Part Two Building the Brake Drum Forge

[Lvduggo69]

If black iron is unavailable u can throw the galvanized pipe fittings in a campfire for a few hrs and u will b all good. It will burn off the

Galvanizeationizim ! Ha ha.

Ps. Yes I made that word up , but it works.

[TheKodiak72]

fantastic video. thanks

[xmodnoob2188]

Did you make a video for this of you at the store? or is just a two part video? Love watching your videos, its starting to get me into the craft.

[YaxisX]

Trenton Tye, well you've got me hooked on this. I hope to have my first forge built in the next week or two. This is really great.

I'm doing this to introduce my grandson & grandaughter to some practical and real world skills and Hobby Work for Homeschooling Projects. You are so great. Thanks.

[purgatoryironworks]

@YaxisX

You are very welcome, Im always amazed at how many folks still get a kick out of these videos!

[PresbyterGeorge]

Can you weld the break drum or rotor onto the flange rather than bolting it on?

[purgatoryironworks]

@PresbyterGeorge

you have to use a nickel rod and its expensive but it can do

[PresbyterGeorge]

@purgatoryironworks - got it, thanks!

[shintawolfie]

Sorry, they wanted 65-75 for the pipes and fittings. Even on Amazon, my total comes out to almost 60 without the brake drum

[shintawolfie]

Hey there. I need some advice on buying the piping for this forge. I went out and bought everything I need to begin except the things needed for the fire pot and duck pot. I went to the local hardware stores to buy the pipes and no one had 2" diameter nipples in black iron. Finally went to ferguson locally and found them. They wanted about 65-75 for the pipes alone. Is this normal? Where can I buy them for the price you got them for?

[heliarche]

I made my blower with a treadmill motor with control unit coupled via V belt to a vacuum motor.You have infinite variable speed control and more air than you'll ever need.Of course you can set it down to just a puff as well.Used a big cast iron sink lined with refractory cement, but I don't suggest the sink.It cracked up pretty bad.

[Zacistan]

I followed the same principle using an old frying pan with holes drilled in the centre and an attached pot to direct the air into the holes and a vacuum cleaner as an air source attached with 4cm piping. i also used 4kg BBQ heat beads but i couldn't heat the steel enough to work with or heat treat. any suggestions?

[polylingue]

Dude, where's the cat? Oh oh? Did you? No!!!!! Kitty!!!! Oh yeah, musta cooked it-good eating.



[Toolman883]

we couldnt find a flange big enough for my foreg so we had to weld a quarter inch thick plate with a 2 inch cap coming through the center but it sticks up about an incha nd a half and my drum is 5 inches deep will that cap sticking up mae a difference

[aeron159]

all i have seen people make is rr-spike knives with brake drum forges (which are kinda small in my opinion) is there a limit to the length of a knife you can effectively make with a brake drum forge?

(i would like to be making knives nine to twelve inches long)

[unicycler15]

I had built mine prior to seeing this video, and I actually did drill through the actual brake drum to make holes to fit the flange. (Note that my brake drum had bolts tightly rusted in it which I had left in to plug up existing holes in brake drum). So you could drill through the brake drum if you really wanted to, though it will likely leave you with holes in the forge pot and a little harder to drill.

[Raaszhecku]

The moment you pulled out duct-tape I subscribed. 

[inevitablehatred]

What is the hole spread center-to-center for the flange? I have a cast iron baking sheet that I am converting and I haven't seen any dimensions yet. Thanks

[purgatoryironworks]

@inevitablehatred

doesnt really matter as long as you have at least 2" for airflow

[mustachio124]

My blower is too powerful, every time I turn it on it sends charcoal flying all over the place =O

[purgatoryironworks]

@mustachio124

place a piece of cardboard halfway over the intake. This will reduce the flow.

[mustachio124]

@purgatoryironworks Yeah, I actually switched to a good hair dryer, which works pretty well, but thanks for the response!

