CMJ208 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I've been lurking on the forum for some time now and have benefitted greatly from what I've read here. Now I need a little input. I was given my grandpa's old coal forge. It's in rough shape and I'm wondering is it worth fixing up or am I better off building a new one? Obviously there is a certain amount of sentimental value to it, but on the otherhand I can't get to hung up on that if in the long run it's going to be a waste. The hand powered blower spins good. The handle got bent when it was on it's way to me. That's also when the bricks in it came out. They were probably already loose. The rot on the side really wouldn't be hard to fix. It's definelty not pretty, but I'm ok with that. I know that for me personally, using my grandpa's forge would be pretty cool. He's been gone for almost twenty years now, and this is all I really have that came from him. But I also know that if it's a waste of time, energy and money, he'd think I was being foolish trying to fix it. Anyway hoping that some of you with more knowledge and experience would have some advice. Thanks in advance for any and all input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Greetings and welcome CM, That is a great forge and is an easy fix to put it back to original shape... Start with a good clean up ... Chip out the cement refractory to evaluate the bottom.. After that its just a little metal to form up and you will do your grandpa proud... Good luck and post your progress.. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I think most of what you have is good. At worst you need to get or build a new "pan". Shouldn't be all that hard to do if you have some basic metal working skills. As far as repairing what you have there, it wouldn't probably take me all that long to get it back in working order. Might not be the prettiest thing on the block, but it would be functional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Totally worth fixing. Personally I would replace the sheet metal pan then re-clay it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMJ208 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 Great. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMJ208 Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 Got it apart. Also talked to my grandma and found out that my grandpa probably got it 70 years ago, or so. The patent date on the blower is 1902, I know that doesn't indicate the age of the forge. Also I was wondering when I redo the fire pit. Is there a certain size that would be more desirable? And should I remake it round, or square? I had looked at it quite a bit and figured they where fairly simple, but once I started getting it apart I was surprised just how simple it was. So far (and I may regret saying that) it's came apart easy. Think it knows it's finally getting some TLC and is liking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Hard to go wrong with the original setup. If you have 3 from the tweer to the top, you can get a good fire with coal. I'd vote for going with the original shape, but that's just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. I'd repair or rebuild it for sure, they were designed for it. The blower and tuyere are all that were intended to last forever, the rest are wear items, like spark plugs in an engine. I'd love to have one of my Grandfather's tools but one was a federal superior court judge and the other a logger, I have their gold pocket watches, cool but not the same. I'd try to mimic the original duck's nest, it didn't have a fire pot and duck's nests are pretty handy. Heck, I prefer a duck's nest to a fire pot when I'm burning coal, a few bricks and you can have any size or shape fire you need. That's going to make you a fine forge, darned fine. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 To be honest, I wouldn't have done anything to it other than replace the bricks that popped out. They blocked the hole in the sheet metal. The grate looks serviceable and the blower blows.... so make a fire and get to work. Now that it's apart, though, I'd simply make a copy of what came off of it. A large table to the one side would be handy, but don't forget the balance point of the legs. Too much weight on the cantilever will be unstable. A small rack for some tools and a work support would be dandy and easy to install. Great project and I'm sure gramps would be very proud of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMJ208 Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 It could be back together pretty easily. I'd just have to redo the bricks. It did need to come apart though. The pipe from the blower to firepit was packed with a rodents nest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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