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I Forge Iron

Treozen

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  1. Yea, I noticed that as well. There are no other forges for sale (that I can find) within 200 miles, so my guess is the seller is trying to cash-in given the limited availability. That said, I've seen that blower and stand itself listed for upwards of $450, so perhaps he / she figures the value is in the blower, and even if you had to scrap the existing pan, you'd still have a decent fire pot (+/- $100 used) table (+/- $150 if its all steel) and rolling cart for it to sit on (+/- $100). I'm going to design my own and build it. I have most materials for either a bottom blast or side blast, and I've read most every post on the subject - which may have been a mistake, because I've spent a week now going back and forth from being convinced I need to build a side-blast, to convinced bottom blast is the way to go. It does seem to me that many recommend the side blast, yet most of the forges I see are bottom blast, even those home-built. I think I'm going to go side blast because it should be a little easier to fabricate and from my reading, side-blast seems more versatile in the fuel you can use, perhaps not equally effective in a certain fuel - seems like coke and coal are optimally used in a bottom-blast, but it seems you have more options with a side-blast and I'd like to give charcoal a go as well. In another curiosity, despite the prevalence of bottom-blast forges, there is comparatively little technical data. For the side-blast, I found specifications (both fabricator-provided and those from technical manuals) for the fire pot, tyeure iron, measurements above and below the tyeure, nozzle size per size of the work-piece, ratios for fire-pot top versus bottom (range seems to be 30 - 45% reduction for the bottom of the fire pot versus the top) even the size of the hearth. Bottom-blast however doesn't seem to be as well covered. I'm not sure if that is because bottom-blast is less sensitive to specifics, or if its simply that one size works - but although I found some guidance, the technical data was far simpler and consistent.
  2. OK, I'm convinced. I'll build the Junk-JABOD forge. Would like to get a manual blower though, so, I'll keep looking around. Allan.
  3. Hello folks - I'm still contemplating just building a forge, but in my search I've come across the following examples of forges available in my local area (+/- 90 minute drive). I am wondering if either of these is something I ought to consider, and figured I'd ask and see. Now I know that a lot depends on your intended use, experience and perhaps fuel, and so forth, so let me reiterate that I am a beginner with no experience that would like to try my hand at forging and probably make many useless objects, then a few useful ones, then eventually make some blades and such - So in short, tinker around, not looking to turn this into a career, but would like to think I can eventually make stuff worth using. I'd prefer to avoid using electricity, out of practicality as much as anything else, and besides I prefer the "romantic style" of a manual forge....better yet if it had bellows, lol. Here are the options I've found for existing forges. The first is a larger rectangular forge from Buffalo Forges, 36 X 30 on a rolling stand. Blower #400 is claimed as great condition, but you can tell the forge pan area is in dire need of rust repair. Asking $850 The second is an obviously smaller (Rivet?) buffalo forge. Condition claimed to be fair with the blower tuning free and operating. Asking $250 I'm having trouble picking a fuel - From what I've read, coal is bad for your health, dirty as heck and horribly smelly, charcoal sparks like crazy (not ideal for an outdoor forge) and requires significantly more fuel and fire care to work properly (versus coal) and propane is very noisy plus you'll go through a 20lb tank in a single session, assuming the tank doesn't freeze..... BUT...assuming I go with solid fuel, are any of the attached options worth a look? Thanks, Allan.
  4. Seems to me I followed the quote policy - trimmed quotes to just the relevant line of text and only quoted the prior post when there were multiple quotes in series (without quoting the prior post, it would be really odd to respond to a post without a quote, after a few quoted excerpts from prior posts - would not read well at all and would cause a reader to go searching for context), but in the interests of "When in Rome", no more quoting...and um...you can quote me on that ;-)
  5. The I think the box itself is only around 8 inches deep. I'll check out the stickies on the hood - sounds like a great idea. It only 6" across - standard stove pipe. Hmm, closest thing I have might be the "anvil" plate on the back of a bench vice - probably a plate around 3 X 5, but I'll look around for more possibilities.
