Anybody built or used a homemade forge?

[Greenbuggy]

Looking to build a homemade forge, looking for input.

After browsing ron reil's page (http://ronreil.abana.org/SiteMap.html holy crap lots of info there) I decided on building a small forge out of 2x 30 lb freon tanks welded top to bottom, with 3 or 4 of the "mongo" style burners as detailed on ron's site to run LP. Right now I'm still in the parts collection stage, need to make another trip to the home despot before I can test fire and start tuning the first burner.

I was originally going to build a single LP tank forge, but decided I would like to be able to fire a bit longer pieces for doing ornamental railings and other pieces, I figure the center of the forge will be quite a bit hotter than the outside ends with both sides uncapped (err...un-firebricked?) so I can easily heat the center of a piece of steel to bend for the railings a customer has requested of me.

Anyway, just looking for some input. Pics of progress as I assemble a single mongo burner shortly...

[greywynd]

I haven't built anything as of yet, too many other things on the go. I am hoping to build a burner or two this winter though and see how it goes. If they work well, I'm hoping to build a furnace in the spring for aluminum.

Mark

[cutter]

Buggy,
One_rod posted some knifemaking links a while back.
Lively Knives uses a simple charcoal forge & has posted good instructions for making one:

Lively Knives main page

the charcoal forge

[AZCoyote]

The more burners the better. Just valve each one so you can shut down the ones you don't need. Also, use good refractory material like Kaowool and always finish up with a layer of ICT-100. The ICT will really help reflect the IR heat around in your forge. Also, for your gas orifice i strongly recommend using a mig tip and secure it with a 1/4 compression fitting. You can really dial your burners in by switching tip sizes and adjusting the tip depth in and out of your burner tube.

Don't over think it too much. These things are very easy to make.

[one_rod]

Not much help if you are into gas forges, but for what it's worth this is my coke forge.
Bashed up from 2mm steel plate using a home made bending jig and a big mallet.



I love forging with coke. The way it burns, the speed that it heats the steel, even the way it smells.

Coal and coke are widely available over here and not expensive, although I understand that in the US good coal can be hard to find in some areas.

It's side blown, like most european forges, and this makes for much simpler construction. The blower was being thrown away by a local tropical fish supplier and was out in his yard next to the waste bins. I just asked and he said to take it. Before I got that I used an old hair dryer. That worked fine until the plastic casing melted one day. Guess I was working it too hard..


one_rod.

[Markopolo]

I believe a coal forge is the ultimate (and I will build myself one someday).

For now, this little guy is doing a great job for me......(and "yes, it DOES get up to welding heat") !

[boilerman]

will have to get off my butt and post some pics of mine , i made it out of junque i had saved for years ....will burn coal (readily available at work), coke, wood and or charcoal....propane cost to much, and no natural gas around me for miles.....am toying with the idea of 2# fuel oil forge

[Markopolo]

Hey Chief....when you design that oil forge.....LET ME KNOW !

I always thought that oil would fuel a forge real well......(HELL, used oil all my life for home heating (#2).......and on the lake boats (#6, also known as bunker C).

[bgott]

There are oil fired forges for sale at government auctions occationally.

[boilerman]

finally had some time and pulled the forge out and put a fire in it while i was drinking and few(more than six )beers....didn't set it all the way up ....left stand in shed and didn't hook up pedal....just let it rip...i just use an old sewing machine pedal to control the fan....the fan came out of a dishwasher ....drum is off a 1 ton dually