[dizzyarmstrong]

@mustachio124

you could get fancy and install a dimmer switch in a old construction electrical boz half-way thru a heavy duty extension cord. the electrical guy at lowes/home depot should be able to help you out on the specifics. however the cardboard would be much easier and just as effective.

[nadav611]

whats the diffrence between iron and black iron

[purgatoryironworks]

@nadav611

Iron is pure "Fe". Black iron is a modern term used to describe pipe that has not been coated or galvanized

[aaronwingard]

if u want a good blower use a hair dryer with adjustable settings

[gsx1138]

Built this and worked with my first piece of metal. I posted a couple of short videos on my page with a thanks to you. It was great fun and hopefully a sign of things to come.

[Misha24156]

my longer piece of pipe is 2 feet long and it still gets warm but not HOT or at least not hot enough to melt the plastic on my hair dryer. :))

[Alehkhs]

Great video instruction. A quick question: which would you say is "better" or more recommended, to use a brake drum, or to use a brake rotor?

[Zaeffer]

I went and got a quote for the pipe fittings described in this video from Steel and Tube, which is one of New Zealand's biggest steel suppliers and the quoted cost was $133.88 (including $14.88 GST), quite a bit more than I was expecting...

[asubdawg]

This is simply amazing loved it, I am heading out today to pick up my parts, cheers and thanks..

[Pawnfirst007]

i love internet education

[SolarGranulation]

This is excellent stuff! I really want to get into a bit of hobby blacksmithing and, if I do, it will be largely due to your clear instructions.

[stanman1992]

i found a hair dryer with a "cold blast" button i taped down when i built my forge... mine is totaly difrent i built it out of the bottom of a propain bottle want to build a new one

[cvbpo]

i seen the ones on ebay and they are pricey so n low end junk store mmmmmm ok me sa try there

[cvbpo]

do you know where i can get an hand crank blower for an forge

[purgatoryironworks]

@cvbpo

They are hard to find, best place to start checking is a low end "junk" store. Ebay has them but they are pricey.

[Bearsnack]

Great Video

I went to the salvage yard and got a brake drum. I cant find a T fitting, flange, or cap. I have tried Home Depot, Lowes and a few local plumbing suppliers. Any recomendations on finding these items?

[purgatoryironworks]

@Bearsnack

They are very common place, if you cant find two inch, go down a size. There are several online sellers of blacks iron as well. If that fails, find a welder and just make it from tube!

[lickyournanna08]

It will work... it just wont hold. Seen as the brake rotor wont fuse with the weild.

[lickyournanna08]

Or just weild the flange to the brake rotor, so the holes dont match up... even if you do a 3 inch beid every 4 inches it will do good.

[purgatoryironworks]

Nope, wont work, your trying to weld cast steel to cast iron. Aint gonna happen! :)

[purgatoryironworks]

And a grapefruit -can- be crammed up somebody's backside. Just because thats true in no ways means its prudent or a good idea.

[cbrusharmy]

HA! You tell him!

[Brasilikilt]

Case in Point....Fisher Brand anvils are regarded by most blacksmiths I've talked to, as being a high quality cast iron anvil, which has a tool steel plate welded on as a striking surface.

When I actually saw cast iron being welded to steel, it was to fix an antique cast iron patio chair.

It was done by a skilled welder who explained the process of preheating with an O/A torch to get the weld to stick.

It's possible, it just takes practice

[dougekewl]

@Brasilikilt

prove it or S.T.F.U.

I've never seen cast welded w/o cracking.. EVER

[Brasilikilt]

Look, I don't wanna get in a fight, we're all here to discuss and learn about blacksmithing, not to rip on each other.

All I am saying is I have seen it happen , and the guy welding it was explaining the process as he went along.

Do a search for videos 'welding cast iron' and you'll see the process.

[purgatoryironworks]

Im going to argue a few points that you have made. One, I have a very hard time believing that any smith would characterize a cast iron anvil as "high quality". They were the cheapo's of the time because once the tool steel plate cracked, it was used as a boat anchor. Two. Saying that the tool steel plate was welded to the cast iron base is misleading at best. Per my understanding, the base was CAST to a plate that was heated to forge welding temp.

[purgatoryironworks]

Now, if you have a video that shows steel being welded to cast, Id like for you to post it here. We believe in evidence and a video would go a long way. Now as for the welder preheating the cast, this has nothing to with steel. Unless you are using a very special welding rod, almost ALL cast iron arc welding must be done with preheating and more importantly it must be ANNEALED. If it cools too quickly (even in the air) it will crack to pieces.

[purgatoryironworks]

Easy D! The only one that gets to be rude enough to claim grapefruits and backsides is me! :)

Brasil has the right idea but I feel he is missing a few important facts. We are here to compare notes and learn. I appreciate your enthusiasm but as with all things here, be nice. Unless there are citrus fruit involved.

[capnnewb]

IMO the fishers are the best anvils for a hobbyist. period. they are quiet cheap and are great. now anyone who disses them either thinks that beacause they are cast iron they are automatically bad and has never used one. i am no super smith but i am ok and i would not trade my fisher for a hay budden of the same size. they just keep going and if the face pops off, it will just be a boat anchor, but until then it is my baby.

[purgatoryironworks]

Im afraid I must argue your points. First, for the hobbyist I'd say that any anvil is the best one for them because you are dealing with make do situations. Second, You make a great assumption thinking my opinion is made out of ignorance. I own two Fishers and for the amateur, they will suffice. And if you pass up a hay budden for a fisher, well, thats pure personal opinion and loyalty. The quality and durability between the two cant be argued, fishers are inferior.

[capnnewb]

i do not like the horn (the forged ones are better) but they are QUIET! that is why i love them. and i feel that your opinion is just that, an opinion. i know lifetime (like 60ish years of blacksmithing) who say the fishers are the best because they are quiet and a great deal for the money. and under no circumstances would i ever pass up an anvil! i think that your opinion is valid, but i disagree. now to each his own, eh? what is it about the fishers that you dislike other then the horn?

[capnnewb]

well since youtube won't let me write an essay, i said trade not pass up. ;) now if i happened upon a better / bigger anvil i would use that one. i also think that you may be of the long narrow face is best school of thought so you won't like the short squat fishers. but they are very good and beat most modern anvils and are CHEAP and QUIET. so that is a big plus IMO.

[purgatoryironworks]

Appreciate the fair discourse. Please dont let me give the impression that Im too good to use a fisher. If it was my shop anvil Id use the snot out of it. My argument is that when given the option, a fisher rarely wins out. The horn is an issue but Id be a poor blacksmith If I couldnt manufacture something to use in its place. Now you mention that your backup fellows say great things about the fisher because they are cheap and quiet......

[capnnewb]

amen to that! your only too good for a fisher when you have a power hammer. ;) for the money they can't be beat and they are the only anvils i can find in decent shape where i am (there was a ton of industrial smithing in my area, and fishers were used in industry). but i always go fisher if the two anvils are the same size as they are that much cheaper (but if i had the cash i would buy both). i may even buy my buddys 500ish lb HB if i ever get the cash......

[purgatoryironworks]

Neither of which have anything to do with its ability to be an anvil. If you want to talk money, a RR track anvil cant be beat. As far as noise, Im not sure why this is even an issue because a magnet or chain solves that issue double quick with wrought and steel anvils. Now faces are of primary concern to me, I am a die hard fan of which one works at the moment. A good shop needs shapes and faces of all dimension, including squat and flat.

[capnnewb]

anvils still ring when they get strapped down. fishers don't. rr track is pretty bad. would you honestly recommend it to someone who has the cash to buy a 'real' anvil? or would you use it your self as an anvil? if you would not i would not recomend it (just me but for someone w/o other options it can suffice). i would say a big ol block of steel is better (and harder to steal!)

