Help with building my forge.

[Matthew Hackbart]

I am just getting into blacksmithing, and am looking into building my forge. I have a pretty limited budget so I want to do as much as I can with what I have on hand here. With that said, can I use a cast iron sink that has enamel on it? I have one on hand here. I am planning on lining it with refractory cement, but I don't know if the enamel would give me problems.

Also I have been reading on the internet about refractory cement recipes and I haven't found any recipes that agree with each other. I was wondering if you guys know any recipes that work well. Or is that one of those things where there are many different ways to do it?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Lynn Gledhill]

Hey Matt:
Welcome!!! You don't need to spend a bunch of money on a forge... If you can afford some Kaowool and stick it inside something to hold it in place, you're golden... John Newman's design for a burner is the best thing I have found, and it's cheap. Check out this thread...http://blacksmith.org/forums/threads/1108-Micro-Forges

[JNewman]

My burner design???

[Matthew Hackbart]

Thanks for the tips. I would like to do a coal fired forge first and then do gas later. Can I still use the Kaowool in a coal forge? And if so where do I get it?

[Mike B]

You do not need kaowool on a coal forge. A cast iron sink is probably a poor choice for a forge. It's way too deep, and there isn't an obvious way to add a fire pot. If you can find a way to configure it appropriately, though, you shouldn't need to worry about the enamel. At worst, some of it might melt off.

[Lynn Gledhill]

My burner design???

John, sorrryyy!!This was Steve H.'s design. Great adjustable and economical burner... I respect both you guys as knowledgeable and skilled blacksmiths... Just chronically confused.

[Francis Cole]

when I first started I took some pipe with a 90 degree on one end covered the opening with masking tape. Then got an old BBQ grill taped off the holes on the bottom. drilled a hole in the side to fit the pipe and slid it into place placed a brick under it and wired it to the pipe to hold the pipe in place. Then poured it level to the top of the taped end with concrete. let dry remove tape hook up blower the last one I made lasted 5 years. scrap pipe free bbq grill free concrete $2.80

[Ryan Wilson]

try going to advanced search and looking up coal forges. there have been a number of different threads on the subject. then try google. I my self have never made a coal forge but I know there are many cheap options.
If you choose to go the way of a break drum forge Im sure either napa will give you an old one out of their pile or go to a local wrecking yard.

goodluck
Ryan

[JNewman]

John, sorrryyy!!This was Steve H.'s design. Great adjustable and economical burner... I respect both you guys as knowledgeable and skilled blacksmiths... Just chronically confused.

Thanks Lynn. No worries I DO make a Firepot.

[Tom Allyn]

A cast iron sink is probably a poor choice for a forge. It's way too deep, and there isn't an obvious way to add a fire pot. If you can find a way to configure it appropriately, though, you shouldn't need to worry about the enamel. At worst, some of it might melt off.

You can shape the inside of the sink with clay soil and then line it with refractory cement (I used Kast-O-Lite). The enamel isn't an issue at all.

For a tuyere you can just use a 2" pipe cap with a 3/4" hole drilled in the center.