Olivier Q Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I went in a bit over my head but I really happy with the results, fired it up for the first time yesterday and it was hot enough to melt a 1/2" steel rod. My fire pot is a bit goofy due to a mistake on one of the cuts but it works just fine. Please forgive my ugly welding job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Not bad. Did you weld from the backside to get near full penetration? I have made much worse looking welds. Running some angle around part of the outer edge may not be a bad idea, since it will help keep loose fuel on the table. Might be the last forge you ever need to build because it looks so stout. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 It would help if your air connection was much closer to the firepot as ashes will build up in the ash dump tube until you open it and let them fall to the ground. With your current set up you would need to do that ALL the time if you were using the coal we often get here! Moving it to 1/2 or 2/3 the way up would allow you to work a lot longer before having to dump the ashes. (Also if small pieces of coal or coke fall in they might continue to burn with the air being pushed through them and you don't need a glowing red ash tube!) Welds: if they work they're great if they don't re-do them Once it's full of coal nobody will see them. If someone bends over to scrutinize them there is this trick you do with a cold wet pair of tongs----make sure they won't cut their head on the chimney hood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 :o Thomas, you gave me a mental picture that took a couple of minutes to recover from. Exil, I agree with Thomas about locating the air inlet a little higher. But other than that and the Angle iron sides that Phil mentioned, it looks like a keeper and should last a long time. Congrats on getting it up and running. Now fire it up and show us some of your work. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Shall I just say I have seen an ash tube glowing red and just leave it at that? Far worse is to look in the rear view mirror and see your steel coal bucket glowing red as you are trucking down the road *thinking* the coal/coke from the forge was out when you dumped it in the bucket to go home...and that one was one of "mine"! (Luckily nothing caught on fire and I was able to pull off the road and make sure it was out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironclad Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 very good, you could turn the the tube upside down so the air flow was nearer the top! just my input. great advice Thomas :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 personally i would weld the fire pot to the underside of you table that way as you work you are not trying to push coal over a lip. I would add a slide damper to your pipe so you blower can run at one speed and you can regulate the air flow. Looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier Q Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 Thanks for all the advice, here are updated pictures of my forge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Looks good to me, the only thing I'd replace when you get a minute are the wheels. A few drops of some hot stuff and the wheels and tyres will be toast! I'm sure you're really going to enjoy using the forge though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Now that looks like a top class forge. I would not be surprised if you never make another one again as it is probably all the forge you will ever need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Allyn Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Nice job. And I like the pneumatic tires. Makes it a lot easier to roll around in the back yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 great that will work for many years. I see you are in west palm Do your belong to FABA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier Q Posted September 4, 2011 Author Share Posted September 4, 2011 I'm not part of FABA yet, I'm still just trying to get started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 The annual conference is in oct 7-9 great source for tools and knowledge it is in Barberville . The southeast chapter meets on the third Saturday of the month. Great chance to network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 So as to keep the tires you have, build some fenders! Not big enough to catch your ankles on but enough to keep the hot stuff off. Nice job! I like it. Mark <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier Q Posted September 9, 2011 Author Share Posted September 9, 2011 I'd like to go to the annual FABA conference, but I'm a college student and I'm already scheduled to be at an engineering conference in Orlando that same weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 well if you can get away it is an hour NE of Orlando. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTKS Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Awesome looking forge. I need to borrow, steal, some design ideas. My little starter forge just isn't cutting the mustard. I think I really want something with a pot in it instead of a flat bottom. This is a keeper, good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewed Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Let me add my $0.02 now that version 2.0 is completed. I would put some cut outs in line with the fire pot so you can slide longer pieces threw the fire from the side. Also I would raise the blower switch up to the bottom of the table, or put it on a foot switch. Bending over to turn it on/ off is going to get old very quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JA2TN Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Olivier, I'd like a little info on the blower you're using. Cost / where to buy? Maybe even CFM? Nice looking forge!! Your fire pot and mine are almost identical! Hope they last for years. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier Q Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Sorry I haven't responded, I've been a bit busy and haven't checked in on this thread. I bought the blower from Kanye & Son; here's the link to the blower: https://www.blacksmi...CFM_Blower.xml/ Thank you all for the helpful critiques and nice comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundgedog Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Wow, looks great! I have a Buffalo forge with a huge crack in the firepot, if I go to new one, something yours would definately work! Do you have a cover for the fan inlet? Around here if the forge sat idle for a while, I would wind up with a wasp nest in it !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier Q Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Yeah I do have a cover, I just didn't have it on at the time when I took the pictures. It's also the way I control my air flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borntoolate Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Did you do any surface grinding prior to welding? I'm thinking you would have but if not do so. I just can see any groubd surfaces. This will help with weld quality. The thing with welding is like 90% surface prep then 10% welding. THen with stick you got that whole clean up after wards. I'm lazy and bought a mig. I'm also not a great welder... another reason for ease of the mig. Looks good though. I am also in the process of rebuilding my brake drum forge with a real cast firepot. Still needs work but here is a pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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