Its funny you mentioned rfdtv i just built a forge based on forge and anvils design. I thought about propane for a bit, but im in anthricite country and its everwhere up here. Plus i like how quiet the coal forges are, and you cant beat their heat. coal here is 6.50 for 50 lbs, that is a real nice reason too.
basically this is the design, i am sorry i cant post any pics i dont have a digital camera, once i do buy one (after the holidays i will be glad to post).
you need
4-15''
4-18''
4-30''
these are all 2x4. they make the base of your forge. the 30'' are the legs.
once this is assembled you put your wheelbarrow on top. i had an old one so i just used the holes in it to attach it.
before you attach it, measure in the middle of the barrow and then measure 8 inches down from the front (basically measure from where it begins to slant up) and make a 1 1/2 inch diameter hole. A drimmle tool works best took me two secs to cut it out, switched tools and ground the hole to fit my fittings.
fittings are as follows
2-1 1/2'' flanges
1-1 1/2 tee
1-1 1/2 nipple 10'' long
1-1 1/2 nipple 5'' long
the first flange goes into the hole you just made, then bolt it down. then the 10 inch followed by the tee, (also a cap in the bottom of tee) and then the 5'' nipple and a flange.
flange
10''
cap 5'' tee
cap
after this is installed, add your fire clay or castable refactory.
i found it took me 12.5 lbs of castable refactory cement to cover the bottom good. I choose this because i dont plan on moving it much and thought it would give the forge some strength which it did. Also i bought 4 of the thin fire bricks so i can control the size of the fire. It says to let it dry for one day at 60 degrees, but its been cold here the last couple so i am putting off using it probably for a week.
While it was drying i bought a squirrl cage blower from surplus supply. I made sure it was an ac motor, and the one i bought had a 1 1/2 inch opeing. The only thing that i had a problem with was that it is a square 1 1/2 opeing, so i bought some brass reducers, and it fits into the fittings perfectly.
I also bought some handles the silver door ones to put on the sides to help make moving it easier and to hang tools from.
For the turyre (spelling) i bought a stainless steel shower grate and will put that over the flange in the barrow. I cant wait to light it up and start moving metal.
Its been about 6 years since i was able to forge, i moved a bit and lived in apartments but now im in the country with a small barn as a workplace.
One note on being safe, i did buy glasses that cancell the uv rays that can come out of the forging fire, smokey grey ones and they were very cheap and i got them from sentry safety supply, the price was right for 3 dollars. also got some hearing protection and a welders jacket and apron. That firescale can jump and iron sometimes likes to bite back.
hope this helps if any part needs clearing up just holler.
happy hammering
forgeblast
