Different kinds Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 I might make a forge out of an old popcorn holder(see picture) and I am wondering if I would lose too much heat if I took out the bottom of the can so that I could stick longer pieces of metal in it. I will put ceramic wool and maybe refractory cement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Different kinds Posted May 26 Author Share Posted May 26 Edit: the can is ten inches in diameter and about a foot in height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 In short yes. You can cut out the bottom but you will want to get some fire bricks or make some kind of door on the back. The idea is if you need a pass through arrange the fire bricks in a manner that will make it as small as possible. Same with the front as well. You do not cook dinner with the oven door open do you? Also there is no "maybe" with the refractory. Definitely coat it. Ceramic fiber is very hazardous to your lungs and cuases all kinds of bad things. Read the multiple threads here on building a gasser and follow what the old guys say to do. And with anything else when it comes to playing with hot things, always err on the side of caution. Another suggestion fill out your header and let us all know where in the great big world you are at. Another member could be living just a block from you or quite close. The community is helpful and friendly here and want to see you succeed and are willing to help out. Since your car, or i am assuming that is your car, does not have Ohio tags on it i am guessing you do not live near Dayton. If you did i would tell you to come over and get some of this ceramic blanket collecting dust in my barn for example. Anyway, welcome aboard. Have fun and stay safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Different kinds Posted May 26 Author Share Posted May 26 How would I use rigidizer on the wool before I put the cement? Would I spray it on or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcornell Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Rigidizer can be applied with a spray bottle (easily available at the big box hardware store) or take a big sheet pan and soak the ceramic with rigidizer. I've used the popcorn cans for small forges - it works, but it's not particularly durable. I had two paint can forges with a 2" passthrough hole in the back. They worked quite well. My son made a 24" long knife using that pass-through hole, so yes, it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Different kinds Posted May 27 Author Share Posted May 27 Thank you for all the help. I have one more question. Would I need to burn off the coating/paint on the outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Yes, probably. However, you would be better off to employ an old non-refillable Freon or helium cylinder, if you want to end up with that forge size. Just because you can get away with employing a popcorn tin, doesn't mean it's the smart choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Different kinds Posted May 28 Author Share Posted May 28 I would, but I don’t have anything like that. That’s the only reason I’m using the popcorn tin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 If you have a party supply store or auto repair shop near you, might stop in and ask them if they have any empty cylinders. The stores around here are happy to give them away for free. My propane supplier gave me an old out dated 20 lb BBQ tank that we built our forge from. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Different kinds Posted May 28 Author Share Posted May 28 Great to know. I will see! What would I ask for at the auto repair shop? I am under the impression that you can only use brake drums for coal forges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 Used mufflers; these can be cut in two, to provide perfect little shells for mini-oval forges. You can even see a video on the subject of building them on YouTube. Also, possibly non-refillable Freon cylinders, which like empty non-refillable helium cylinders (used to inflate party balloons), make perfect little mini-forges, of two-gallon size. Old propane cylinders, which customers leave behind, when buying new replacements for old cylinders that are no longer legal for refilling, are five-gallon size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Different kinds Posted May 29 Author Share Posted May 29 What’s wrong with the popcorn canister? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcornell Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 the popcorn can is really thin steel, so mounting legs and a burner holder on such a thin shell means you've got a lot of engineering problems to solve. Once you solve those problems, you'll then have an odd shaped forge body that will not last very long, given the high internal temperatures in a propane forge. It will work, but it's not an optimal shape, not very sturdy. An empty helium cannister is the right size, and of sufficient gauge that you can build a reasonably durable forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 Well put, jcornel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew LB Posted June 4 Share Posted June 4 I made a tiny forge out of a fire extinguisher when i first got started and then upgraded to a Craftsman portable 5 gallon air compressor tank with a 3/4" Frosty T-Burner. The air tank forge gets hot very fast and can easily get too hot, like when I melted part of an old cast iron vise i was trying to fix. IIRC that's about 2200'f for cast iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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