Adez0 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Yep, it's made from the body of a lawnmover, the leg part of a school desk, two empty cans of paint, the grating of a stove, defa car preheater (as the blower), a switch for the blower, some nuts and bolts and some mortar. Except the mortar and the switch, everything else was various junk that me and my brother found lying around our dad's yard. And guess what, it summed out to a working forge. All that was needed to make it was some serious improvisation:) It may not be pretty but I am very proud of it. Me and my brother tested it today and it exceeded our expectations. We were really surprised how well the blower system turned out. Ok, enough said. Below are some pictures. Pic 1: When the mortar was cast and the blower system wasn't installed yet. Pic 2: Blower installed and ready to go. Pic 3: The blower system. Made from paintbuckets and a car preheater. We "neutered" the preheater so that it doesn't warm the air and that it doesn't use so much electricity. Pic 4: Up and running. As said: no complaints. Works like a charm. pic 5: Our temporary anvil lol! It is so hard to find a reasonably priced anvil around here. (Any finns out there with an anvil for sale? ) The forge is easy to repair and to enchance if needed so I think it will serve us good as our first one. Questions or suggestions? Happy to receive and answer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Thats what its all about!! Best use I have seen for a lawn mower (including cutting grass) in a long time too :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Oh WELL done! You'll probably want to deepen the fire but that's easy to do with a few fire bricks. Also the vise won't stand up to much hammering so keep your eyes open for any reasonably heavy piece of steel with one flat surface. It doesn't need a large flat surface but it needs something at least a little larger than the hammer face. I don't know how prevalent rail roads are in Finland but a section of rail makes a fine anvil. You and your brother have the idea though, build a fire and get to hammering, the rest will come while you learn. Welcome aboard, glad to have you. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Bly Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Very clever indeed. Shows excellent ingenuity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Cant wait to see what you create with that forge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thats great! really looks the part. Shame my old mower was plastic. (but being a hover mower its going to turn into a mighty blower one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adez0 Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thanks for the encouraging replies everyone And thanks for the brick advice frosty. We propably need to do just that in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob JS Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Forgot to ask this before, When you say mortar - is that just bog standard cement and sand? any comments on how this stands up to the heat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adez0 Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 There is no sand added. It is only that heat resistant stuff (plaster/mortar/something?) used in the inside of a fireplace for example. We wanted to be sure that it would expand in the same pace as the metal of the lawnmower when heated to avoid cracks and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TASMITH Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Great job Guys. Making good use of whats on hand is what made Blacksmiths of old the masters of the trade they were. You can do anything if you give it some thought. As Frosty said, see if you can find any kind of a block of steel with a good flat side or a piece of rail. If you can make a forge like that from what you found, I would like to see what you will make once you have a decent "anvil" to work with! Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I am thrilled to see what you have done. It just goes to show that we are only limited by our imaginations, and your exceeds mine by a long shot. Remember to show us what you make, pics and more pics, thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodeye Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Well done indeed - now the real fun begins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adez0 Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 We started seeking a block of steel some two months ago to use as an anvil, but then we heard that they were selling these cheap anvils in a hardware store nearby. We went to buy one and they told us that they were out of anvils at the moment and that they would get more in a week. So we waited the week and they said it would take another week. This happened a couple of times until they said it would take at least another two months! At that point we realised we would have start looking for something else again At the moment we are so excited about blacksmithing that we are inclined towards buying one of those more expensive anvils because even those substitutive steel blocks are hard to find. Our patience is running out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Try an auto wrecking yard and see if you can find a truck axle from a semi or other large truck. Bury it flange up at a good working height and if necessary grind a flat face. It will make a fine anvil. One of my field expedient anvils was a large heavy axle buried in this manner and it was a superb anvil. If worse comes to worst you can use a smooth boulder, something fine grained is best. Just be aware of the chipping potential! Wear safety gear at all times, eye protection is a MUST, ALWAYS and a leather apron to protect you're legs is a very good idea. Your femoral artery isn't very far beneath the skin. I do NOT recommend using a boulder, I only point out you CAN use one. Just be very VERY careful. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechnicusJoe Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Whoa! thats a real nice forge you made! the fun should really begin now! Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigcity Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 yep agreed nice forge my brother and i use a chunk of I-beam for an anvil for the longest time it worked good but you need to ankor it down good becuse they tend to jump about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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