Perforated tube for small improvised forge

[tombear]

Excuse the repeated use of a pic from another thread.

I'd like some advice on turning the heavy cast iron barbecue base in the pic into a small hearth to learn a bit of forging on.

To get air into the charcoal I'd like a tube to feed from one of the short ends, something I can attach a blower to. I'm pretty hazy on the details, diameter, materials and thicknesses so it won't melt etc. assume I'm a idiot and please advise before I go off half cock!

ATB

Tom

 

[mrcharly]

I'm really no expert but that looks a bit shallow for forging with charcoal.

 

[XRV John]

agree with Mr Charly - have a look for "brake drum forge" on YouTube

 

[British Red]

On the tube, if a simple open tube end won't work, get a bit of steel pipe, cap one end and drill some small holes along its length then pass through the side wall with a hole cutter?

 

[tombear]

Bum, I had great hopes for the barbecue as is a strong made French job I've dragged around unused for years!

But yes it is only 2.5 inches deep.

What sort of depth will be adequate? I'm only going to do small stuff say six inch max needing to be heated at any one time.

So I need steel pipe, would I get away with crimping the end tight rather than plugging? What size holes and wall thickness?

cheers for the input!

ATB

Tom

 

[DurhamBushcrafter]

the BBQ will be ok, its as deep as a brake drum...just pile the charcoal over the piece, make sure you have good airflow..........job done

 

[tombear]

Cheers! since there's quite a good rim I was thinking of raising the sides by 2 or 3 inches, just wondering what material and thickness and how best to hold it on.

I'm also musing over what sort of air pump to use. I want to run it for relatively long periods and the hair dryers I've come across have all had a tendency to cut out after a while. For th he'll of it and since I'm a great believer in child labour I'm also intending to make a bellows, possibly a double one so it can be used away from mains power.

ATB

Tom

 

[British Red]

Wranglerstar has some great videos on restoring a vintage air pump designed for blacksmithing Tom.

You don't want to blow the coke out of the forge. An old shop VAC on blow would work well, but I would make a hole and sliding cover (or splice a tap into the tube) to bleed out some air and lower the output pressure at the buisness end. You want to be able to adjust temperature and airflow more than a simple on off.

 

[tombear]

Ok, next dumb question, what sort of place will have a foot long section of one inch steel pipe, with the last 2 inches threaded to take a couple of nuts. Saying that I may have , a quick rummage in the why-did-I-buy-that-box , yes I have a ok condition 3/4" x 14 BSP split die and handle. I could always carboot a 1 incher if a 3/4 inch tube wouldn't be big enough?


Just seen you're last post Red,


Excellent thought on adjusting the pressure.

atb

tom

 

[British Red]

Can't help on the pipe, wish I knew. I would personally get some scrap pipe like scaffolding pole, get the end welded up, leave a long tail and jubilee the vacuum tube on the a pipe adapter if needed.

 

[DurhamBushcrafter]

The pipe is called a 'Tuyere' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuyere

for a blower all is needed is a hair dryer with no heat......so it could be run off a 12v battery with an inverter dead cheap to do

 

[Jared]

Dave Canterbury made a few improvised forge videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS4k3QYeymg&list=PLZLagqylZ3j7H2MEDrDTb7Dz6xVZeMRTt&index=24