  6. For sure - I've been scouting around for various JABOD designs - there's quite a range it seems. Some seem pretty technical ( for what is effectively a box of dirt) while others are literally three bricks and a trench. It may seem strange, but I'm almost more intrigued buy the forge build, than I am the forging....lol. I've gathered up my "scrap metal that might be a forge" pile, so that I can see my options. LOL - yes - definitely kidding with gong to buy a special knife making-hammer - My primary mission right now is to have fun designing and building a working forge, then probably tweaking that design a bit, and then probably a bit more. I'm trying to avoid doing what I usually do - running out to buy "all the things" only to discover some of them are wrong, others are not the best thing and yet others never really get used....So, for this adventure, I'm actually trying to avoid the store - sort of a challenge - can I make this work with just what I can find on 5 acres. I freely admit - I'm that guy. Not hammers per-say, but I've been known to be partial to a specific tool or device. Its bad practice of course, but I my have even blamed other "lesser" devices for my inability to get something to work. Some people say I'm just obsessive, slightly compulsive, somewhat inflexible, disliking of change and prone to think I'm right more often than reality will allow.....but those people are clearly wrong, obviously my success can by tied directly to the mystic powers of my favorite tool. I do have a 55gal drum available. I had been saving it for pit-firing clay pots (another idea I've been wanting to try) but I don't have any clay pots, or clay, or in fact a kiln to bisque fire, so.....55 gallon drum is available. A lot to digest there - but I think I follow. I thought about using firebrick, as you've suggested - but I only have regular brick (and a 1000 metric tones of rocks and boulders) laying around. I was under the impression you would not want to use regular red / yellow brick but only fire brick - is that accurate? If I can avoid firebrick I will - its not a cost factor, but I've set myself a challenge to try build this only with what I can find on the property - That said, I wont compromise the forge if I really need something. Soil up here is not clay - our property actually sits on a gravel pit - or at least the same material that you'd find in a gravel pit. Digging here is NOT fun (installed 1700 linear feet or horse fence, 200 poles, never again). The composition tends to be rocky, gravel - little sand, not much clay. Lots of magnetic rocks...iron ore or something? Also have piles of 5/8ths-minus and arena mix (pipe bedding and sand mix) and also a pile of course sand (looks nothing like typical sand, but that's what its called). Have some typical "dirt" from old raised beds. I little less clear on the hood idea - I had planned on something as a wind-break / Spark shield I don't actually have an anvil - I was thinking I might use the a-frame "saw horse" thing in the picture as a temporary measure - Its very stout, the top is two lengths of 3/16 to 1/4" angle iron welded together - either that or I can use it as a tool holder?
  7. I hadn't thought about the drum - I think I even have a 50g drum around here too. I'll take a closer look at the box - I might even have a stand for it - some sort of metal sawhorse thing that was left in the barn.
  8. Hello everyone. Let me be clear, I know nothing about forges, forging, blacksmithing, bladesmithing or metalwork really in general, EXCEPT.....I have watched thee seasons of Forged In Fire and I stayed at a Holiday in Express last night, so, I might actually be a total expert..... I've been thinking (and encouraged by my wife) to build a basic forge and whack on some metal with a hammer, and see if it turns into something.....the hammer does all the work...right?.....I probably need to buy a special knife-making hammer....anyway.... I initially thought a propane forge would be the way to go, but came across the idea of JABOD forges, which I actually think would be sort of interesting to build anyway, even if I can't forge my way out of a wet paper sack. So I was all set on that idea when I came across the idea of a brake drum forge, and I happen to have two drums from a '68 Cadillac just laying around getting in the way. BUT THEN....I remembered that I had a bunch of junk in a pile, much of which came from the old coal furnace HVAC system in my house (it was built in 1941)and I wondered if there was anything I could use for a forge, rather than scrap it. So - my questions are these - Thoughts on JABOD forge versus brake drum forge? - I am fairly good at building, have fabrication experience, but haven't forged a thing, ever - so....noob. AND....looking at the pieces of junk pictured...see any potential forge designs that might make use of this stuff? I'd hate to toss it after looking at it for years, only to find out I had the makings of a great beginner forge. I appreciate any feedback.
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