kiltedpiper

Got a question for the collective. I did a mild soil study in my back yard and it has a high density in clay. To say the least it is much akin to concrete. So with the addition of some concrete mix and some silica, would it be possible to make a forge out of rammed earth? I have seen its structural capabilities as the same as a concrete pillar...or a little less depending on soil quiality. Or has anybody tried?

Ok, thank you for the information, I'll keep that in mind. My plan is to make it so that brake drum can be removed. I plan to set the brake drum on top of a steel plate set in the masonry. On top of said masonry will be a 12" ID IPS steel pipe that surrounds the brake drum. To fill in the space between will be either sand or perlite to back against the heat. This will at least make it easier to replace. I am using CAD to design it. When I am done I will post the PDF files of the forge as well as a tempering furnace. Essentially I was thinking to use a batch box rocket furnace to make that work. Look up batchrocket.eu to see what you think.

Greetings all, I am an upstart red/blacksmith and I am working putting together a masonry forge. I'm going to have a brake drum made from cast iron as my firepot. My plan is to set said firepot into concrete or at the very least make it removeable for later. My main question on this is as follows. since the bottom of the brake drum is about 1/4" thick, will I need to weld on a plate to the bottom of it to reinforce the metal? I do not wish to have it melt while I'm using either coal or coke in the process. Any constructive advice would be appreciated. (I know, I know...brake drum forges are the spawn of khaos but it was what I could afford)