How to Build a Forge
For many people, smithing can be either used to make a living or for fun, as a creative hobby. If you decide to try this out, you must first construct a forge, to suit your smithing needs. Otherwise, you’ll have to make-do with propane torches, which is difficult. Here’s how to make a sturdy forge.
What You’ll Need:
Metal pipe
Drill
Bricks
Cement
Mortar
Electric blower
Trowel
Bucket or wheelbarrow
Grate (optional)
Procedure:
Find an ideal spot for your forge. Remember, smoke and fumes will be emitted, so you’ll need to find a place that has adequate ventilation. Pick a spot out in the open, rather than indoors.
Get your metal pipe, and using the drill, put in several holes in one end. It’s good to have 25 or more holes. These let the air coming from the blower to go out, and stoke the flames within the forge.
Create your forge’s foundation, first by digging a shallow pit. It should be a bit wider and slightly longer than the size you estimated for your forge.
Lay bricks around the forge’s circumference. Just one layer will suffice. Make sure you leave a space at the forge’s back, so the ventilation pipe can exit.
Put the metal pipe at the space at the forge’s back. The holed side should be within the forge’s interior, with the holes facing upwards and centered.
Mix your mortar in a bucket or wheelbarrow, whichever is available. It’s better for your mortar to have a thick consistency, so it will set faster.
Use the trowel to put mortar on the joining sides and the top of the bricks’ base layer. A 1/2 inch layer is sufficient.
Put another layer of brick and mortar. Repeat this, until you get your target height for the forge. Leave it overnight, allowing the mortar to dry.
While constructing the forge walls, you can put a steel grate above the ventilation pipe. It’s not a necessity, but it will help more air to circulate, as well as hold the charcoal.
Create a wooden plug for the pipe’s open end. This will sit inside the forge. You can also thread the end, putting a screw cap on it. This will help remove debris from the pipe after you start using it.
Mix your concrete. You can use the same wheelbarrow or bucket you used for the mortar. Make sure the ventilation pipe is in place, then pour cement into the forge’s bottom. Make sure the pipe isn’t covered by the cement, though.
Once the cement is starting to set, replace the ventilation pipe. Put the blower motor at the pipe’s end, not in the forge.
Being a good blacksmith starts with the proper materials and working area. With these steps, you’ll surely create a useful forge that you can use throughout your smithing tasks.