Clam River Coal Forge

Do not sell yourself short it looks very nice, and I believe that anything made comes from the heart.

Thank you NJanvilman

Welcome to IFR looks like the forge is home made using a portion of a automotive rim. Not sure on the blower does it have any other writing on it?

There is this up coming farm auction in April they have a large anvil. When it was first listed they had photo and it showed a crack across between the feet. How serious is a crack in the base? Can it be repaired or should one leave alone?

Here's my first forge with some modifications for using out doors. Still working on getting it installed inside and than I will not have to depend on the weather.

Sometimes I must have my head in the wrong place, but you guys know point blank how to set me straight. I am not saying that it was a dumb question because that would only be if I had not asked. Thank you for the advice. I need to retire so I have more time to beat iron and than I can share this with the group.Right now still trying to set up forge inside so I can work at improving my skill level or give up never! CRCF

If I were to buy a pair of tongs to get started with what type would you suggest?

I know kiity litter should have bentonite clay for clumping, but not so much that is why I recommend clay like they use on gravel roads or found in river beds. May be you do not have that resource like we do in Michigan

If you have access to some clay that would work better than what you have. I used it for a home made foundry years back and had good results. You can break up some fire brick and add to the clay.

I agree with the rest try it out! I have so far retrived coal from a river and now I have been give coal that has been exposed to th weather for over 30 years. Some is soft and some is hard some are big chucks like 12 inches square that I have broken up. The coal that I am getting this week has a lot of slack (small pieces) I am going to try it this weekend and see how it cokes. I do not think one should settle for a certian size a mix would give you some variability with fire control.

I will try it out this weekend let you guys know how it works. I have brung home about two barrels full does not look like I made much of a dent in the pile maybe more like three ton covers area approx. 10 x 12 feet and 2 inches to at lest 12 inches in depth. If this coal works I will really need to get going on my new forge which is bigger. Just have small forge like used for rivits or horse shoeing.

I have access to about a ton or more of coal that has been outside for maybe 30 years. I have managed to get it to burn, but have not put in the forge to try. The pile has much slack form all the years of exposure. I want to know if its worth the effort to bring it home the guy would be happy to get rid of it, and its free so the price is right

Thanks for the advice! I feel better knowing I am not alone in this world of hot steel. I have a wall that separates the two shops, but alas the ventless heater adds moisture to the saw shop and in I have vented this into the area that I was doing the forging this winter, Looks like I compound my problem.

This winter I have tried using my forge in one side of my garage, I had it vented some but not the best. I even opened two doors and a window. What I did find is that in the end that I have my saw shapening business tools were getting a lite surface rust. I had not seen this type of rust since I had a jug of muratic acid leech out. Could this be from the fumes of the forge sulfuric acid! I have since stopped forging in the garage. I will forge outside until I can build a separate building.

Nice job