The Beginning
It was my first weekend actually getting my forge functioning. I had a number of past weekends where I got various things planned and assembled but this time I got steel hot and hammers swinging.
My forge itself is a classic brake drum style that I first saw online. I'd give credit to whomever gave me the idea but honestly I have seen so many versions that I don't know which one got it into my head. My father and I assembled the drum quite a few months ago during a time I remember it being light jacket weather. The bottom flange did not match perfectly with the drum's holes so my dad helped me drill one in the proper place. Let me tell you, that was not easy.
I got some piping together to make the tuyre but after my first time turning it on I realized two things: 1) The pipes were too small 2) I needed something to keep coal from falling into my tuyre. The pipe issue was solved with another trip to the hardware store, but it took me at least a month to find a suitable grate for the forge. After numerous failed experiments I finally came across an old rusted slotted spoon in my grandfather's garage that without the handle fit the central hole perfectly. A quick swipe with a borrowed angle grinder and I had my grate.
This last bit of work took place around November, and in this part of the world outdoor life becomes almost non-existent. My garage is not heated so I wasn't able to get back to work on it until a couple weeks ago. When the time came and the temperature got high enough, I went out and attempted to light my fully assembled forge. The first lighting actually went well, but shortly into heating a piece of rebar I found and noted a number of minor inconveniences that added up to the work being very difficult. Generally it was placement of tools, height of the anvil and forge, floor space, and lastly the hair dryer I was using for a blower kept falling out of its socket. The last thing was solved by a well placed screw.
It all led up to this weekend which went splendidly. Everything held together, heated well, and was exactly where I needed it. My next goal is to make or find a sturdy workbench that I can attach a machinist vice and a leg vice to. I also am looking at the price of angle grinders and welders because I don't want to have to keep borrowing tools. It has been a long time coming but my smithing adventure has really begun.
