Ok, I'm looking to build a simple charcoal forge, v shaped with an air supply from the bottom.   The idea is specifically for heat treating swords.  I've never really seen one and I'm not finding much info online.  Anyone have experience or advice?  I'm thinking an air pipe on the bottom drilled or for air flow and 1/4 inch sheet making the body.  Line it with fire brick and call it good?

The first question is how often you're going to need it. If you're going to be making a lot of swords, a dedicated forge could be useful. If you're only making a few and not too often, you could get away with a long JABOD. If you're going to make more than that, you could consider something like the Tim Lively Washtub Forge:

Note that (pace Tim) if you're using a hairdryer as your air source, you don't need a rheostat to control it. Just have a gap between the nozzle and the opening of the pipe; you can adjust the blast by changing the size of the gap.

Also remember that you don't need a fire to be the full length of blade, especially since a charcoal fire is unlikely to be precisely the same temperature from one end to the other. It would be better to have a forge that's no more than half the length of the blade and to keep the blade moving through the fire to ensure even heating.

Great tips!  I'll be making enough where having a dedicated forge would be good.  I can't help it,  they're fun.  I'll check these out and go from there.  

Good Morning Chad,

Don't try to Invent the wheel. Look up Whitlox Forges in Oregon. They make Forges that burn Wood for fuel. Yes the Wood turns to Charcoal, but your fuel starts as Wood. Not putting it in an Incinerator to control the Burn to make Charcoal, first.  Yes, I also made one and I did a Demo for CanIRON in 2021 using my Forge. 

First question I have is, you are starting with a Galvanized Wash Tub. At least one, maybe more of our Members is/are no longer Alive, because of Galvanizing on material. The second question I have is, what kind of 'Wind Generator' are you using, to expect to use that many holes in your Air system?  I threaded the holes in mine and used Bolts to plug what I didn't need/use.

Enjoy your experiment, but pay attention to the stuff that will Kill You.

Neil

Neil, please note that the washtub forge was made by Tim Lively, not by Chad. Tim retired about fifteen years ago, but was an active bladesmith for decades. He last visited IFI in 2020.

Second, it is true that Jim "Paw Paw" Wilson died from exposure to zinc oxide fumes 21 years ago this Wednesday, but (A) that was the result of using his gas forge to burn the galvanization off a number of pieces of pipe, (B) his death was not simply from exposure to the fumes, but also from how they aggravated his existing COPD, and (C) a galvanized bucket or washtub that has been insulated with dirt or clay is not going to get hot enough to burn off the zinc. Sometimes, paying attention to the things that *can* kill you means not assuming that they *will* kill you.

Good Morning,

I understand that, but others always need to be reminded. There is never 'ONE' thing that creates the last blow. Why test your Envelope!!

Neil

Well, the first step of testing the envelope is to know where the envelope actually is. A tablesaw can cut off your fingers, but not at a range of a dozen yards.

In the case of galvanized steel, zinc starts to form zinc oxide fumes at 392°F (200°C), with dangerous amounts produced above its melting point of 787°F (419°C) and especially after it vaporizes at 900°F (482°). All forging temperatures are well above that vaporization point, so forging galvanized steel is obviously out.

However, even the lowest of these temperatures is higher than the temperature at which wood begins to char. If a JABOD isn't getting hot enough to scorch, a washtub forge of equal size and lining material isn't going to be a major fuming hazard.

It's also an important distinction that your body eliminates zinc readily.  Any exposure to cadmium or lead is a bad thing, because those metals build up in your body.  But occasional exposure to zinc that doesn't cause acute symptoms also doesn't (in all probability) cause you long-term harm.

Hey guys,  thanks for the warnings and suggestions.  I'll likely build this from scratch and set it up to take a forge blower.   I have some good sized sheet and I'll go with inch and a half black pipe drilled for air  with a small sized angle over the top to distribute the air flow evenly.   I've also become a big fan of using tube stock in the forge to get a more even and slower heating.  Fuel choice is going to be lump charcoal.  I'm thinking length with be 24 inches and having a flat bar extend on either end  to help prevent gravity from doing its thing to hot horizontal steel.  I'll do a rough sketch up later for suggestions.  Only issue is going to be when (or if, thank you ADD) I'll get it built.