What type forge to build or buy?

[dwain]

I need your help. I am getting ready to buy or build a forge. I cannot decide if I should go with coal or gas. I can weld and use a cutting torch pretty well. I work for the gas company as a serviceman, so I have a pretty good understanding of gas use, pressures and so on. I will use the forge for blades and small blacksmith work. I would like to keep the cost to around $200.00 if I can. I really like a coal forge as it is quiet and comes up to heat really fast. I have a good source for coal about 2 hours away, so that is no problem. I have read that the pan or brakedrum forge is really hard to control the fire if you are not experienced. Could I put a hand crank on a squirrel cage fan and reduce it down for a blower? The main disatvantage I can see is building a hood and flu for the coal smoke. As for gas, I have not seen one in use, but I hear they are very noisy, take a while to come up to heat and do not get as hot as coal. Do I need a hood and flu for gas fumes? Please share some ideas to help me decide which way to go. Thanks

 

[J.Marsillo]

Hi dwain,since you work for the gas company shouldnt you go with a gas forge?Kind of a job security thing All kidding aside I think most people will say go gas,less stink/fumes does come up to heat quickly/cool down less "fussing" with the fire. It depends on your shop and work shcedule too personally i dont get much hammer time so its nice to fire it up and get working.I run a atmospheric propane mini forge a la Ron Reil.It gets up to welding temp quickly and once its hot is fairly quiet,plus if you get sid trackedyou wont burn the steel like in a coal forge. There are lots of pro's and cons to both as i'm sure others will agree,Plus with the gas prices the way they are I wouldnt want to drive 2 hours for coal.

 

[indian george]

I have a tutorial on my site on building forges and parts listing. It will cost you under $200 to build one.

 

[Sweany]

http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/forge/dcforge.html

and for the fire pot
http://www.blksmth.com/mild_steel_firepot.htm

my fire pot is similar in size, but no clinker breaker. I just use a poker.

The hole in the bootom of the fire pot is 1/2 wide and 2-1/2" long. Its patterned after Bob Patricks dimensions

The side draft hood is the way to go.

 

[Todd Robbins]

Dwain

I use both a coaland a gas forge, for different things. I rarely do any knife related work in my coal forge, and I rarely do any ornamental ironwork in my gas forge. I built both, and neither cost near 200$.

For my coal forge I used a firepot and clinker breaker from Laurel Machine and Foundry in Laurel, Mississippi. I use a small squirrel cage fan for the blower, wired through a reostat with an adjustable plate over the air intake. I believe that the Mississippi Forge Council's website has contact info for Laurel Machine and Foundry. They also make a really good blacksmith's anvil in several sizes, but they're kind of pricey, and they make a small swage block that is as cheap as I've seen.

I used a freon tank for my gas forge body, lined it with kaowool and refractory cement from Darren Ellis, and built a venturi burner from some plans I got from a friend. I'd love to have one of Ron Reill's burners, and they're reasonably priced, I believe. Mine's not very efficient at welding temp.s, but I don't make much damascus, so it's not a huge problem.

For knifework, I'd say go with gas. For other blacksmith work, I like coal, but lots of smiths that are better than I am use gas.

Todd