Nohone Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hello, In my backyard I actually have a brickwall fire pit about a foot from the ground that runs on a gas line installed in the ground. It's a bit large to be heating some pieces of steel stock, but as far as heat and work quality goes, do you guys think I will have any problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 no clue, I dont know your wife or location to even guess at what could be a problem. If you give us more information, maybe we can give you an answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nohone Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Well you might be happy to know that I actually do not have a wife, so that will not be an issue. I am not sure what my location has to do with whether or not my fire pit can heat steel, but you must know something I do not know! I live in southern california. Here is a picture of this fire pit I speak of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 location can be an issue for example forging outside in Alaska or many places in Iceland or Canada the ambeint temps will effect how much heat goes into the steel, and how much is wasted. Also local codes vary and this is a world wide forum. In addition to living on open isolated country vs close neighbors in a historic city location will also effect your options. Showing the fire pit does help. I see a large open space. meaning an inclosure of hard fire brick will help contain the heat. It can work, the question is cost to operate vs a dedicated forge. you can make one for a lot less than buying a new one would cost, after forging a while you will have solid numbers to compare to. Welcome to IFI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nohone Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ah I knew you knew something I didn't! Thank you for that tid bit. It gets to be about anywhere from 90 - 110 degrees around here. The thing is is I am pretty clueless as to how to make my own forge. I have seen a couple homemade forges on youtube, but I am not skilled enough to know how it was made without some step-by-step instructions or something. I took another picture showing a little bit inside the fire pit. Underneath the tarp is filled with spiders and other nasties, so I only bothered to open it up a little. Those red blocks are called volcanic rock or something, I cannot remember, but I think it will work very well with keeping in heat. But I wanted to get some feedback from more people. Think it'll work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 read through the forum more, there are plans for cheap easy to follow builds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nohone Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 Well I know I can figure out how to make one if I needed to, but I'd rather not make one if I do not need to. Do you think the fire pit won't work very well? Hmm...I guess the only way to know for sure is to try it out lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciladog Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I'm sorry to inform you that you will be waiting a very long time to heat a piece of metal on a gas firepit with volcanic rock. It is a decorative pit designed to produce a visual effect and some radiant heat. You can always try it and let us know if you can get a piece of metal hot enough to forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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