[TheForge] Coal Forges - lets try this again

[Jeffrey Polaski]

>http://www.beautifuliron.com/forge_brakedrum.htm -- the case against
>brake drums... I hadn't seen this before :))  maybe you have; the very
>bottom has some firepot info, suggests properly cast ones.  What I
>find is that some folks are finicky and some are less so.  YMMV, as is
>said (your mileage may vary).

The author of http://www.beautifuliron.com/forge_brakedrum.htm is
certainly against brake drums. I don't see the reason to be against
them. I don't generally use coal because I live in a housing tract, but
if I did I don't think I'd worry much about using a brake drum... I'd
probably build a table I could drop it into, though. A lot of people
have used brake drums and been perfectly happy. 

I think it comes down to the "time vs. money" issue -- and the author
has more money than time. If you are the other way, with more time than
money, it makes sense to build what you want out of what you have
available. With the internet you can find out how to build pretty much
anything you'd want. 

There are all kinds of people who get into blacksmithing, and some
people don't have a lot of money. Honestly, if I followed this advice, I
probably never would have gotten into blacksmithing. One of the great
things about it is that you can start small and you don't need to spend
a lot of money.

I'm not saying that buying a firepot, or a forge isn't a good idea or
anything. This is more of a reaction to the "break drums are always bad"
tone of the article. 


Jeff Polaski

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ben Barrett
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 1:58 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Coal Forges - lets try this again

You'll want something heavy enough to take a poking or three, if
you're going the DIY/scrapper route you could prolly find some thick
drain-grate or something to suffice.  I've also been hearing that
forge fire pots and the clinker-breaker at the bottom of the standard
classic vertical-blown forge are great things to make at casting
parties (no not theatrical, of course, more like green sand).  Simple
answer is, you can build one.  Sounds like you may be willing :)
I'd also rather buy a hammer at this point, but I built my [propane]
forge, its table, my post-vise stand, etc... so granted I walk that
middle ground too, just tight-budgeted for tools as most are.

I think I'm confused about whether you mean the whole fire pot or the
clinker-breaker where the air comes through just in the middle/bottom.
 I think that's what it is called... and when you check on sheet
metal, check your local metal recyclers... the "scrap yards" I go to
are very nice, have organized racks with only a few "piles", and will
cut however you want for a nominal charge -- MUCH cheaper than new
metal.  I've also had good luck finding scrap metal by putting wanted
ads on craigslist, you just gotta ask if you want  something.  1/8"
thick or greater should do the job, and not burn up [much at all] as
the fire is usually raised up a bit on a bed of coal/ash, another nice
feature of the side draft.
Here are some resources for you:
http://www.beautifuliron.com/forge_planning.htm (incomplete but useful)
http://www.beautifuliron.com/mysteel.htm
http://www.beautifuliron.com/steelhoods.htm
http://www.iforgeiron.com/Blueprints_200-300/p2_articleid/57 (plans)
http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f7/side-draft-forges-1421/ (discussion)

http://www.beautifuliron.com/forge_brakedrum.htm -- the case against
brake drums... I hadn't seen this before :))  maybe you have; the very
bottom has some firepot info, suggests properly cast ones.  What I
find is that some folks are finicky and some are less so.  YMMV, as is
said (your mileage may vary).

thanks & good luck!

ben