Donnie Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I've been thinking of building a wood framed forge for some time now. After seeing the recent thread by Ridgewayforge, I feel motivated to get it done. I am going to make a firepot about the size of my two hands cupped together, maybe 8" across the top, and about 4" deep. I never use anything larger than 3/8" anymore, a lot of 1/4" stock.....gotta love arthritis! I was thinking about a fireclay mortar between the firepot and wood frame. I don't know how many inches of clay between the two would be enough to keep the wood from burning. I would like to use the minimum, so it will be as lightweight as possible. Any and all opinion and wisdom would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Happy New Year, Forget the coal forge!! Make a propane forge. Easier to get fuel, cleaner, no smoke to annoy the neighbours. Easier to start, warm up and shut-down. Less expensive in the long run. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Well, what are you going to make the firepot out of? The wood should be kept at least 6 inches away from the firepot, for smaller fires such as you're going to be using. What are you invisioning for the forge? ~Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 I'm invisioning something as small in size and as lightweight as I can get away with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Take your regular forge and put a piece of 4 or 5 inch pipe about 4 inches long over the twyere. This will contain the fire and give you that small intense your heat your looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 There is no reason why you couldn't build, say, a 2X2 table, put 2-3 inches of dirt or stone on top (contained, almost like a side-blast) and then have the tuyere sticking up, flush with the dirt. That should do it. That would be something lightweight and portable. Put some handles on it, and some detachable legs and it'd be very portable for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Does it have to be bottom-blast? Why couldn't you do a side-blast forge? I've seen side-blasts that were as rudimentary as you could possibly get, so a 2x2 table would easily handle it. Especially considering that you're working small stock only. Small table with a clothes-dryer door for the top. Cover that with some 2" red bricks (regular house type) dry-stacked together. Cover that with some sand so you can form a small fire pit for the side-blast to function properly..... Easy Peasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Oh VaughnT, stop making it sound so tempting! Now I want to build another forge!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Gas forges require diffent tactics to use, it's real hard to isolate heat and you end up resorting to a torch. They also cost more to build and operate. Now that said I use one in my day job. I'd have to agree with the side blast if your going for simple/ inexpensive. 2" of clay soil packed in all the way around should do the trick. Then ash, or lose sand will alow you to make your ducks nest for your fire. But for a small coal or charcoal forge, other things come to mind, as well. A Christmas cookie tin as Tommas has suggested, bolt some handles on it, pack it with clay soil... Or anything else you can scrounge up. There is even a guy on the net using a plastic pickle bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 The fact that you can build a wood table, and then insulate the Firepot from the wood, does not mean that you should. By the time you're done layering enough KOA wool, Fire Brick, Refractory Cement and/or Clay to protect the wood from the fire, it will be heavier than a steel Firepot. There's no need to "re-invent" this particular wheel. Copy the design of any "portable" or "rivet" Forge. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtforge Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Here's what I've used for 16 years. Wood is packing crates. Deck is scrap metal. Firepot is a brake drum. And Post vise was $5 at a yard sale. Last year I went to about 17 outdoor shows with it. It comes apart because early on all I had was a small trailer and had to load it by hand. Easier in smaller pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 mtforge, that's my favorite. Consider the design, stolen! Thanks for posting those pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 mtforge, that's a really neat setup you've got there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtforge Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Thanks. When I'm at a show I'm a magnet for wannabe blacksmiths. Which is how I was when I started so I know what its like. I show them it doesn't take much to get started and steer them to whatever local group there is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arbalist Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thanks. When I'm at a show I'm a magnet for wannabe blacksmiths. Which is how I was when I started so I know what its like. I show them it doesn't take much to get started and steer them to whatever local group there is. That's as it should be, but very nice to hear none the less. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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