Forges 101
The beginning of forge design is the study of burners. The proper end point of burner design is the equipment they power. Lumped together, these subjects are too unwieldy; at the same time, they can't stand-alone, since their study is as intertwined as the equipment itself.
What kind of forge is best is an arbitrary question, without any adequate answer. But, whatever design you favor, there are common factors which lead to a desired end point--or away from it.
Size: Bigger is never
Using Silica Based Rigidizer
Ceramic fiber products are so porous that water runs right through them, unlike solid refractory, which must be slowly dried out, and then heat cured to prevent damage from build up of steam pressure. So, ceramic fiber can be "cured as you go," which means that nothing prevents you from slowly rotating an outer layer of blanket on a curved surface, spritzing the rigidizer to each area that is laying flat under the weight of the liquid, using your burner (turned