bajajoaquin Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 As I've mentioned in other threads, most of my smithing is done at the local CBA affiliate in Vista, CA. Having just bought a new house in the San Diego Beach area, I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to get a coal forge situated in my limited outside space (inside my workshop is not an option for various reasons). I have a Buffalo blower and a cast iron rivet forge with no fire pot. Once the remodel is complete, I had planned on getting those set up before building a bigger forge with something like a Centaur Forge firepot. Eventually, I wanted to buy an induction forge, but thought of it as a far-away extravagance. However, I just looked at Grant's induction forge page, and saw that the 15kW induction forge is only about 2/3 the price I expected. I've been saving every month to buy myself one, and I now find myself significantly closer to purchase than I thought. Assuming I have to buy most of the material new, I'd like to figure out how much I'm going to have to spend to set up a coal forge. I'm thinking that I might want to take the money I would be spending on a coal forge, and put it into an induction forge, and just have the rivet forge for when coal makes more sense than induction for now. So my question is this: what materials are you using to make your table-style coal forges. I'm seeing a lot of 10 ga and 1.4" plate for the table. Is that pretty universal? What are your leg materials? I know the price of a firepot, but what are the other expenses I should be considering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike R Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I am just finighing the build on mine and i will be into it about $22.00 for 2 inch pipe and electrical parts to run the fan. I had $28.00 at the scrap steel yard for the brake drum, a piece of flat steel for the top and fan mount and some scrap to get started once its done. I used an old metal palat frame that a riding lawn mower came in to build the frame, the fan is an eshaust fan from a gas furnace that came out of the junk pile at a local heating company for free ( you may have to take it out of the unit) and the wire was an old extension cord I had around. I did use my brother in laws shop for the welder and cutting so you may have an expense there. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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