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Posted

Just figured I'd break my duck and post something

My name is Nick I'm only just starting out in the world of blacksmithing and am just coming to
the end of a starter course at a local college, Currently trying to get myself a solid fuel forge
set up at my home and have been using the site for ideas.

Thinking to line an old petrol drum (i've already managed to half it lengthways without blowing myself
up for a previous bbq project) possibly with fire clay or a castable

(i admit to not knowing much about the latter other than it's sold by the same people who sell the fire
clay and seems to go to higher temperatures, though i'm not sure i'll need higher temperatures than can
be obtained using a fire clay lined forge)

I've seen the 55 forge blueprints so know i could go down that route with a blower through the base of my
forge, however so far all my course has been taught on a side draft forge and i was considering trying to
emulate that in my home forge.

Tomorrow i'm planning to go to a Forge-In at Bringsty forge where one of my course instructors is helping
host the event and if there early enough i may be able to obtain a Twe or tuyee or whatever it's called which
may help make my decision

Any input would be gratefully recieved, I hope as i spend more time blacksmithing i will be able to return the favour.

Cheers

Nick

Posted

Hey Nick, welcome to IFI. This is a great place for a beginner like myself to start. There are plenty of very experienced blacksmiths willing to share knowledge. It is also a place to meet other blacksmiths and share ideas.
Enjoy your stay.

Mark<><

Posted

The basic 55 Forge is only a starting point.

BP0238-simple-side-blast-55-forge is the side blast version of the original 55 Forge.

Do not get hung up on specifics, a forge is only a container to hold the fire. I well remember how scared I was building my first forge and how everything had to follow the directions and be just so.

Today (for me) is much different as I only want to be able to get the metal hot. If a hole in the ground (dirt) is all that is available, then build a fire and get started. While the other fellow is still looking for specific metal of a specific size, I am pounding on hot metal making things. No coal, then I use raw wood. Wood will form charcoal in the fire the same way coal forms coke in the fire. If you do not have an exact weight diagonal peen blacksmithing hammer, then use a machinist hammer, a ball peen hammer, or what is available. The metal does not care. No tongs, then use vise grips, or cut the metal to double length, forming a project on each end on the metal until you must cut it in half to proceed.

It does not matter what style forge you used, what kind of hammer you used, or how many heats you took making the project. When (If) the check clears the bank, YOU DID GOOD !!

Guest Johnnie
Posted

Hi, not long joined myself!
Originally from Cardiff, S. Wales so not far from you. Now in Northern France on our farm and loving it!

This site is packed with info to help you alone. I set up a temporary forge using compressed air which works well.

Good luck with your forge! :D

Posted

Hi Nick, welcome to the site and the world of blacksmithing, Hope you had a good day with Adrian and Henry, check out our site at www.blacksmithsguild.com and see if we can help you out, currently one of our members is wanting to sell the forge he made when at Hereford, all it needs is a tank making and fitting to the tuyere, pm me if you want further information.

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Posted

Unfortunately I don't really have enough space or money for a permanent forge at home so am trying to piece together my own from materials I can scrounge. Bought a water cooled tuyere from Adrian so my forge will be a little more heavy duty than I initially intended, but it will still be dismantlable.

Currently trying to decide on a lining for the forge and a blower. (probably sand and a water bellows or something)

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