Legendary_Sid

Ah, apologies, i got confused between briquettes and lump.

Thanks for the tips and advice, very helpful. Yeah, the mobility is key for me it seems (ive even mounted my ASO to an old cable reel so i can roll it about!) and you are spot on, this will be a simple and easy set up for a complete beginner. Im looking to do it as easily and cheaply as possible (so far i have spent only about 15 pounds and have everything apart from a blower or bellows). I do have 2 questions followed by, probably, a really stupid question. You mention lump charcoal, i think i recall being advised not to use that as it doesnt burn hot enough? Is it good enough to start at least? I was advised coke i think. I've seen an air blower amazon link removed do you think something like this would be ok for this style of beginner forge? Now the stupid question ... You mention dirt. Do i need a specific type of dirt? All around these parts is mostly damp clay like soil, would that work? Ive seen the video i think you are referring to and its a very dry almost sand like dirt but we dont really have that over here, at least readily available. Pnut mentioned clay, but again, is this any clay or do i need a certain type? Sorry for all the Q's but im a complete beginner keen to get his hands dirty and get started but there is a few things google and youtube doesnt answer, plus i prefer to speak to pros and amateurs alike in person (sorta) so i can be more specific and get a good range of opinions and answers. If any of these questions belong anywhere else please let me know, still getting the hang of it here. Cheers

Its 44cm / 17 inches. Ive popped a picture on, as you can see its been sitting a while.

Sorry for not responding, i ended up contracting meningitis a day or two after my first post and have been pretty much out of action since. The brick idea didnt pan out as my landlord wasnt happy with a 'permanent' structure in the garden *sigh*. I do have a used small kettle BBQ, are these capable of handling the heat needed for smithing?

Sorry for the late, reply. I appreciate the offer but i dont have to tools to achieve that plus my bricks are already laid out.

Thanks for the welcome guys!

Yeah, i dont know if i used the right word for it but what you described then was exactly what i had planned to. It was only because my garden is steep at the top (where the forge will be going) so i was going to dig out a bunch of soil and build the forge into it. I can do it without doing that, i would just have to use some bricks to create a level foundation to put the slabs on. I like the sound of that project actually, i didnt really have any idea where to start but i think i can get on board with that idea. I mean i had to google what a squirrel cooker was though ...

Consider the concrete gone! I have plenty of bricks to replace them with, i dont have any broken ones but i have enough to break one or two with a sledgehammer. I will look into making some grogg (not heard of this before) as i have all i need for it. I can arange for lumpwood charcoal and ill save my briquettes for a cheeky BBQ whenever we get our 2 days of summer. Is there a particular reason you advise against insetting in soil? I ask as my garden is a hill, quite steep towards the top so it would be tricky for me to do it any other way without the use of a lot more bricks to level it out above ground. I will check out those posts you recommend now. Thanks for the advice and tips!

OK, i think i will be able to cover the slabs with clay, if not do you have any recomendations for replacement materials in a similar shape (bearing in mind im doing this project at 0 cost (if possible). I can get lump charcoal, there is a coal guy that lives in the next village that i can arange that with. The air source will be a broken hairdryer i got for free from a colleague as the heating element is broken. It will be connected to a piece of broken hollow steel tubing (originally a piece from a broken childs slide) which will be slightly bent to enable above ground feed.

Hello, Im new here (so i hope this post is in the right place) and joined as im planning on building a (very very basic) forge in my back garden. All the materials i have sourced completely free (minus the cost of petrol to go and fetch them!). I want to know what you guys think, I did some research and watched some videos and the attached image is what i came up with. The 'V' slabs, back slab and lid are thick concrete and im not sure of the material of the other slabs but they wont be in contact with heat so im not too worried. The bricks are standard house bricks and the fuel will be good old fashioned BBQ charcoal briquettes. It isnt pictures in the drawings but the forge will be slighlty inset into soil as my garden is a hill, it will be inset to approx halfway to one third of the bricks. I watched a video which advised the use of concrete slabs as they are incredibly resistant to combustion and heat but then i also saw in one video that concrete can explode (?!). Can anyone adivse on that so i can change the material if needed before i make the forge. Any help, advise or tips very welcome. Thanks, Sid. p.s. As you can tell im no artist or scribe so apologies for the terrible drawing and writing!

Hello, Im new to this forum and thought i would intorduce myself, my name is Kurt but I go by Sid (for online purposes), im 28 and i have been interested in blacksmithing since I was a young kid. I have no experience in blacksmithihg just a solid interest. The reason i joined here was because i am about to build my first brick forge, now that i finally have the space and time, and thought this would be a good place to go for hints, tips and questions. Thanks for having me!