so Im looking at building a gas forge and was looking for a housing, well as luck would have it I have recently replaced My mailbox and I am wondering, is it possible with the right insulation(either kaolwool or refractory cement) to use the mailbox as the forge body? has anyone attempted it before? I see the paint can and soup can forges so to me it seems that it is feasible ...any information is appreciated.

Sure it'll work provided it isn't an aluminum mailbox. It'll probably be galvanized needing a soak in vinegar to remove the galvanizing (zinc plating).

There are other alternatives though so don't get yourself stuck on the one thing. I haven't made a pipe or vault forge in a long time but I just went a different direction. Oh, a mail box shape is a "vault" as taken from architectural terminology, from the Roman.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

Well, Frosty said "as long as it isn't aluminum".  I guess he forgot plastic.  Maybe they don't have them up yonder.

The mail box is a good shape, however is thin if you are going to have to weld in a burner tube, etc.  Check out the attachments on the Forge Supplies page at www.WayneCoeArtistBlacksmth.com for how I like to build a gas forge.

Let me know if I can help you.

[email protected].

Yes good idea Wayne don't use a plastic mailbox.  Not that it'd be a problem for long. Still.

Frosty The Lucky.

thanks guys, im pretty sure this one is galvi so ill have to use the vinegar method. it snot a terribly huge mailbox compared to the one I just put up lol but I think it will do alright after I figure out how to attach the burner..

Use steel or stainless steel pop rivets to attach a spread foot for the mounts. It won't take a lot the burner shouldn't be heavy nor get bumped much. A short length of small angle iron pop riveted to forge shell works a treat.

Frosty The Lucky.

Me I took a section of blackiron pipe my burner tube would fit through and then used a hacksaw to saw down a diameter an inch or two and then heated and bent out the flaps and then fastened them to my forge body

ill give those methods a look, which would be better for insulating it, kaowoll or a nice refractory cement wall? I will be using fire brick for the floor so it will be durable.

Use both and cast the floor too.