Small forge project

[BRODTuning]

Hi all , i was at a heavy horse show recently and there was a blacksmith stand there ,i was watching for a good half hour and when everyone had left he approached me and said i had been watching for a long time and went on to ask me about what i know etc, and if i was interested in blacksmithing as such ,he then asked if i wanted a go to which i quickly replied YES haha i had 12mm square bar and he heated his peice first and i followed his steps and made a round point and then a kink and curve. He then went on to say i had a natural talent for it and should persue it!....so ,in the 6 weeks holidays ive been working at my grandads welding and fabrication shop there was only me and one other guy in the workshop at dinner time so i decided to make a start on a forge for myself ,only a small one that i made out of scrap. Here are some pics from different stages , i will stress none of this was made from one peice of sheet and cut to size ,i simply went behind the guilotine and found scraps that fitted each other so it is very rough and not completely square in places but what the hell ,i enjoyed making it!

tacking up and squaring

start of the lid!

2 lengths of box section i had lying around and a wheel i had , i let the air out and then cut the valve and also cut the tyre ,i am well aware of the risks of welding an inflated and fitted tyre/wheel

the lid,yes its rough but as said it was made from scrap and it was FREE!

my mask

tacking on the hinge

i ran beads underneath

making a handle for the lid

the main structure is pretty much done ,but there is more to follow ,will update as i get it done

 

[astro_al]

Great stuff, hard to make out the dimensions but you may find it's a bit deep. Easily altered if needed though. Keep us posted, al.

 

[BRODTuning]

Hi al ,from memory the depth is 200 minus the lid and 280 wide , It may look deep but i have further plans so the depth wont really matter ,i will keep you posted! probably have some more pics tomorow evening after work! providing i can get my hands on the stuff i need. The fact its cost me absolutely nothing but a few hours makes it worth it ,as being 15 money isnt so easy to come by ,and any wages i earn i dont like letting go of

 

[Jake]

Super keep up

the good work

 

[BRODTuning]

Thank you, where in wales are you from btw ? if you dont mind me aksing haha ?

 

[Rob 88"]

Looking forward to see it coming along. But its bedtime for a young lad like yourself now

 

[BRODTuning]

thanks haha ,it is now time for bed! too many late nights lately! not good when your up at 7

 

[awemawson]

Looking good. I'd cut the rest of the tyre off if I were you. It'll smell horrid when hot bits inevitably fall on it when you are using the forge.

 

[Shedendman]

That looks rather good,but by looking at it it seems top heavy to me,3-4mm plate?
Remember the top half will take some serious abuse which might topple it over,bigger/heavy wheel perhaps,unless it's gonna be fixed?

 

[busastars]

Looks good, don't forget to take the tyre off mind

 

[BRODTuning]

I did get half way through cutting the tyre off before i welded the legs but it was eating disks so i left it , and tbh im not to arsed about it at the moment ,its adding stability. I lit it today but with no forced air i couldnt get it hot enough ,its actually rather stable ,i do admit it looks top heavy but in reality its quite good. I have a few more mods to do to this and then i will be making a mk2 version, or plan B whichever sounds best
i will update with pics soon.

 

[mike 109444]

Once you remove the tyre weld some brackets or shelves for tools (hammers, tongs ect) that will add usefull weight to the bottom. Old vacume motor should make a good blowe and as you are in a ducting company (as I recall) shoud be plenty of flexy pipe about? to connect it. beware of mains cable for blower catching sparks and burning through.

 

[outofthefire]

Forges are really simple there is a good design here http://magichammer.freeservers.com/weld_your_own_fire_pot_by_lonnie.htm . My own forge is very similar the fire pot is set in 3mm plate in a metre square angle frame, the same design was used at both of the forges where I did a couple of courses. Working with hot metal really satisfying.

 

[BRODTuning]

I have done some more work tonight but not sure im keeping the things i have done ,time will tell ,but i may partially re-design it,pics will be on soon .