Unistat76

Yeah, but it's what I had laying around. On the grinding wheel it threw a good amount of sparks.

Well, I got some refractory bricks and made a tiny forge. I got a "Y" 20# to 1# adapter for the burners, this pic with the 1 pounders was just my test burn. I used some rebar to make a round drift to make a set of flat tongs. Using the left over rebar I made a blacksmith knife... which I broke when adjusting the handle. So then I went to make my tongs and was doing good and began drifting the hole... when I broke one half at the hinge. So all in all it was a good day of learning. I learned that you can sometimes get away with hitting metal with no color to it until you can't. That usually happens at a critical point. I also learned that the slack tub can cool off metal AND burns on your hand.

Thanks for the warnings. I'm getting 2800 deg bricks. One reason I'm buying them local instead of ordering online is so I can inspect them before buying. The other reason is the shipping cost. One fellow on eBay was selling a box of 12 for $30, very reasonable. The shipping was an additional $44! My local source is actually an international supplier, they just happen to have a local office. HarbisonWalker International http://thinkhwi.com

Well, I'm sure you're right. I'm only making preliminary plans, not even on paper yet. I have 1-1.5 months before the bricks arrive, so I plan to do quite a bit of research. Btw, the bricks are 9"x4.5"x2.5". So two bricks for a floor, two bricks for walls, and two bricks for a roof ought to give me a 4.5"x4.5" chamber. Some angle iron or metal bands to clamp it together and I might be able to forgo the cement.

I plan on a propane gas forge. The brick I'm talking about is the soft fire brick. I have to buy it by the case (12 bricks.) I plan on using half of them to make a small one burner forge. I'm going to buy some refractory cement to line the chamber and stick the bricks together. I might buy some hard fire brick just to set the thing on and protect my work table, but that might not be necessary. Heading over to Burners and Forges 101, now. Thanks.

Hello all. I'm a long time fan of smithing that finally decided to set up a little hobby forge. I'd like to use it for some utility and decorative stuff and eventually I would be totally thrilled to make a few knives. I'm not quite ready yet, I'm waiting for a local place to get a shipment of refractory bricks to build a forge, but i have a fairly well appointed shop in other respects (my dad was a millwright and handyman, so lots of general tools.) Anyway, I don't plan on posting a lot for a while. There's too much to read up on and learn and it's not like I have a lot to add (yet.) Thanks for looking.