Will Barkley Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Hello, new to this forum and thought I would throw a curve ball. I am starting to piece together a respectable metal working tool collection and I am missing a forge. I don't have the scratch to throw down for a new/used forge. I have a bad ford transmission that I plan on gutting and was wondering if it could be used as the hull of a forge. I was thinking about casing the inside with a fire-brick mortar. That's really as far as I've thought this through. Anybody tried this, heard of trying this or has some constructive criticism to throw at me would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-1ToolSteel Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Solid fuel or gas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 What do you need it to do? (I need a new vehicle, can you tell me if it should be a 15 person van, a boat, a small gas efficient commuter or a dumptruck? Why Not?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Obviously you are thinking in using the cast gearbox for a gas forge. Hum ... will it take the heat without cracking? May be ok. Must be from a large truck. A picture would help, but I think you are making a rod for your own back. Why not using an LPG tank? The gearbox will smoke a lot the first time you fire it up. Of course a gearbox turned into a forge would be a talking point particularly if you leave the gear stick on at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 But can you downshift for heavy stock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 The forward gears are oxidizing; reverse, reducing. Make sure to keep your fire in neutral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 ALL aluminum alloys lose their tempering at about 400 F; so over a short period of time it will not only become a funky overweight tool; iy will also bevome a weak one. Around its exhhaust openings, where forges with steel shells sometimes turn red, it will already have melted and run like water, since aluminum alloys turn liquid at 1200 F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 15, 2017 Share Posted February 15, 2017 Welcome aboard Will glad to have you. Pull up a chair, grab some snacks and drinks and get ready for some reading. Iforge is organized in sections which contain archived posts that cover probably most any question you can come up with and answers them many times over. I'll hand it to you though, nobody's asked about using a tranny as a forge shell. I suppose you could use one but I don't think it'd be worth NOT scrapping. Take a look through the gas forge section for any number of designs some excellent some downright daffy. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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