Howdy. New here. Ive been a welder/fabricator for a long time but just got into smithing the last couple years. Dont laugh to hard but heres a pic or two of my homemade forge. It works well. One thing about Eastern,Ky coal is vastly abundant,LOL
Pic of the couter weight balanced ash drop and air flow.

Topside...

Welcome to IFI, KYBOY!
Judging from your pics, looks like your forge does just fine!
There's lots of metalworking information here, and friendly folks too.
If you have questions, just ask.

Nice hot-spot,looks like you're in business.I'm terribly envious of your access to coal-flying it in here at more than $1 a pound...must be nice!

Thanks guys. Yea coal is one thing we have plenty off. I can buy it by the truckload for around $50 a ton or so. usually though Ill go to friends and familys coal piles(who still use coal for heat) and get the "scag" coal from the bottom of the pile (small coal about dime sized). Looks like a great forum.:)

KYBOY,.......that's how I get a lot of my coal.
The typical conversation goes something like this;

Neighbor: "You use coal don't you?"
Jayco: " Uh-Yeah"
Neighbor: "Well, my mom's got an old 'coal pile' in the back yard that she'd like to have cleaned up."
Jayco: "O K"

It si easy to clean and remove the dirt from the coal.

IForgeIron > Blueprints > BP0450 Clean Coal

KYBOY--Another welcome to IFI. Where in the eastern part of Ky.? My hometown is Harlan. I live in Il. now--heading home for a reunion first week in June. Usta bring all my coal from there.

I live just north east of Harlan a bit in Floyd county.

My mother and father comes from Floyd County, A place called Maytown, or also known as Langley,Ky.
Next time I get up that way, I'll get me some coal....

I dont live far at all from Maytown. I still get my hair cut there :D

Do you know any Robinson's from there, Lets see,,,Barry , Tim , Bud, Carl , Tom, Or Bill, Those are uncles and cousin's..
from my Mother's side...Have a good Day...Tom