Xim Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hi guys i love the website you have here full of info. just made my 1st forge a brake drum type with a few additional tweaks here and there. the materials i picked up were very easy to get. 1st of all an old door to some electrical thingy but its approx 3-4 mm thick. i basically cut each sloping parts and then scored just enough metal away so that i could cold bend the thing into a sink type shape. Some more beads of weld can be used to build the scored corners if needed later there's the good ol' brake drum (not a very big one, i know but a fine start this drum is thick enough to take some serious heat im guessing about 8 mm. ok the blower is from an old huge computer to cool a massive old hard drive. its very strong so a variable device is needed to regulate this air flow..thats what is stuck on the end of it(or the beginnings of it). in its full glory and what to work my metal on but my 1st anvil.... this has not even been fired up yet as i have yet to make a gauze of some sort but next weekend i expect to burn her up. Xim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Welcome aboard Xim, glad to have you. That's a pretty good looking first forge. What's "gauze"? There're plenty of smiths from your side of the pond, some may be close enough to get together with. If you'll click "User CP" at the top of the page and edit your profile to show your location folk won't have to try remembering where you are and can invite you to get togethers, tip you to tool deals and lend you a hand directly. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xim Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 What's "gauze"? Frosty a gauze: basically something to stop charcoal lumps from falling into the pipework so this may work and is just gonna sit on top of the bolt heads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Ah, got it. This side of the pond we call em air grates. I think you've overdone the number of holes though. My coal forge has a similar pattern of 3/8" holes over a 2" dia. opening and I plugged all but 6 and I get plenty of air to burn coal. Charcoal won't need as much air generally. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Budd Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 yep, we call 'em grates too Welcome Xim, good to have you aboard! SW england? where abouts? there are lots of smiths of all kinds down here mate ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 howdy son from west texas- glad you here. be well and safe, jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Howdy from East TEXAS!! and welcome to IFI!. Yep, I'd say ya got the bug. Glad to have ya here. Have fun and BE SAFE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveW Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Hiya, South West here too, North Cornwall to be precise. the forge looks good, much better than my first effort Have fun. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 hi xim im in south west uk too - glos - where are you? like the forge looks like youre going to have some fun.. ive only been using this site for a few weeks but already i found out alsorts from how to forge a hummingbird to how to grow garlic... theres loads of good stuff on the blue prints too - theres like a live teaching thing but its on us time so its at a stupid time for us sadly. anyway - hi im beth:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xim Posted March 11, 2009 Author Share Posted March 11, 2009 Hey Beth i am in between Bath and Bristol :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Welcome The forge body looks like it could be galvanized steel tin When you welded it together was there any nasty fumes If so watch out when it gets hot the fumes are bad for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xim Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 781 : its painted only and rusting in places. the forge is going to be used outside only for the time being. the "T" section of pipework is galvanized however im guessing the fan will be pushing quite a bit of cool air through that plus its some distance from the fire pot and has another plate underneath it to shield the t-section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Welcome Xim! Be sure to check out the Wrought Iron Guild, located at Westpoint, Exeter. John Bellamy runs courses there and there's coke beans, stock and tools available to buy if you're looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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