The requirements for the homestead forge are simple, having changed little since Colonial times. Some of the tools you’ll be using are called “new” because they were developed during the Dark Ages; a smith returning from the dawn of the Iron Age would instantly recognize your forge. You’ll be pursuing a craft that was ancient when Alexander ruled the Earth. One thing has changed, however, and you’ll hear the same advice from many other sources: wear safety glasses. When you’re building your forge, or later when you’re using it, you can’t afford to injure your eyes. Get a comfortable pair of glasses or goggles, and use them.

The basic principle behind a forge is simple: you need fuel, a fireproof container to burn it in, and a way of forcing air through the burning fuel. Blowing on the coals in your fireplace or barbecue demonstrates perfectly the process which you will later duplicate on a larger scale. Forges are typically built with masonry or steel outer shells; inner components of either shell may be steel. Building a forge from steel can be done quickly (often using recycled scrap), and its lightweight construction makes a steel forge portable. But an electric welder or acetylene rig is required to build one efficiently.

If you don’t have access to welding equipment, building your forge from masonry is a logical choice. The metal pieces you’ll need are simpler, and welding isn’t needed to make them. Although it isn’t portable, a masonry forge achieves the same temperature produced by one made of steel.

Tags: Forge, Glass, Metal, Steel
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