J.Arthur Loose Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 I learned how to make this forge right here, on this forum, 20 years ago. Still use it for carbon damascus & blades. Just switch the same burner over to the drum forge for big pieces & stainless billets. Thanks again, Don. 9 jloose.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Price Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 I got my design from Bowie, in a hotel at Larry Harley's one night, not sober. Ballpoint on hotel napkins, as I recall, and it's been chugging ever since. I am forever grateful. 2 The Tidewater Forge Christopher Price, Bladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Arthur Loose Posted September 16, 2022 Author Share Posted September 16, 2022 6 minutes ago, Christopher Price said: I got my design from Bowie, in a hotel at Larry Harley's one night, not sober. Ballpoint on hotel napkins, as I recall, and it's been chugging ever since. I am forever grateful. Worth keeping for the story alone! jloose.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 I have all the parts for that vertical, and in the 20 years I've had it I have yet to make the thing.... The vertical design is so nice for so many things, I wonder why it never really caught on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Arthur Loose Posted September 16, 2022 Author Share Posted September 16, 2022 3 minutes ago, Alan Longmire said: I have all the parts for that vertical, and in the 20 years I've had it I have yet to make the thing.... The vertical design is so nice for so many things, I wonder why it never really caught on? Dunno. It’s definitely very specialized, as it’s really only good for billets & blades… but it’s really good for that. The burner is the best part though, super efficient, great atmosphere control, cheap and easy to make, and heats my 18” drum easily & evenly. jloose.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazz Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 What are the advantages of a vertical forge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Gazz said: What are the advantages of a vertical forge? For one thing, the flux drips down into the bottom and doesn't puddle up under the blade. 1 -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Arthur Loose Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 28 minutes ago, Dave Stephens said: For one thing, the flux drips down into the bottom and doesn't puddle up under the blade. Yup, I do my messy damascus work with flux in this forge. Sides eventually get eaten, but can be repaired with furnace mortar. The bottom has space for a big ol’ flux clinker. Also, you’re not blasting your blade directly, and the forced air burner allows very fine atmospheric control from oxidizing to neutral & reducing. Finally, for blades, you can work in specific sections and reduce overall scale. I do my heat treating in my drum forge (same burner,) or in the salt tanks. It’s not very good for heat treating over about 7-8”. jloose.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragoncutlery Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 im in the second half of making a larger one to replace the one i have been using for prolly as long as j its still chugging along but the doors too small new one fixes that saw one in a youtube video this last week and was surprised most every one there has a tube type with dual bricks for the door Brandon Sawisch bladesmith eagles may soar but weasels don't get sucked in to jet engines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Weller Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Any chances anyone has a copy of the original plans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20050207080731/http://www.dfoggknives.com/forge.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 And here's the drum forge. https://web.archive.org/web/20041204085614/http://www.dfoggknives.com/photogallery/DrumForgePS/DrumForge.htm Be sure to look around the whole site, there's some real treasure to be found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Weller Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 (edited) Thanks Alan, I remember his website fondly from many hours... I had recently tried to pull it back up and knew it was gone - I didn't think of the wayback archive. Edited September 19, 2022 by Adam Weller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter-Paul Derks Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 I just finished building my version of this forge, lets hope it will last me 20 years as well. Browsing Don's site made me nostalgic, I remember finding it as a 13 year old and being astounded that there were still people forging knives in this world. 1 http://mefecit.nl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Sexstone Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Don’s salt bath ideas deserve a Big Thank You to Don as well….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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