Kaleb

Ok, I have plans drawn out but I think I'm the only one who would understand them.

Plan #1: I wanna stick with the V shape just because I like the idea and it makes sense to me (by the time I get to building the forge I bet I'll be over it). But I was thinking that I could place either firebricks or some sorta clay or plaster mix in the cake pans. And once set stand them up at an angle to form a v. Then I just need to add something to the front and back of the forge to keep coals in (Maybe a cut up cookie tray?). Then last of all hook up an air supply and then we are all set, I think? It might be too complicated.

Plan #2: So if the first plan is complicated then this one is not at all. If I were to build a JABOD... Maybe a bit scaled down... 

1 minute ago, Daswulf said:

Don't overcomplicate simple

Trust me I am known for makings things much more complicated than necessary ...

3 minutes ago, Frosty said:

an old cake pan

Thank you. You have just got my gears turning right now. I'll have to draw plans out eventually but you just gave me the darndest idea ever and it should only cost me two cake pans and some bricks.

Kaleb

You will be able to get up to a forging heat with a wood/ charcoal forge. It will get up to the same temperature as let's say a coal forge, but will just consume more fuel and technique is necessary for conserving fuel. 

Kaleb

I personally was going to do barebones with the Whitlock and buy just the mini one with no stand or any additions. The only advantage to the Whitlock is that I can burn any of my wood scraps from woodworking. I know that you can probably burn wood in any forge but it seems that the V shape body makes sense in cooking the wood into charcoal as the fuel underneath burns. If I am making any sense.

20 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Yeah, my thoughts exactly but a lot of youngsters today have zero school experience doing things with their hands so making something can seem pretty insurmountable. I had a couple students who never so much as held a hammer let alone used one. 

 I agree entirely with this, but I simply do not have the time or the resources to build a forge myself. Also, I specialize in making things out of wood, not steel or metals and that's why I kinda am edging myself into blacksmithing. 

Kaleb 

I think this will have to be my forge while I save up for a Whitlock. 

Kaleb

Hello from Omaha Nebraska. I am in my teens and have decided that I wanted to pick up as many trades as possible. I may not become the best at all of them, but at least I will know a little about them while I can and while there are people still knowledgeable enough to teach. I have been working on carpentry and now I have decided I want to be able to make my own tools and nails/other fittings, so I can become more self-reliant. And what a better way to do that than to pick up a hammer right? 

Also earlier this summer I met a nice gentleman by the name of Doug in Fort Calhoun, but I never got back to him. I kinda feel bad about it and I don't have his contact information. So if you ever see this Doug I meant to talk to you again but I lost your card. 

I know about the Praire Blacksmithing group in the area but currently, the page that I know of is down and cannot be reached. Does anyone know of the reason why? Or how to find it?