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Coal forge question


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I just picked up a old coal forge but it will need the lower hardware. My question is can i cut the firebox out and drop in a break drum that i already have all the plumbing for? Or do i need to buy a new fire box they all seem to be 85-200 which is way more than i spent on the forge to begin with. Here is a picture of the forge table. Any help or sujestions would be great . Also do i need to line it with refractory cement> sorry if these are stupid questions im just trying to get started.

Thanks 

 

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Greetings Tracker, 

The answers are yes and yes.. You could cut out a hole for your brake drum pot or just fit up the pluming to the the exsisting hole..  It is wise on old cast forges to clay the bottom .  I would also suggest that you bring the forge up to operating temperature slow and it will last you a long time.. Have fun

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

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I don't see a major problem with the fire pot as shown, why does it need replacing? The shape of this fire pot is generally better than a brake drum. If it does need replacing sure you can cut that one out and replace it. You'll have to use something other than an oxy acetylene torch to cut it.

Mix approx, 1pt. clay with 2pts. sand and just enough moisture it will squeeze into a hard lump in your hand then ram it in with a mallet till hard enough to bounce the mallet. The only purpose of a clay liner is to disperse heat more evenly to the cast iron pan. Cast iron doesn't like large differences in temperature over small areas.

It looks like we're all on the same page. :blink:

Frosty The Lucky.

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The only problem with the hole that's already ther is it seems a little thin at the edges about 1/4 thick and the opening is about 4 1/4 wide. If I could get away with it I would love yo clay it in and just use it and not cut into it but I don't want to set myself up for failure ether. If I use the existing after I clay and attack fitting the depression will only be about 3 inches deep will this be deep enough? 

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1/4" isn't bad, put 1/2"-1" of clay on it and it's just fine. I don't understand what you mean by, attack fitting the depression".

In general 3 deep is plenty for a fire pot. If you need more stack the fuel deeper and turn up the air. It's air that makes the fire hot, not fuel. Fuel burns but it takes air to do it so you can have quite a pile of coal or coke and a small fire going it depends on the air.

Charcoal is different but it's still the air that controls the show.

Frosty The Lucky.

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25 minutes ago, Frosty said:

1/4" isn't bad, put 1/2"-1" of clay on it and it's just fine. I don't understand what you mean by, attack fitting the depression".

In general 3 deep is plenty for a fire pot. If you need more stack the fuel deeper and turn up the air. It's air that makes the fire hot, not fuel. Fuel burns but it takes air to do it so you can have quite a pile of coal or coke and a small fire going it depends on the air.

Charcoal is different but it's still the air that controls the show.

Frosty The Lucky.

Damm auto correct was Supost to read attach not attack. I will get a floor flange and go that rought then thanks for the information. 

 

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funny I had an old cast iron forge with round firepot in bad shape and what I ended up using was the axle cover from around a '37 banjo rear end.  They were often made into jackstands.  I found a pair at the fleamarket for US$3 and have been using the first one for about 30 years so far---it's actually in it's 4th or 5th forge.  When it dies  I will just use the other one....I turn 60 this year so I think I'm covered....

spreading some creek clay and bolting in a wok---stainless preferably---comes to mind as well

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