Chilla

Cheap would be rammed dirt. Castable refractory would be more expensive, maybe 165 ARC from Foseco, it sets overnight (ready to take heat the next day), has a high heat shock resistance, and is solid enough to make a weigh bridge out of. You could use Kaowool, and cover with a castable refractory. There are endless possibilities. Regards Charles

Even simpler, a piece of pipe, with holes drilled along it's length, dig a trench in your back yard, keep the drilled holes pointing up, bury one end in dirt, fill the rest of the trench with charcoal or coal, blow air through the other end of the pipe. The only real draw back is that if the wife catches you :-D

That's cool, how low tech do you want to go? My first forge was a wooden box lined with hard firebricks. I have since found ways to make even simpler forges. The simple forges are cool as you can make them very large, and they cost next to nothing to make. Regards Charles

Lose some weight... then try to find it again :D

That mix is going to be heavy. Are you making a gas forge or a solid fuel forge. If you are making a gas forge, I would suggest getting some Kaowool from a kiln or pottery supplier, and some Kaowool Rigidizer from Thermal Ceramics. It will be much lighter. Oh and don't buy the Kaowool from Thermal Ceramics, not unless you "want" a 7 metre roll. Regards Charles

Hi Guys, I work from home, and as long as I work 7:30 - 7:30 weekdays, and 9:00 - 7:30 weekends and public holidays, there's not much the neighbours can do about it. Fortunately my neighbours aren't home during the days so it's really not an issue. If they are I ask if there are any problem with making really loud noises. Anyway I could always fire up a furnace and melt some brass on their wash day it they want to get nasty... nothing says love like smoke through the clothes ;-) Regards Charles P.S. I wouldn't really smoke peoples washing... would I?

No that's not GEE-Day :-) Hi Guys, My name is Charles, I'm officially a cutler these days, just trying to make a crust. I make pretty much anything, my wife describes me as a mad scientist, although I can't make the connection myself. I like making blades, casting, a bit of leather work, designing and making micro furnaces, and micro forges. There are some photos of my work in the gallery section, if you think they don't belong there just ask me to turf them out. Regards Charles P.S. I really like the iForge site :-)