Sjt657 191 Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 Hi I'm looking to make a furnace for making knife blanks . I have this and I am thinking I could use heat bricks from a storage heater . And blow air in from the trap at the bottom . If anyone has any advice it would be great full... Matt cheers lol but any advice will help . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
the big chief 3,099 Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 I have a pic in knife making book i will take a pic in the morning and post it for you buddy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy pepper 222 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 Get on youtube mate there step by step on home made ones you can nick idears of there Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 Ok this is a big and old topic but I think it's fair to say most options work but not all of them very well . A few things to think about are , what fuel charcoal / coke . Charcoal is easy to come by and looks cheap initially , until you use it then you go throught loads of it very quickly . It only has a few down sides . It burns very very hot and unless you know how to work it will burn or melt your blank very fast , also it sparks like hell. . The sparks are super heated and stick to you and burn til the fuel in it has been burnt . It pops and a shower of sparks goes in all directions . You need as good quality lump wood charcoal as you can get lots of it kept very dry . It's great stuff my preference for solid fuel forged blades . You will need only a tiny amount of air flow into it steve and something very controlable ( air bed foot pump would be good) . Coke is dirty and expensive in my mind of £450 a ton minimum order unless you know someone that uses it they might sell you a couple of bags ? It's very smoky and slow burning there for safer for the steel . You need more air to feed it so something with a motor . Bouncy castle fan or Hoover set to blow should do it, but you need a way to control the air in or you will just burn up the blank your fuel and the forge . Refractory . There are lots of options . Charcoal needs to be cased in something really good but coke can sit in its own dust on top of bare metal . The next thing is the chimeny your looking to use its cast iron and has a low melting temp , get it to hot it's going to drip !!!!!!!! If I was going to do this and I have several times . I would look at a side blown forge ( English and japaneses) with heavy fire bricks ( that's what there called ) on the floor and sides of the forge . With an air hole on the left about 1.5" above the floor of the forge . It's only going to be a small forge so expect to work one end of the blank at a time . A word of warning tho steve , iv just sold all my anvils this week as I have damaged my arm forgoing and can no longer do it !!!! That a big passion in my life gone for good !! Your equipment is everything mate don't skimp on a thing . This can be done with scrap stuff and you can get results but its worth every penny to get good equipment . If I had to do it all again I'd get lots of quality tongs a gas forge and a good anvil . And expect it to f**k up more than it goes right ! Good luck with it steve . Ps if its just for the fun of bashing some steel good dry wood in there with a hair dryer blowing in some air would be fine !! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sjt657 191 Posted April 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 Cheers Matt good advice thanks slowly looking into it google and YouTube is great ! But first hand knowledge is always best I'm going to make a small unit using a gas blow torch which you can only do little bits on but something I'm gonna start this summer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnight 657 Posted April 4, 2013 Report Share Posted April 4, 2013 For heat treating a big propane torch into a well lined box will work a treat . You will only need ceramic wool to line that Steve . The lighter the refractor the better on light fired forges , because anything mortar based takes up alot of fuel to get to heat and keep it there . You could use two army ammo boxes .one for clean motor oil to quench into and one as your forge . Cut two holes in the forge one , one at the end to feed work in to the forge , and one in the middle on the side for the torch . Line with ceramic wool and insert the nozzle of the burner , lighter her up wait 5 mins to get the temp and then your in business . Once the steel is just above cherry red make sure it's non magnetic and quench in the oil . Budget approach but one that will work! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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