Apprentice Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Ok here's my problem. I'm building a simple forge out of 7 firebricks, 2 on bottom, 1 on each side, 1 for the back, and 2 on the top. Then I plan to line the inside with ITC-100. Anyway, I'm cutting a hole in the back brick so I can forge larger blades and also to help with the ventilation of the fumes. My dad has used a skillsaw with a masonary diamond edged blade and we got very little progress. So I was wondering if anyone knew of a faster way to cut firebrick? Sorry if I confused anyone. -Loren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted December 9, 2003 Author Share Posted December 9, 2003 Are your firebricks hard or soft? Yes, they are both firebricks but, the soft ones are infinitely better insulators. The soft ones can be scratched with a fingernail and can easily be cut with a hacksaw. I would not waste my time, or any ITC100, on the hard firebricks. Below are two links, the first is to a knifemaker who sells soft firebricks for $4.00 per brick. He also sells ITC100 in smaller, and therefore less expensive, quantities. The second link is to Ron Reil's Forge and Burner Design page and is extremely useful for anyone building a forge. Ellis Custom Knifeworks]Ellis Custom Knifeworks Click on the "Refractories and Knifemaking Supplies" button. Forge and Burner Design Page 1 “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apprentice Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 They're the hard firebricks. I checked out that website and will order some soft brick as soon as I get my paycheck. Hey thanks for the info. it helped alot! -Loren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJC Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Netthrower, Thanks for the site. I couldn't get it to come up so I entered it without all the stuff passed ".com" and it worked fine. Think I'll order a couple of firebricks and some Satanite. I have a torch and some refractory so I should be able to make a decent forge (I have the book so it shouldn't be a problem). This should get me through the winter. I am having withdrawal since I had to give up the garage to my wife's car. The plan is to make a small shed for my forge and make it small enough to heat with the forge in the winter. I'll make it so I can open it up in the warm months. (Did I mention that the plan when I retire is to put a snowshovel on the car and drive south until folks start asking "what's that?") Thanks again for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted December 19, 2003 Author Share Posted December 19, 2003 I too am in withdrawal. The first forge I built I took apart when I ordered one of the "Shorty Burners" from Hybrid Burner and now I have nothing to work with. I scrounged around the dumpsters at a new housing development going in down the road and managed to salvage almost everything I need to build a shed in my backyard. That was in the Fall, it got cold just a little too early and now I'm sitting on it all till I either decide to bite the bullet or it gets warmer. Probably when it's warmer as I still have to come up with some cash for roofing shingles and cement and extra cash is hard to come by as my wife is disabled. I was going to build a shed for storage, to get the mower and all the other stuff that comes with a house out of the garage so that I could use the attached garage as a workshop however, my wife assumed I was going to put my forging stuff in the shed. I am thinking it over now, weighing having to run an extension cord across the yard to have power against getting the flame and exhaust out of the house. I am leaning towards putting the forge out back because it would be closer to a very busy road and any noise I make would be less noticeable to the neighbors. I had my anvil in front of one of the garage doors and used it to cut something out cold with a chisel, I have a cutting plate for the anvil, and the sound just echoed off the houses across the street. Power is not that critical to me as my forge is a venturi setup but, if I had the shed, I would have a place to put a set of high and low temp salt pots (I would not EVER have them in anything attached to my house, or for that matter where I could not lock them up to keep my kids safe) and they would require electricity. Where do you live that you would need to heat your shed to forge? I always end up drenched in sweat. “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJC Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Netthrower, Southern MN. How far is the shed from your house? I would suggest that you run something other than an extension cord to power your shed. You don't want to leave something like that laying out in the yard to be forgotten and run over by the mower. You used to be able to run UF cable (Lowes,UBC,etc...) burried a foot deep for one 30Amp circuit which was fed from a GFI circuit breaker but I think they changed that a while back. I'd have to check out the latest Code or you could ask your local inspector. If you're near here, I might be able to help you some time. I'm moving west about 60 miles next June. Hope to put up a small shed for the forge. Nothing fancy. Just basic "pole barn" type shed. If I keep it small enough it should stay warm with just the forge for a heat source. I don't have any power tools that I can't use out in the garage or basement so I'll do the finish work there in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted December 26, 2003 Author Share Posted December 26, 2003 My shed, when done, will be about thirty feet from the house. Power would not be a real big problem as the power enters my lot from the back near the street and there is a pole right on the other side of my back fence. Anything I build 10' x 10' or smaller does not have to involve a building inspector and that seems easiest right now. Electricity, if it becomes an issue, can be run at a later date. When you move you will be sixty miles closer... I am in Omaha, Nebraska! As far as I can tell there are no other bladesmiths in the entire state, I haven't looked very hard though. “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJC Posted December 26, 2003 Share Posted December 26, 2003 Netthrower, I grew up about 100 miles to your north right up I-29. Spent 1 1/2 years stationed at Offutt. Lived east of you about 30 miles in 1995. I worked at the defunct Dial Soap plant in Omaha. Lots of good memories of that area. Grew up hunting birds in western Iowa. I'm sure there are smiths in NE but like you sadi, you have to look hard to find them. Check ABANA for a NE chapter. Actually, moving west puts us further away from major highways so even if the miles decrease, the travel time increases. It's one of those "ya can't get there from here" deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJC Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Netthrower, Just got two firebricks and some Satanite from Mr. Ellis. Very nice gentleman and good service. Soon as I get my $50 Dollar Forge" book back, I'm going to make myself a one-brick-forge to play with this winter. Thanks again for the site. Hope all the snow drifts into your NEIGHBOR's yard this winter. I still remember the blizzard of January, 1975... drifts to 15ft in town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted January 1, 2004 Author Share Posted January 1, 2004 Amen. I second that... Especially since my wife is disabled and my snowblowers are all of 5 and 6 years of age! “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now