Cast iron skillet fire pot?

[Jack-O-Lantern]

I'm trying to build a new forge. The one I use now is HEAVY and no fun to move in and out of my garage. I picked up this cast iron skillet on the cheap thinking I could use it as a firepot. In the beginning of my quest to learn this trade I fell victim to youtube nonsense which resulted in melted frying pans. So my question is whether this thing will melt or not. I know its shallow, but I've heard of flat surface forges. I figure a few firebricks can hold up my work pieces once I find out how to make a table.

 

[Glenn]

You look at the 55 Forge yet?

 

What type fuel are you going to use?

[Frosty]

It'll work fine but looks to be pretty large for a beginner. For cast iron cookware fire pots I like small dutch ovens in the 6-8" dia range.

 

If you're going to use fire brick or clay to build up that pan don't bother to use the pan. A duck's nest forge works a treat. all you need is a reasonably non-flammable table, covered in an inch or more of rammed clay. The fire goes in a depression or crater shape with air from below, or a trench for a side blast. The duck's nest doesn't need to be very large or deep, you use fire bricks arranged around it to set the shape and depth of the fire.

 

I don't burn much solid fuel but both of my solid fuel forges are duck's nest.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Sorry for the super late reply guys. I've been wanting to get some bituminous. Finding a 55 drum has been pretty tricky for me. I've improved since I've joined IFI and would like to see how I do with good coal and a table top forge........MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

[Glenn]

Find a fuel that is available and build the forge to fit the fuel. 

 

You can stack bricks on a table, dig a hole in the ground, the forge is nothing more than a container to hold the fire. Side blast works best for simple. Just blow air into the fire horizontally through a pipe.

 

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[the iron dwarf]

if the cast iron skillet is coated with teflon be careful as the fumes are harmfull

[Francis Trez Cole]

there is an easier way. Here is a blue print of how I make fire pots. You have to be real careful with cast iron watering your fire can cause it to crack. If you go with a cast iron fire pot use a mop to wet the fire

 


fire pot.pdf

[L Smith]

I wouldn't waste a good cast iron skillet like that one. Keep it in the kitchen or for camping. If you can't afford a cast fire pot take a picture to a self employed welder near you and ask if he has some scrap to fab one. 1/8 material will last long enough until funds are available to buy a cast one. Please don't ruin a good cast iron skillet.       Am I paranoid or what!!   This won't be your "forever forge."

[Ridgewayforge]

A simple solution is to build a table like mine and pack it with clay. See my thread: 

[Ridgewayforge]

A simple solution is to build a table like mine and pack it with clay. See my thread: 

[Charles R. Stevens]

Playing in the mud acually works well, especialy if you are trying to figure out what will work with your air supply. A 6" deep, 12" across fire pot isnt going to work well with a hand pumped mattress inflator, wile a 3 1/2" by 6" pot works very well.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Weeellll. I have a brake drum forge. But its set in concrete and is HEAVY. I'm thinking the smoke from bituminous will aggrivate neighbors. My problem with charcoal is that I have to cover it to avoid sparks. So sometimes I melt things. Rarely but annoying. I've got some anthracite being shipped. I want a nice table top forge that I can slide heaps of coal around on, and get out of my garage easily.

[Charles R. Stevens]

Try pine charcoal, and pile a bit more charcoal on top. Another thing to try is backing the air off a bit or difusing it more (bigger pipe, or more holes)I use a side blast and pine scraps, i have burnt up a peice of steel on ocasian but for the most part everything is good, and a minimum of fire fleas

[Marksnagel]

As a cast iron cook it would be a shame in my eyes to waste a cast iron pan when there are so many other ways to build a cheap forge.

 

Also Cast iron cookware is not Teflon coated. It is seasoned with any number of cooking food grade oils which gives it it's non stick coating when seasoned correctly.

 

I use a brake drum forge and a 55 forge. Both easy to make and both cheap. A side blast in an old bbq grill also works for getting started.

[Nobody Special]

I've had a lot of luck with a sort of duck's nest on top of a brake disc as firepot. I made mine about four inches deep, which means it's less versatile (no firebrick), but it works well for the fuel I'm using.