[TheForge] Forge Trailer

[Bob Ehrenberger]

BAM has a moble teaching station trailer.  I didn't set it up but am a
regular instructor.  Our set up has 5 gas forges 10 anvils and enough hand
tools for 20 students.  We went with the gas forges because we wanted to
teach forging techniques not fire management (that's a hole nother subject).

As Ralph said the big trailer is a pain to haul, and we are finding that
most of the time we don't have 20 students in a class so a lot of the
equipment goes unused.  We also used a cast refractory in the forges which
are heavy.  We are looking at going to a lighter forge to make them easier
to haul.

One thing we did that you may find usefull is build boxes for the tools that
have slots or holes for just the right number of tools.  That way when we
are packing up we know at a glance whether or not we have everything.  The
guy that set up our trailer did a good job of making racks and boxs for
everything so the trailer stays neet an organized and the stuff doesn't
shift while in transport.

After three years use we are ready to take another look at how well it fits
our needs.  We are thinking of modifying it for fewer students and then
having extra equipment available for the few big classes.

We also don't just loan it out to our members to use for demonstrations.  It
is only used for BAM sanctioned events (conference, state fair, classes).

BAM also has a pair of coal forges that are used for conference and state
fair where using coal is important.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net

----riginal Massage ----

Subject: [TheForge] Forge Trailer


I am beginning to plan for a forge trailer for our Guild.  I am looking for
advice from those of you who have built or used them.  Things like how many
stations, size and style of trailer, single blower for the whole trailer or
individual blowers, etc.  That sort of things.

Thanks.   Barry Myers, Philip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild