Low-cost forge set-up using savaged or common parts

Dealing with shoeing horses, or wanting to make useful or decorative things from steel?

I just came across this article on Instructables, about setting up an effective small forge. There's a vid, parts diagram, and discussion about construction. The parts - brake drum, floor flange, 2" steel pipe, hair dyer, dimmer switch, concrete blocks - are easy to obtain, probably second-hand. For most people this would be cheap to build.

This isn't a propane set-up. The maker uses charcoal briquettes. Other solid combustables might also work.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Brake-drum-blacksmithing-forge/?ALLSTEPS

I know of an even simpler set up - google dave budd iron age forge. Its basically a hole in the ground with bellows, but you could easily use a hairdryer instead of bellows. Minimal kit and can do nearly everything a modern forge can. You dont even need a steel anvil - you can use stone. Plenty of blacksmiths in rural parts of africa do.

Great stuff, Joel. Have you fired it up and pounded any metal yet? If so, I'm sure others would also like to see your work.

I took a similar approach with my homemade scrap (wood/charcoal) forges, seen here www.permies.com/t/30487/gear/Wood-Charcoal-Blacksmithing-Tips-Tricks

I hope my experience can help you out.

Instructables is a good source to check out for Great D.I.Y. Information ! In this case I only have a small bone to pick The Forge seen here was fired with Coal!

I am guessing at the coal size as probably chestnut! It could be a 1 or even two sizes smaller, Big AL