Armorer's forge design -- myArmoury.com

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 23 Jun, 2005 10:09 am Post subject: Armorer's forge design

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? Worried

Harlan Hastings · Industry Professional

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

Harlan Hastings · Industry Professional

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

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 23 Jun, 2005 11:31 am Post subject:

I KNEW I had seen something like this somewhere before... thanks, Harlan! Big Grin

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.

William C Champlin · Posted: Thu 23 Jun, 2005 12:54 pm Post subject: armorer's forge

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.

Aaron Schnatterly · Posted: Thu 23 Jun, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject:

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.