holes, not center) that are lower than what I would use for the blower section. I will include a picture and it won't probably show what I mean right here, but maybe you can see what I mean. I would have to weld in a circular plate for that part outside the hub that dips down. Here's the thing, I don't have a welder nor do I know how. I plan on get a starter welding set up in the next month so maybe this could be a good first project?? And if it's crap, oh well. Start over, no big deal.
Local biz plug: a plug for the xxxxxxxx that gave me the free hardware? And not to mention the awesome customer service: xxxxxxxx link removed. xxxxxxx! I've gotten my tires there for seven years now and they xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx in not only their service, but prices! xxxx xxxx! Anyway, now they also gave me free xxxx so they definitely qualify as xxxxxxxx.... Other than being a customer, I have no affiliation with them, they just rock.
What do you all think? Rotor, drum or wheel?
Sorry, that was a lot longer post than I expected, but I hope it got most of my details across.
IForgeIron is a G rated Family Forum. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.