I've done a good bit of looking, but have not been able to find any designs for an armourer's forge. I was hoping someone could help me out with the design...

I want to run propane. It's cheap, local, and safe to store. It also shuts off with the closing of a valve, and burns pretty cleanly, so there isn't a lot of clean-up.

No, this isn't a knife forge... I have found a lot of plans for those. This is one that can heat up a section of sheet metal (3-4 inch diameter section would be wonderful). I have found a straight propane or mapp torch doesn't put out enough concentrated heat to deal with 16 gauge or thicker stuff, and is difficult to manage safely.

Anyone have ideas? :\

Hey Aaron,

I'll have to see if I can find the link but I remember seeing a site where a guy had piped the gas down from the ceiling to a big rosebud type tip. He just held the sheet up under the flame and heated up a 4-6"circle at a time then dropped it to the stake to pound on.

Harlan

Hey Aaron,

I think this is the link http://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/armor/Norma..._index.htm

You might have to read through to see pics of the forge he uses. I don't think he describes it exactly but you can get an idea from the pics.

Harlan

I KNEW I had seen something like this somewhere before... thanks, Harlan! :D

Decent article, and that's exactly what I have in mind. Unfortunately, I don't think he/they ever put up the plans on buidling a sheet metal forge, but I have a feeling with the pics, I just might be able to get somewhere.

Another good reference is a series of books from Raymond's Quiet Press called " Best of the Hammer ". Each of the three volumes I have begins with design and use of forges. They've published volume four but I don't have that one. I think they're about fifteen dollars each.
Hope this helps,W.

William - those 4 volumes do seem to be available, and I may well snag them in the future if I find I am still looking for info.

From the photos at anvilfire.com (from Harlan's link above), it appears that there is a bell probably insulated with refractory cement or kaowool blanket coated with IC 100 HTC (a high-temp ceramic coating), and a venturi gas burner. It's a bit rich for my rather hungry piggybank right now, but I think I can pull it off in the next few months. This gives me a great start on scrounging... made a list for my minions already. If I manage to pull it off, I'll post the results.