BsnNFrnt Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 No dancing just 9 years worth of tool hoarding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BillyBones Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Many do not know that it was Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzman and Phil Lesh that put together the Rhythm Devils for the Apocalypse Now soundtrack. That hood is not as nice nor work as well as you think. It has been and is in the process of being changed. I am still using the 8" pipe but once we get a few warmer days, and the 8" of snow melts, it will be upgraded to at least a 10". 8" works for the most part, but if i get some green coal smoking it gets a tad smoky in the shop. Not to bad but still more than i want. Also depending on wind direction, sometimes if the wind comes in just right it will blow the smoke out of the hood. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LarryLowell Posted Wednesday at 07:51 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 07:51 PM Hi new to the forum and to blacksmithing. Been collecting stuff to put my shop together, and started organizing it and actually getting ready to fire it up and start playing around. I have an old coal forge, vises and just built a stand for my anvil, the shops a work in progress but coming together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JHCC Posted Wednesday at 07:53 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 07:53 PM Okay, that is waaaaaay too clean. Time to create some clutter! Seriously, though, nice starting setup. Welcome aboard, and enjoy the ride! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThomasPowers Posted Wednesday at 07:57 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 07:57 PM Is your anvil 1 step away from your forge? Also that hood will pretty much be useless as most of the air it draws will be from the open shop and not the hot fire which would drive the chimney effect. Are you right or left handed? I crank the blower with my hammer hand and use the tongs with my off hand. That way you don't have to switch hands when you go to the anvil. Also you would like to be able to work the steel in the fire while you are cranking the blower. Set it up and do a cold run to see how the arrangement works for you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LarryLowell Posted Wednesday at 08:02 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 08:02 PM JHCC yeah I know, Im a hoarder so outside the shop its a mess, I just bought some pallet racks to store my stuff and organize everything. It will be dirty soon enough, lolol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LarryLowell Posted Wednesday at 08:24 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 08:24 PM Thomas, I appreciate your tips, thanks. My anvil is about 3 feet from the forge as of now, and I plan on moving the hand crank blower to the other side of the forge and plan on putting a propane forge Im going to build where the smaller circle forge and blower are. My plan is to run a Y for two pipes for air one for the hand crank, and one for an electric blower, so I have options. Im right handed but actually ambidextrous with work. On the hood it will come down a bit more and Ill pipe it up and out, with flue pipe I have. I plan to do some brick work behind the forge and a little on the sides of it and go up to the hood, once heat generates it should start to draw the smoke, if not Ill play around with it some to get it working properly. I did intentionally leave the front and back walls open for air flow, but I figured Id have to play around with it after we fire it up thats why I havent finished the chimney or added any brick work yet. I do appreciate your advice though, Thank you. Thomas, I do have a question, on my coal forge should I line it with fire brick or just leave it be, I have some brick, but Ive seen some people line them and others leave it as is. Not sure if its necessary or not, it is a heavier thicker coal forge than the little round one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThomasPowers Posted Wednesday at 08:58 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 08:58 PM If it's cast iron I would line the forge table, perhaps slanting it slightly so that it's level with the firepot so it's easy to rake coal into it from the table. My RR Forge was lined with firebrick set in fireclay and has a cast iron firepot that sticks up off the floor to allow for this. Got to see the same one as used by a professional smith who was in his 80's in the 1990's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LarryLowell Posted Wednesday at 10:00 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:00 PM The forge under the hood is a solid one piece forge probably 1/4 inch thick, it doesnt have an insert fire pot, its all one piece, I have four coal forges two are rivet type and this one thats bigger with the table and pot, the forth is an insert type, but I havent built a table for it yet. My thinking was line it using a thin set refractory with the firebricks on top of that, and lining the pot with the refractory cement/mud, but I was also thinking if I didnt need to why waste the money and material on it etc..., but I will now, I dont want to crack it, I was just curious is it was necessary. Thanks again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goods Posted Thursday at 12:51 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:51 AM Just an observation, and could be camera angle, but that anvil stand looks really high. Is it just the camera effect or are you that tall? (Face height is usually between knuckle and wrist height, depending on personal preference and type of work.) David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LarryLowell Posted Thursday at 01:02 AM Share Posted Thursday at 01:02 AM Goods, yes Im tall, so are my sons Im 6 foot 6, they are 6 foot 5, and 6 foot 4. The top of the anvil is about mid hand or about 2 inches or so above my knuckles with a closed fist. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Goods Posted Thursday at 01:20 AM Share Posted Thursday at 01:20 AM Larry, sounds good, just wanted to make sure... Looking forward to seeing your work, David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Irondragon ForgeClay Works Posted Thursday at 02:16 AM Share Posted Thursday at 02:16 AM If the forge is cast iron it definitely needs to be lined either with clay or bricks mortared together to prevent it from cracking. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted Thursday at 04:58 PM Share Posted Thursday at 04:58 PM I have a similar forge , and it has been used outside since the late 70's, never lined it. Indoors it would be fine, but outside the lining can hold moisture, and rot the pan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LarryLowell Posted Friday at 12:40 AM Share Posted Friday at 12:40 AM Thanks for everyones advice, and input. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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