This is the forge I'm building now just wanted to share while I wait for the blower. Can you all share your diy forges also?

Here's mine. Finished it yesterday. I know it isn't the most basic but it is what I have. 

I have some things yet to put on mine but it's operational if I wished.

Sorry for the poor angle and picture quality, I'm not much of a photographer

The first is my coal brake drum forge. The second is my first attempt at a gas forge. I have since upgraded to a cast refractory design, but have to take pictures

13 hours ago, Camerican said:

Here's mine. Finished it yesterday. I know it isn't the most basic but it is what I have. 

 

Nice job! The green pipe really makes it pop.

My JABOD. 

(And don't worry: those cardboard boxes are actually a lot farther from the flames than they look.)

I made my frame out of wood so I can easily lift it out of my workshop to use it. I have also put in a dimmable socket to control air flow from the hairdryer and that is effective.

Great job how many square in or feet is the inside of your for forge and how highs your ceailing from forge Im things of doing something like that with my lid 

 

The inside is 21 inches, the fire pot is made by filling the sides with dirt to give a 3 inch deep by 3 inch across. The top has about an inch to keep a supply of coal. I have used it for 5 months at it hasn't failed me yet.

Version one, version two, version three, all with the same brake drum and tuyere piping. By the time I'd bolted the drum into the metal cart, I'd cut off the ash dump end of the piping and put a bucket of water under the ash dump, full enough to cover the end of the pipe, that ended all rusted up ash dump issues.

that last version was hauled to a Hammer In and donated to the Iron in the Hat event. Replaced with a cast iron forge and firepot.

Here is the updated version

You guys I love em all

 

You guys I love em all

 

Here is mine, been in service for 25+ years. The only cost was for the pipe and electricity + welding rods for the welder.

The blower was donated by a friend who owned Hanby Lumber & Milling that had a blacksmith shop in the early 1900s.

The body is cut down from a semi-trailer wheel with a 22 inch manhole ring as the table. The legs are a split grader blade. Everything scrounged from various sources.

Here is my first attempt. Still not finished, have to put a lip around outer edge of table. Firepot made from 3/4" plate thanks to a friend with a lot of steel and a plasma cutter. Had I known more the design would have been different. Good start until I know more what my needs are.

very nice looking job Digger. you burning coal or charcoal in there ? 

Dude I like it does the table top get hot enough to burn soft wood 

 

This is the forge I use. So far it has worked great.

1 minute ago, Thats Hot... said:

This is the forge I use. So far it has worked great.

Now you're just showing off. That's the best use of an old BBQ I've ever seen. 

I was going to make the frame out of bed rail. But every time I weld up  something welded with bed rail, it leans this way and that way. This was a one day build I had everything but the floor flange for the pipe.

3 hours ago, PapaDooks said:

very nice looking job Digger. you burning coal or charcoal in there ? 

Been burning anthracite coal from tractor supply. Got plenty hot but was a little hard to lite.

29 minutes ago, DiggerDiggs said:

Been burning anthracite coal from tractor supply. Got plenty hot but was a little hard to lite.

The secret to lighting anthracite is to get a good fire going with newspaper, kindling, and a handful of charcoal. Once that's going, pile coal on from the sides, leaving an opening at the top like a volcano. A good, steady blast, and Bob's your uncle. 

18 hours ago, JHCC said:

The secret to lighting anthracite is to get a good fire going with newspaper, kindling, and a handful of charcoal. Once that's going, pile coal on from the sides, leaving an opening at the top like a volcano. A good, steady blast, and Bob's your uncle. 

Thanks for the tip. I'll give that a try next time I fire it up.

One of anthracite's other quirks is that it needs some degree of blast all the time; otherwise, it will go out. Not a problem if you're using a mechanical blower (especially one you can turn way down while you're actually forging), but an issue if you're relying on a hand crank or a hand pump.

ahh shouldn't that be an electrical blower?  A hand crank *is* a mechanical blower