Hello all. Now I know you’re probably tired of seeing the “help me with my forge” posts and being on many other forums where you get new people asking questions it can get old. I am hoping the lurking and reading I have done beforehand will eliminate some of that.
I have decided to build my forge rather than buy one, and I’m doing so have entered and whole new rabbit hole to fall into.
My designs ideas are as follows:
ribbon or NARB for my burner, probably propane very slightly and highly unlikely that I will try and connect to my natural gas I have at my house just due to where the existing connection points are, and that I may even take it to a friends shop to share with him
size; I’m really unsure, I don’t want it to be too skinny or long for efficiency/useable space ratio. My initial thoughts are 4-6”h, 8”w, 16”l
Insulation;
2” koawool on the bottom with 1/2” kastolite 30, and Mizzou. How much Mizzou should I use? Should I then also use ITC-100? Or is that more for other surfaces?
2.5” ceramic bricks for the sides,
and 1-2” of koawool and kastolite for the top.
My intention is to use the forge for Bladesmithing, and some blacksmithing projects. I’m sure as my skills and whatnot grow I will branch out more but at this time I think it’ll be a good start I would also like to be able to use a 20lb propane tank for my fuel source, of that isn’t feasible then please let me know. I am a sponge and the wealth of knowledge here is my water.
Is the ceramic firebrick for the sides a bad idea? Am I better off using the koawool and refractory?
Thank you in advance for your patience and support.
-David
pictire is of a Forge I used in a class and it is what I am using as my inspiration