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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 07-28-2020, 09:46 AM
jr46 jr46 is offline
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Question convertng charcoal grill to charcoal forge

Good morning all,

I'm a super newb who is trying to convert a cylndrical charcoal "Char Griller" bbq grill into a charcoal forge for bladesmithing and light blacksmithing. Can anyone give me some good advice on lining the bottom to protect it? I've heard everything from dirt to sand to Kastolite 30. I'd appreciate any wisdom you can share.

Jim
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  #2  
Old 08-06-2020, 06:44 AM
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Crex Crex is offline
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Jim, might try going over to the ABANA site and look through the tutorial section. Lot of ways to convert many different salvage items to charcoal forges. As with anything there are certain things you have to be aware of and pay attention to in order to fabricate a workable forge. Read a lot before you start and you will get better results.
BBQ grills are usually made from lightweight materials and will take some pretty good lining material to handle the heat without bottom burn out. All kinds of easily found material can be used but will needs to be installed properly - again studying up will save you some grief and time.


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Old 08-06-2020, 03:18 PM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
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Remember that a charcoal forge needs to have a deep fire. Like 6" beneath your work and 4" above it.

Doug


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Old 08-07-2020, 09:35 PM
jr46 jr46 is offline
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Thank you sirs! I do appreciate that.

Last edited by jr46; 08-07-2020 at 09:36 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 08-24-2021, 03:48 PM
Frosty Frosty is offline
 
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Smile

Morning everybody, new guy here by name of Frosty. I subbed on to see what's new with adhesives. The "Testing for the Ultimate Adhesive" thread was linked on Iforgeiron forum and. . . Here I am. Please forgive me if a bunch of smileys post I'm still figuring the site out.

Anyway charcoal has been used since before humans started banging on metal. It has it's own characteristics of course. One that folks unfamiliar get wrong is the air blast. Charcoal doesn't work well in a bottom blast forge, it requires as noted above a very deep fire but it WILL spread to the entire pile.

Charcoal works best in a side blast forge and an old BBQ works a treat. The main design of a side blast is a longish V shaped trench and the tuyere pipe entering perpendicular to the trench. A fire back and another through which the tuyere is directed allows for greater depth.

The following link is the beginning of the subject on Iforge and Charles has made several modifications, cutting a trench rather than a "pot" is one of the latest and works much better.

https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/448...e-blast-forge/

JABOD stands for "Just A Box Of Dirt", either search term will hit on more posts than a boy can use.

The basics though are a couple inches of packed soil under the fire to dissipate and prevent burning/warping the "box."

A side blast forge works with any solid fuel, or should I say I've never heard of one that didn't work well in one. Coal and coke work well in a bottom blast of course.

Frosty

Last edited by Frosty; 08-24-2021 at 03:51 PM.
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Old 08-25-2021, 01:34 PM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
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Thanks for the link. That should help the newbie trying to get started with a charcoal forge.

Doug


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Old 08-27-2021, 11:57 PM
Frosty Frosty is offline
 
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You're welcome, it's my pleasure.

Frosty
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