HeimAhrkTu Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 Hey all! I finally got back into the forging mood, but the problem is, I still haven't got my forge up and running yet. I managed to get my hands on this chimenea, but it's pretty rusty. I might be able to route the bellows through a hole in the bottom, and the grate that holds up the fuel is still remarkably intact, I just need to make a new door and get some charcoal or coke. Any advice? Will the rust affect anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 My concern would be that a forge fire with an air blast is goind to be a lot hotter than a normal fire. So, the clay chimenea may be subjected to more thermal stress and possibly crack or simply fall apart. You may be able to minimize the risk by keeping your forging fire smalish and in the center of the grate. Also, the grate has slots all over it to provide a draft to the wood fire. You probably want to block most of these slots except what is feeding the fire in the center. Possibly clay or a circular sheet of metal with a hole in the canter. You have to tear everything down to clean the ashes and clinker out. Finally, unless it was elevated somehow I wouldn't want to work with a fire that low. My back and knees wouldn't be happy. As an alternative you may want to look up JABOD (Just A Box of Dirt) forges. Those may be a better chyice than a chimenea. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." PS Don't worry about rust. "In rust we trust." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 I wouldn't try and make it into a forge. Have you looked into the JABOD forges, easy to make and usually with materials already on hand. Then you could use the Chimenea for it's intended purpose a fire pit. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sails. ~ Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeimAhrkTu Posted June 23, 2023 Author Share Posted June 23, 2023 1 hour ago, George N. M. said: the clay chimenea may be subjected to more thermal stress and possibly crack or simply fall apart. I'm pretty sure it's not clay, but cast iron. It's just really rusty. A JABOD forge might be just what I need, though. I simply thought it would be easier to modify a preexisting object to suit my needs than it would be to make something new from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 I'm afraid it would take a lot longer to modify it than build a JABOD and it wouldn't work nearly as well. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sails. ~ Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 OK, cool. All the chimineas I have ever seen were clay/terracotta. I agree that converting it to a forge would be more work than it is worth. You have much better options. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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