First Forge advice?
First Forge advice?
Hey, guys, I just started pounding metal cold, and I want to get into stuff with heat. What do you suggest for a really cheap heater? Propane torch or such?
If you want to use charcoal get the natural, or real charcoal, not the brickets.
The brickets burn up too fast and turn strait into ash, lots of ash. The charcoal is under the brand name of 'Cowboy' or natural charcoal is made from wood, and looks like it when you open the bag.
It does have a tendency to spark and pop sometimes, usually right into my eye for some reason.
My dirty little secret is that I use it to start my forge, because it's easier to get lit, and it burns away clean.
The brickets burn up too fast and turn strait into ash, lots of ash. The charcoal is under the brand name of 'Cowboy' or natural charcoal is made from wood, and looks like it when you open the bag.
It does have a tendency to spark and pop sometimes, usually right into my eye for some reason.
My dirty little secret is that I use it to start my forge, because it's easier to get lit, and it burns away clean.
When it goes all wrong, it's probably Nobudy's fault
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losthelm
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charcoal can easly be produced at home with a few 55 galon steel drums with the ring clamp.
there are a number of articles on google that give more info.
the great thing about charcoal is nonpreshure treated lumber scraps, pallets, dead fall or sawmill scraps can easly be obtained for the cost of asking and the drive to pick it up.
The pipe work can all be done with standard plumging pipe.
there is a bit more skill involved in making a set of bellows but for a working forge the blower form a hairdryer will provide plenty of air for most projects.
If you want to work on big pieces or do foundry or smelting work talk to the HVAC and home contractos. many people are upgrade heating forced air heating systems. the blower is much more then you would ever need but it also be put to use as shop ventilation. to use these righ you will need some kind of speed control or a way to cut the volume of air.
there are a number of articles on google that give more info.
the great thing about charcoal is nonpreshure treated lumber scraps, pallets, dead fall or sawmill scraps can easly be obtained for the cost of asking and the drive to pick it up.
The pipe work can all be done with standard plumging pipe.
there is a bit more skill involved in making a set of bellows but for a working forge the blower form a hairdryer will provide plenty of air for most projects.
If you want to work on big pieces or do foundry or smelting work talk to the HVAC and home contractos. many people are upgrade heating forced air heating systems. the blower is much more then you would ever need but it also be put to use as shop ventilation. to use these righ you will need some kind of speed control or a way to cut the volume of air.
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mattmaus
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all of the debating about fuel source aside,
What do you plan on using it for?
I would go about things differently depending on what the end result was supposed to be. Meaning, I would build a different forge if I wanted to make swords, than I would build if I wanted to make armor.
What do you plan on using it for?
I would go about things differently depending on what the end result was supposed to be. Meaning, I would build a different forge if I wanted to make swords, than I would build if I wanted to make armor.
It looked better in my head....
Damnit.
Damnit.
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michael stuart
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This design is very easy to get started with if using lump charcoal:
http://64.176.180.203/washtubforge.htm
A bathroom exhaust fan can be had for less than $20 that will work ok; put a plate or some duct tape over the air intake to regulate how much air goes into the fire.
Propane is cleaner but takes a lot more fiddling or substantially higher start-up costs to get going.
Once you've tried it out and have an idea of what sorts of projects you plan to be doing, you may decide you want charcoal, propane, and coal forge setups.
http://64.176.180.203/washtubforge.htm
A bathroom exhaust fan can be had for less than $20 that will work ok; put a plate or some duct tape over the air intake to regulate how much air goes into the fire.
Propane is cleaner but takes a lot more fiddling or substantially higher start-up costs to get going.
Once you've tried it out and have an idea of what sorts of projects you plan to be doing, you may decide you want charcoal, propane, and coal forge setups.
I'm not particularly interested in swords for the time being, just armor. I recently picked up boffing on a trip to Finland, and was considering joining the SCA sometime in the not-so-far future. Bracers, helms, shields, and the like are what I'm thinking of making. I do have budget constraints considering I'm a full-time student.
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Thomas Powers
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- Location: Socorro, New Mexico
I would suggest you find the local ABANA chapter if you live in the USA and attend a few of their meetings to find information, tooling, etc.
http://www.abana-chapter.com/
Just think if you had listed your general location somone doing hot work already might have invited you over to see how it's done!
as for budget constraints I once put together a complete beginners forging set up: forge, anvil, air supply, basic tooling for under US$25
Nice forge too I used to use it for billet welding for several years in preference to my commercially made forges.
Thomas
http://www.abana-chapter.com/
Just think if you had listed your general location somone doing hot work already might have invited you over to see how it's done!
as for budget constraints I once put together a complete beginners forging set up: forge, anvil, air supply, basic tooling for under US$25
Nice forge too I used to use it for billet welding for several years in preference to my commercially made forges.
Thomas