Should I buy this antique forge?

The below photo is only the closest one I could fine on the Internet, I would say the one I have been seeing at the flea market for the last couple of months with the $150.00 price tag was intriguing. It's cast iron and very heavy, the hand blower works. Keep in mind I am only thinking about forging blades(and knives) I have always wanted to, and am kinda thinking this might get me started. Or would I do just as good with the converted BBQ grill and blow dryer.

Also, the one I am looking for has a big cool metal bucket full of coal along with 3 tools, 1 nice set f long tongs , a hammer, and old soldering iron. A

Any thoughts.? I would get major wife aggravation if I brought it home. But it could be a cool planter until it was ready...:)


http://www.iforgeiron.com/uploads/4/1/1/4/7705.attach

As far as I'm concerned you can go for it. Your wife isnt going to kick me out of my house.

For 150.00 I'd say snap it up. I still use my converted gas grill and blow dryer and it works just fine for 19.00 and some change but this would be cool to have.

Heck maybe I should send you the money and have you ship it out to me?

Make sure the blower works, the bottom is not rusted out, the clinker tube can be opened and cleaned out. Then check Abana.org for a blacksmithing group in your area.

Have fun! :D

If it is in good working condition, go for it :)

Haha! You're all such a bunch of enablers! :D

But yeah, go for it, it looks to be a good deal assuming it's in working order! :)

For the same money, you could build a gas forge, which I prefer for blades. Just my opinion.

Once you use it for a planter you will never get it back. It will be hers.

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Originally Posted by skipnord

For the same money, you could build a gas forge, which I prefer for blades. Just my opinion.

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Yes he could but then there really isn't anything like the "old school" feel of getting it done is there....

Apart from the gas forge idea, you should check out electric furnaces, both on eBay and from suppliers such as www.knifemaking.com . Also it is unlikely that this forge would use coal to maximum effect, and this would produce sulphurous and other impurities that might attack steel or neighbours. Check up (since I'm no expert) on my belief that charcoal could be used with no snags. It's good enough for the Japanese. Coke may be hard to obtain locally. I don't believe any of these are likely to be as good as gas for forging, or electricity for heat-treatment.

If you do want to go the solid fuel route, though, this forge seems like a good deal. Even firebricks and an electric blower aren't cheap. If the bowl seems thin or deeply pitted, you could line it with fireclay, available from some pottery suppliers, although ordinary potters'clays probably aren't up to it. Line it, cut the lining into bricks whils still soft, and let them air-harden thoroughly before firing them with a slowly-growing heat, then cement them together with fire cement.

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Originally Posted by CTKnife

Yes he could but then there really isn't anything like the "old school" feel of getting it done is there....

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This is one of those "I can argue it either way" issues. Yes, coal is old school - or charcoal, if you really want to push it. And, propane is cleaner, and you don't have the fire management learning curve to deal with. I can go both ways, I just prefer gas for blades. What ever you prefer is the right answer, for you.

Commenting on Caledonian's post - coke is formed from burning coal, assuming you have good blacksmith coal - most coal doesn't qualify. I'm lucky - The Guild of Metalsmiths here in Minnesota sells good coal to members at a reasonable price. Check and see if there is an blacksmith group in your area for a source. I had a similar forge, and it worked fine for coal and charcoal.

Man, wish I could find one like that around me...I just brought 17,000 tons of low sulpher coal to the local power plant...we usually get three trains of it a week. Once done with my grinder I'll be entertaining a forge of some type, but will more than likely go for a gas set-up. Price looks great to me & I'd give that for it in a heart-beat!

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Originally Posted by skipnord

This is one of those "I can argue it either way" issues. Yes, coal is old school - or charcoal, if you really want to push it. And, propane is cleaner, and you don't have the fire management learning curve to deal with. I can go both ways, I just prefer gas for blades. What ever you prefer is the right answer, for you.

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Very true, gas is much cleaner and even quicker for sure and it takes the learning curve (heating) almost completely away. I agree what every works for you and gets the job done is all that really matters...

I bought my forge (a rivet forge like the one shown) at an estate auction for $100. The guy had snuck on an electric motor belt drive that ran the blower. I got about 100lbs of low sulfur coal from the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri for about $40 I think. If I could do it again and I had money/skills I do now I would probably just build my own set up. The rivet forge is kind of limited in how much steel it can heat at once, but for knives/razors it should be more than enough. I took some refractory brick and basically filled in the area around the grating to make a bowl of sorts. This lets me get a fire going high enough that I can heat in the middle of long pieces of steel easily. I really love blacksmithing with coal too. It gives you that old-timey feeling! One thing I want to point out is that coal is a friggin mess! I ran a chimney out of the barn door so I could work inside, and if the wind is blowing the wrong way you end up with a lot of smoke floating through the barn. Not to mention at the end of the day looking like a coal miner!

Thanks for all the advice I think I will skip on it, but I am sure I could hook someone up if they want to travel to north central Oklahoma.

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Originally Posted by sidmind

Thanks for all the advice I think I will skip on it, but I am sure I could hook someone up if they want to travel to north central Oklahoma.

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If you want a forge and have some minor metal working skills you can always build a propane forge. The one I've seen for razors was essentially a large pipe with one end closed off, with the other end having a hole in the front plate. It had fiberglass (I think) surrounding the inside and a nozzle entering through the top of the pipe that brought in propane. I am 100% positive you could find plans for one in under a minute on google.