P-160: Metalworking Forge Update 2
by PhoenixGames on May.24, 2015, under Bushcraft, Inventions, Miscellany
I have mostly completed my forge design. I am using regular (non-fire bricks) to make the outside of the forge, and I am lining the inside with fire bricks. I am then using fire cement to seal the cracks and joints between the fire bricks.
The air pipe is a 2 inch diameter exhaust pipe tube, 1 meter long. I have drilled 10 small holes in it, and sealed the end with a thick layer of fire cement. The holes are placed in such a way that the length of Damascus steel that I will be working with fits over them exactly, without wasting airflow.
I am introducing air into the forge by using a 12V fan. I am somewhat concerned that this will not be powerful enough to heat the forge to the right temperature, especially since this forge is a simple open-top design.
I have cured the fire cement by lighting a small fire in the forge and allowing it to burn for about two hours. After some rain, I noticed that the cement seems to lose it’s hardness. It seems that it is certainly not waterproof, so the forge will need to be covered when not in use.
I need to get two more fire bricks to finish off the forge.
