Epicnoob Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 I’ve seen varying opinions on making a forge with a sink but it’s what I have so I’m gonna use it. My questions are, what can I do for an ash dump in it? Would it be better to blow the air up into it or build a dirt “bed” then put air through the side of it? Last, if it’s easier to blow the air through the drain port how do I build that up? Do I just put dirt/clay on the sides and a pile of coal in the middle? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Have you read the 55 forge thread or the jabod threads? You could adapt a sink to either design. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicnoob Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 I’ve read the JABOD threads and that’s why I’m trying to decide the best options. This is my first venture into this, so I’m trying to keep it as simple and cheap as possible. Especially the bottom blast vs side blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 (edited) I think filling it with clay rich soil and making a side blast would be the simplest option. I have a jabod and I'm happy with it. It does everything I need it to do. I thought about using a sink myself. Pnut Edited September 23, 2019 by pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicnoob Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 The soil where I’m at has plenty of clay. What are the disadvantages for doing a bottom blast? I don’t really have anyway to cut a hole in the sink. I figured rigging a pipe up to the drain would be easier for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Either bottom blast or side blast will work fine if you make it to work fine. Just thinking about a sink shape you may need to either build up the clay higher or cut a passthrough so stock can get to the sweet spot in the fire. One way or another you might need to cut or drill the sink. What fuel are you planning to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicnoob Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 I’m going to use lump coal in it. My plan is too use a hand crank blower because I don’t have electric where I’m gonna set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Ok, we usually just call coal, coal. We use the term "lump" charcoal to differentiate from charcoal briquettes, which won't work well for forging. So do you mean lump "charcoal" or coal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 2 hours ago, Epicnoob said: don’t really have anyway to cut a hole in the sink. If it's steel you can cut it with a cold chisel or drill a bunch of little holes around a circle you draw on the sink with a marker and knock or chisel it the rest of the way off. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Welcome to IFI... Have you read this yet? READ THIS FIRST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 You could use an old dresser drawer or pretty much anything that will hold dirt to make a jabod. Mine is made out of a night stand a hotel was getting rid of. Screw together a box out of wood. It's easier to drill. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicnoob Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 1 hour ago, Irondragon Forge & Clay said: Welcome to IFI... Have you read this yet? READ THIS FIRST No I have not. I thought I was gonna post this and not get a reply. But this community seems awesome. 1 hour ago, Daswulf said: So do you mean lump "charcoal" or coal? I think I mean coal. The farm supply store said they only had lump coal and didn’t have “nut and stove” coal? It was $.20 a pound if that helps. 1 hour ago, pnut said: You could use an old dresser drawer or pretty much anything that will hold dirt to make a jabod. Mine is made out of a night stand a hotel was getting rid of. Screw together a box out of wood. It's easier to drill. Pnut I’m just “borrowing” an old sink from my father in law. It’s just what have. I don’t have a good junk pile yet haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 I think you are going to be getting anthracite coal. It's going to be tough to keep lit with a hand cranked blower. Anthracite likes constant air. More air when you're heating up stock and a little bit of air to keep it going when you're at the anvil. If it's anthracite you're going to be getting you may want to think about charcoal or find a place you can get bituminous coal. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 I would say ditch the sink. Do you have any pallets around your area? If so you have the materials to build a JABOD. I would go side blast myself so the ash dump is not needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donal Harris Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Many sinks are stainless. Stainless can be hard to put holes in. Just find some pallets and go with a JABOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicnoob Posted September 24, 2019 Author Share Posted September 24, 2019 Pallets sound like a pretty good idea. Why don’t you need an ash dump for a side blast? Doesn’t it have to go somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epicnoob Posted September 24, 2019 Author Share Posted September 24, 2019 After doing more research I might just get the sink and start a junk pile with it. Could be a quench tank or something. I just bought a house and there’s a handful of junk in the basement and some that’s outside I can scrounge through and see if it’ll work. I know I have an old furnace door I might could use as a bed for the coal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 For a coal bottom blast I use 2" black pipe for the "t" of my bottom blast forge. I could share my exact design if you really wanted, it's proven. If you built right you are good. With a side blast and coal, yes you will have to dig out the junk once in a while but same with a bottom blast really. Start with a "known to work" design and improve from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Depending on the fuel and how fast the ash builds up you may not need to scrape it out until you are done. With a side blast and coal you don't plug up the air flow with cliinker like a bottom blast does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 17 hours ago, Epicnoob said: Why don’t you need an ash dump for a side blast? Doesn’t it have to go somewhere? The tuyere is above the floor of the firepot so the ash collects below the air supply. If it gets above it I turn the air up and blow them out. With coal you have to clean the clinker out though. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 Around these parts "lump" coal is "stove" coal. About 2-3x the size of nut coal. It will need to be broken down into smaller pieces. If it is anthrocite wear safety goggles when breaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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