Hi folks, just spotted this forge on eBay, can people give me any advice on whether it would be any good? http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27ca2a7b37

Because new forges of a similar spec are redicliously expensive I was initially really keen, but then I found an old thread on this forum saying that the Alcosa F20 fans weren't very strong and would struggle to keep coke hot.

Ultimately I'm wondering if I should make my brake drum forge bigger by replacing the brake drum with an oil barrel, or invest in something like this.

Any advice would be really appreciated, thanks.

better if it was a water cooled side draft forge

Over the past 39 years I have seen people come and go from blacksmithing. I attribute at least some of that turn-over, if not a significant portion of that turn-over, to frustration with their forge. If you are having difficulty with equipment, my humble suggestion is either to closely follow a set of diagrams, or to closely copy a working forge. ..... Personally, my preference is a good quality cast iron firepot and tuyer combination, because they work well without the frustration.

Hi David, I think we have our wires crossed...if you think I'm frustrated with my equipment, I'm not, I just want something a little bigger. Or are you saying that I would be frustrated with this forge on eBay?

Could you show me a picture of the type of setup you recommend?
Cheers for the replies

Kurgan, no sorry that I was not clear. I am not saying that you will be frustrated with the forge on EBay. I guess that I got my wires crossed as I have been reading posts about someone having difficulty with the forge they built.

Form follows function. The size of the space for your forge, what you can afford, and what you plan on using it for is part of the planning for a larger forge.

The enclosed photograph is of a semi-portable Buffalo brand forge from the early 20th century with the cast iron firepot that it was manufactured with. The fireplace is 2' by 2' square, with indentations in the sides so that the workpiece and be inserted into the coal fire's neutral zone. The local blacksmithing school built its forges of this basic 2' by 2' size and design from angle iron frame and sheet metal sides and bottom, and purchased cast iron firepot/tuyer combinations for them.

My first forge was a wooden box lined with brick, 2by4 legs and sides, with a 1/2" black pipe and an old electric hair dryer with heating elements removed for the air supply.

The two forges that I built for use at public demonstrations are side blast forges (with bellows) where the air enters the fireplace from the side similar to what is shown in the photograph of the forge in the EBay listing you have referenced.

I recommend, if possible, finding people with different types of forges and trying them to see what fits your needs.

Hi David, thanks for picture and reply, some points for me to muse over.

If the forge on eBay wasn't so handsome then decisions like this would be so much easier! Looks like a nice little piece of history that I want to own, haha.

Looks like a nice little piece of history that I want to own, haha.

Yes, I know what you are saying. After building two military type forges, other military forges become increasingly tempting. I guess that if I had excess cash, it would be tempting to acquire forges so as to have a display of the development of blacksmithing technology, for military use, over the centuries.

Well, if the money isn't an issue, I would grab her up. If we ponder the worst-case scenario and you're reports of the blower being a bit anemic are correct, you can always replace the blower with an electric source for actually working at the forge. Put the period blower to the side in safe keeping.

Two questions to consider - what do you intend to make? if only small(ish) items then that forge is probably big enough. Also where do you intend to work? do you have a shed you can leave your stuff set up in or will you have to pack away at the end of each day in which a small porable forge may serve you better.

Thanks for the replies folks.
In terms of size this eBay forge would be plenty big. Thing is, the hand cranked fan is half the charm, so if it didn't work too great, it's lost half the appeal. I have all the space in the world at my parents place and at the minute I trail a plug extension lead out into their garden for my hair dryer fan...but it feels a bit naff/tacky learning an ancient craft with a hair dryer. I'd love a little forge like the one on eBay that I could take out into my parent's woods and spend the day practicing.