Coal forge firebox construction

[Den60]

I have been reading that a coal or coke firebox needs to be cast and 1" thick, Yet I see a lot of homemade forges where the firebox is 1/2" plate.  My forge design is with 1/2" plate. Should i worry about melting the box out in the middle of a project and dropping  to the floor?

[Scratch]

I know alot of people make them out of 1/2".  This guy uses them and sells them on eBay and it looks like they're pretty popular:

<Commercial link removed per TOS>

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Nope... my forge fire box is 3/8 plate with a grate of 1/4 inch plate and it's been going strong for the better part of 30 years now.

[Scratch]

This one (and mine) is made from 1/4" steel and here's what he has to say about the thickness:

"I made the fire pot. It is welded up out of quarter inch plate, thinner than what you see on some sites on the web, but I haven't had any issues with it. When forge welding all day, like at a forge welding class, it does get hot enough to glow dull red if the lights are low enough to see the glow."

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

Scratch, your link is not working, it brings you back to this thread. ???

[Den60]

Wow the ebay pot looks almost like mine

[Scratch]

18 hours ago, Scratch said:

Oops. Try this: <Commercial link removed per TOS>

 

[C-1ToolSteel]

Yes, 1/2" plate is more than enough. The "hot spot" of the fire is in the center, so you'd be suprised what you can get away with. I've used a grate made out if 1/16" steel wire woven together, and it lasted quite a while!

[arkie]

18 hours ago, Scratch said:

I know alot of people make them out of 1/2".  This guy uses them and sells them on eBay and it looks like they're pretty popular:

<Commercial link removed per TOS>

Those are made by Dave Custer. If they are anything like his hammers and tongs, they should be high quality.