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I Forge Iron

Solid fuel forge design question


lordcaradoc

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Greetings,

I am curious if there are any fundamental differences in design for forges using Coal or Charcoal.

I know that you usually use one fuel or the other and have even used charcoal to start a coal forge before. I also know that both will allow heat enough for forge welding.

so, if I build a forge and usually burn charcoal, will it likely work for coal/coke when it is available?

Regards,
Tim

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For charcoal forge you generally want to control the size of the firepot more as all charcoal in the forge will burn and you need a deeper fire to work with charcoal. For my coal forge I merely add a couple of firebrick to schootch in the sides and make it deeper---and use less air but as I use a handpowered blower that's easy to control.

For a bi-fueled forge I would design for coal use and then engineer additions for charcoal use.

Weyger's had a great picture of a traditional charcoal forge used in Indonesia in "The Modern Blacksmith". it had high clay side walls and the work was done in the trough between them.

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Thanks guys. New question.

Now that I am good on proceeding with the brake drum style, I have been advised to build it into a table so there is more room to work with fuel than just the firepot.

With no welding skills yet, what would the recommendations be for a table around the firepot?

Best regards,
Tim

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I can, but isn't it a good idea to have sides to the table too?

I actually have a bit of the table legs part taken care of. It is the bolt together base to a table saw I no longer own. It it 23" tall with sloped out legs and a top that is 18"x22". I figured this would give me a good base and all I need is to add a table. I can build the top out of plywood and give it edges and put a layer of amended fire clay on the wood, but that seems too temporary. If I can get the sheet metal for the table, I can set it at whatever height I want, but I can't weld the corners for the sides and I am not sure even about the hole for the firepot. Now for sides, I could always bolt on wide angle iron, that should do, but cutting a hole would be a pain with the limited tools I have now.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Tim

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