New Charcoal forge

[nwknight]

Hey I am almost finished with my first charcoal forge, that I found at this website.
Thank you Roger.

http://www.vikingdesign.co.uk/tub.html

But instead of a bucket from the store, I am using a 5 gallon steel bucket that thinner and paint comes in (from my job - furniture manu already cleaned out residue so no fire hazard), I have a bike that I am cutting apart for the parts,/air tube. Building a hand made blower.

Then kittylitter, sand, wood ash for refractory/adobe.

Let you all know how it goes.

[AwP]

Seems like it should work to me, just make sure your bike frame isn't aluminum.

[nwknight]

This bike is probably 30 years old and a magnet sticks to it pretty strong. One of those old funky bikes with curved top frame. And I am going to add some grass clipping as per the former posts, I will also post a pic once it is done.

Thx

[nwknight]

Well I made my first cut through the bike frame in about 2 minutes with a hack saw, then I looked down to my left beside the shed was a 4 foot piece of schedule 80,
1.25 inches thick with 3/16 wall - perfect for the air hose,
drilled holes in it at work,
put holes in the metal five gallon bucket for the pipe,
put a fire brick on either side of the pipe,
and fixed up a mixture of sand, kitty litter, and clay dirt from VA, some grass clippings, water,
turned out like thick mortar, and lined the bucket,


Question, How long do I let it sit before firing the first time, to try to dry it out more.

Thx for input and listening to my rattling on.

[AwP]

I'd think it'd depend on temperature and humidity, when it seems pretty dry build a small fire in it and don't give it air, later build another and make it hotter with the blower.

[DiamondG Knives]

Just a word of warning, depending on how thick the morter is, be careful of building a fire in in before a few days rolls by, you could have a steam explosion cause by the outer skin drying and leaving a fairly moist center. Id put a large light bulb on it for a few days and keep in in the sun if possible. I think a heat lamp might even be better. Not trying to put rain on your parade, just dont want to see you have any unexpected problems!

Good Luck and God Bless
Mike

[nwknight]

I probaly will put it in the sun, looks to be doing ok, I have on real need to rush so I think I will let it alone till next mid week then try some heat and then a fire.

Thx Guys

[AwP]

If you have enough, try to keep a little extra of your lining mix in a sealed container (or if it's not all wetted already it doesn't need to be sealed). Even with perfect slow drying, a few occasional cracks are likely to need patching.