plough harrow as a forge base?

[NZFelix]

Hi, Im new to the hobby, thinking of making a forge from a 2' diamater plough disk

It is about 1/4 of an inch thick

I have a never ending supply of these 

What do you think??

[Daswulf]

Sure, it could work as a forge base. What type of forge are you planning to make for what fuel? Also what type of things do you plan to forge?

[ThomasPowers]

Way bigger than you may need, how will you make the firepot?

[NZFelix]

Thinking coal. I made the twyeer out of 50mm scaff tube. 

[pnut]

They're about the same dimensions a rivet Forge. I've seen pictures of harrow disc forges but haven't used one. Seems like it would work fine for coal. You'll need a ducks nest for a firepot though. 

Pnut

[Daswulf]

Got a picture of the disc so we can get a better idea of its shape? 

The T pipe looks fine to me.

[ThomasPowers]

(Must be a city feller).  Ag disks are round and slightly dished and are made tough and abrasion resistant.

[Daswulf]

I've seen a couple different styles is why I asked. Larger slightly domed, ones with the "nubs" on the outside, and some have a deeper domed section at the center where they bolt on. Might be different animals but just was trying to clear up the guess work. The kind I have would work as a forge table if a forge pot was added in the middle and legs added. So in using it as a "forge base" I think table not pot. But it all really depends. 

[ThomasPowers]

Yes when they said "base" I first thought they meant the part on the ground. Further writing cleared it up as to what was intended.  Used disks are often made into "discos" out here with the center welded up and 3 legs tacked on and often handles added. They are used to cook over an open fire as sort of a "Mexican Wok".

[Irondragon Forge ClayWorks]

I have one about the same size, I made into a bird feeder. It would work as a forge table if it was filled with clay mix and a ducks nest fire pot, or a side blast. Sorta like this one I'm building, just need to clay it.

[NZFelix]

OK thanks folks

I didnt think I would need a firepot if I built the fire in the middle.

I think a small brake drum off a 4 runner or similar could be adapted as a firepot. Im new to this hobby.

 

 

[Daswulf]

Just to say, as a fire pot a rear  brake "rotor" has served me well as a fire pot.dimensions between 2-3"deep and 8-9" in diameter of the inner section. In my forge tables I cut a hole as big as the pot part and the flange or outer brake part holds it in the hole. The T is attached underneith. I prefer to make it out of screw together pipe fittings to make it removable or adjustable. 

[NZFelix]

A rotor? I like that idea, its smaller than a drum.

 

[Frazer]

I've used a rotor for a while now too. It works best if you line the hat with a sand/clay mix to make it into more of a bowl shape. The 90 degree shoulder in the bottom of the rotor isn't a great shape to get a nice size fireball. Plus it gives you a bit of a barrier from the heat and oxidizing fire inside the lower part of the firepot.

I agree with Das about screwing things together where possible, it's nice to be able to take things apart if needed.

[Daswulf]

I recently finished a new brake rotor fire pot, and have another waiting to get finished up. I didn't need a new one yet but in whatever little free time I have to play around I figured I'd make a few spares and be able to sell them cheaply if anyone needed help starting out. The rotors came off the back of my 08 jeep wrangler and had the right dimensions to work well. The new one is being tested in my shop forge table and has worked fine. 

Frazer, filling in the 90° is a good idea but I've never bothered. The space gets filled either way. It just uses the coal, fines and ash to do it. Filling the space would make clean out a little easier but I haven't had any issue with it not filled in. 

[bluerooster]

This, you can fill the angles and dish it, or not.   Mine has rather steep sides, and a wider than optimum bottom, but ash, dust, etc. seem to fill, and insulate it quite well.