Subject: Re: Plans for FORGE?

From: [email-masked]
Date: 4 Dec 1996 17:54:59 GMT

>   "hotanvil" <[email-masked]> writes:
>  Lindsay
>  
>  I suggest that you first try a "want to buy" classified ad for
>  blacksmithing tools and equipment.  You will be astonished at the response.
>   In all probability you can obtain a decent forge, anvil, tools and whatnot
>  for far less than the value of your time in building a forge.  Just be
>  sensible;  make sure that what you buy is in good working condition, and
>  don't get a hernia lugging it home!  Good Luck.
>  
>  Oh.  Look up the local chapter of ABANA, the Artist Blacksmith Association
>  of North America.  You will find that most smiths are eager to help you
>  learn the trade.
>  
>  Steve
>  
>>>>
I have built several coal forges for less than $30 in parts and less than a half hour
construction time, not including air source.  It would be hard for me to imagine
buying anything cheaper or for less effort- in fact just the time involved in
placing the ad would likely go over, if your newpaper places you on hold!

Alternately, I can build one for you and ship it out for$100 plus UPS charges...

Lance Berg
LaForge
http://www.joust.com/LaForge

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From: "hotanvil" <[email-masked]>
Date: 4 Dec 1996 04:26:15 GMT

Lindsay

Steve

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From: Glen Gardner <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 04 Dec 1996 19:36:49 +0000

Dear Lindsay,
               The company listed below is a great source of old 
re-prints. Most are cheap and they do have a bunch on 
blacksmithing. As to buliding a forge first decide if you want to 
burn coal (bituminous) natural charcoal(not brickets) is also a good 
fuel, or whether you want to build a gas forge that runs on propane. 
Both have advantages and disadvantages.  Neither is terribly 
difficult to put together. Do check the Artist Blacksmith Assc. of 
North America(ABANA) web site: 

http://wuarchive.wustl.edu/edu/arts/metal/AM_res.html 
they might have some plan sheets.
 Check this other one too:
http://sunsite.unc.edu/abana/mainindex.html

Good luck, write me if you want to chat about this some more.
    Glen Gardner  Pres. Pittsburgh Metals Society

From: Lindsay Publications PO Box 538 Bradley,IL 60915  USA
          Ph# 815/935-5353
Send them a buck or two and ask for their catalogs,they have 3 
"Metalworking" "Tecnical" and "Electronics" GET THEM! You will 
love them

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From: Rick Cook <[email-masked]>
Date: 5 Dec 1996 05:02:22 GMT

Lindsay Rowlands wrote:
>I'm seeking help in locating some plans that I can use to get a 
>modest forge up and running. I want to heat mild steel and 'smith'
>it rather than make castings to build a 747 ;-)
>
Well, you can get the Lindsay catalog and order one of the many books
on blacksmithing. Almost all of them show you how to make a forge.

You can also check out the ABANA home page (whose URL has just gone away!)
for plans and tips.

Otherwise:
The forge is about the easiest thing to make in a blacksmith shop. I have
used everything from an old barbeque grill lined with river clay and blown
with a hair drier through a device made from a truck brake drum to forges
built up of brick. I've also used professionally built forges, including a
lovely little model with a water cooled tuyere developed by Jess Hawley.

Basically all you need is something to hold your fire (say a truck brake
drum), a source of air (an old hair drier or other blower), a method of
regulating the air flow (a simple flap that can completely or partially
close the blower output) and some sort of tubing (flexible metal like they
use in automotible exhuast systems works well). You need a hole in the
bottom of the fire pan to blow the air in (which the brake drum already
had) and there you are.

That's pretty basic, but it will get you started. As you read and learn
you'll see what features you need and how to add them. It really is about
that simple.

--RC

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From: "hotanvil" <[email-masked]>
Date: 4 Dec 1996 04:29:03 GMT

Whoops, just noticed you are not in New England area of USA, but in
Australia.  Sorry, the ABANA info won't help there, but I'll bet there is
some similar association.  You might call a library for a directory of
associations and ask about blacksmithing.  

Steve

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 9 Dec 1996 13:53:57 GMT

>   Lindsay Rowlands <[email-masked]> writes:
>  If anyone can point me in the right direction I will be most
>  appreciative. And apologies all round if this has been covered
>  before - I've only been looking in here a little while.
>  
>  Cheers,
>  -- 
>  Lindsay Rowlands, Faculty of Arts, University of New England, Armidale
>  NSW Australia.
>  
>>>>
Here is a description of my $30/ 30 minute coalburning forge construction:

NO, but I'll run you through it quick:

Go to a local farm supply stor, purchase a large cutting disk replacement:  Looks
sort of like a big hub cap painted black, with a hole in the center: it's made of
tempered steel, weights a ton, and has sharp edges, so never drop it on your foot!

Also buy a large diameter (1 1/2 inch or 2 inch) galvanized steel t section pipe,
and one screw in cap to fit.

If you don't have appropriate stock at hand you will need 4 3 foot pipes to serve as 
legs- to get really fancy, buy threaded caps to make the legs removable.

For air feed, buy a length of collapsible aluminum vent pipe.

Finally, buy a steel straining spoon for deep fryer- looks like a very shallow bowl
with lots of bb sized holes in it and a long handle.

Assembly: weld the T to the bottom of the Cutter at one end, so you will have a right
angle lead in for air and a straight drop to let ash and (if you leave it out in the 
rain) water out.  The hole must be completely surrounded by pipe, so all air goes
into the forge.

Weld a straight piece of scrap onto the cap to serve as a handle, screw into bottom of
T

Weld the four legs on around the rim

Cut the handle from the spoon, round off, and weld it to the inside, covering the
hole

Extend the vent tubing, squeeze one end tight around the t intake.

Flip your forge so it stands on its legs

Attach air source to other end of vent tubing

Build fire in center of forge:  I like to use a little newspaper, topped with a
teepee of sticks, sprinkled with coal

Light fire, start air supply

Add more coal, look for yellow smoke- sign of coal converting to coke

Pile coal nice and deep, keep feeding in from outer walls to center, add more to
outside:  You are actually preforming two steps:  Convert coal to coke near rim,
and burn coke to heat metal in center.  Remove whiteish lumps- this is clinker:
unburnable byproducts of impure coke- seems to glow a little, but not providing
heat- blackens almost immediately when removed from fire.

You will want to play around with your air source-  to much and you blow the 
fire and even the fuel out of the forge, too little and the fire never gets
really hot.

Stay away from household charcoal- it has a very high sand content, which will crap 
up the forge or blow out (and a cloud of hot glass particles is no fun at all,
plus it will never really get hot enough.

Possible air sources:  Shop Vacc (must have OUT outlet, do not suck air in!)
Powerful blow drier (the heated air doesn't hurt, but is a waste of electricity
most likely...)  Leaf Blower ( too much air, you will need a rheostat/dimmer
to turn it sdown to a useable range)

Good luck, tell me how it goes!

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From: "willy" <[email-masked]>
Date: 15 Dec 96 02:54:27 GMT

[email-masked] wrote in article <[email-masked]>...
> Good luck, tell me how it goes!
Is there anyway to convert a gas grill for a forge. I saw some plans on the
ABANA page but they looked difficult. Except for the gas nozzle gas forges
look like brick lined boxes. 
Suggestions?
bill