[purgatoryironworks]

True there is a distintive tone but its not nearly loud enough to be any sort of issue unless you are beating an anvil whilst trying to sneak past a sleeping prison guard. And I have to say, if you classify rr track as bad, I dont feel as if you have done alot of ironwork. I have three sections of RR track in my shop as it can do thing that an anvil cant. And once again, we come back to the argument of "What is this guy trying to do?" Make knives, ornamental work?

[homeschooler360]

I've never used a Fisher anvil. That being said. Why is this even an issue? He's just trying to help out new/amateur blacksmiths, not start an argument with someone who obviously has no life! Why do you care what he thinks about your anvil? It would seem to me that he is a better smith than you therefore you want his acceptance and approval. Just out self respect don't keep on for weeks. You only look all the more foolish because of it.

[boredism07]

yupp metal fume fever killed paw paw wilson. damn you galvinized steel and your high zinc contents.

[BernhardHofmann]

Your videos are incredibly well explained. Thanks for actually DOING it rather than just talking about it. I especially like your "get it done" attitude rather than "make it pretty". :)

Great videos. I've just subscribed.

[DoucheMonk]

What kind of iron must I use if I want to set up this brake drum forge?

I can't decipher what he says. All I know is don't use galvanized parts.

??? Help please.

[purgatoryironworks]

Decipher? I had no idea my english was that bad. Non coated pipe, also known as "black iron pipe" is what you want to use. Check the video by 911n0 under mine.

[DoucheMonk]

Well I was just making sure because I have trouble hearing accents. Thanks for the heads up!

But I tried finding black iron pipes awhile ago at my local hardware store. They don't sell it. Any idea where can I get it someplace else?

[robcuda67]

thank you very much, im 17 and wanting to start blacksmithing and this was VERY helpful

[peder95]

i followed this tutorial and i love it!!! well done!!

But i went to the store here in denmark and i put i all together and in the end it was 90 dollars!!!!!! thats crazy!!! sometimes i just hate living here !! everything is expensive and you are allowed almost nothing!!!

But GREAT video very informative!!

[tagkver]

thank you very helpful

[Zoie3x8]

if you cant get ahold of cinder blocks, theres always the option of a cutting out the seat of a metal stool, which can be found at most office supply stores, as well as sam's club, most larger wal-marts, and target

[danz409]

gatherd all the parts. i would like to post a note some hair dryers isnt as simple as "riping out the heating element" for a cold blower. the particuler hair dryer i got used the heating element as a resistor for the fan speeds and would not function once i took out the element. i basicly just took everything off the fan and got a 12v wall wart and used the fan only, works just as good as if it was in the dryer ^^;

[warpforlife]

i got a 12# rotter for 3$ and its deep as hell

[codydean10]

if you have a big enough pipe

[codydean10]

a Tractor trailor break drum will work if u make a big blower.

[longfletch]

iv had 2 blow dryers quit on me fairly quick, what is the deal, is there a fuse inside them??

[Tepha2090]

what type of car does that brake rotor go to?

[jasonroly]

Great vid mate im going to get those bit and pieces next week and build one up cheers

[waynedartist]

Great video, make sure you thank your wife for letting you wear her apron..................get a leather one and look the part...........girly blacksmith!!!

[kesheth180]

which works better, a router or a drum?

[siddepoo]

drum are usually bigger and more bowl like than router which is a good shape for holding stuff like blazing hot coals..

so what'd ya reckon?

[kesheth180]

having tried both since i posted this, the drum works much better.

[usernamedoamaral]

Another good thing of removing the heating element from the hair blower is saving on electricity. : )

[bluesman1981]

for something to put in the bottom of the firepot you can use a drain cover like one you find at the bottom of your bath tub or shower. it's high tempered and you can weld it in with a propane torch and it will last alot longer than pretty much anything and it makes clean up a snap. just remember the black stuff that adheres to the sides of your firepot is called coke and you want to have a bit of it to keep the fire going after you start it. not alot though cause then ya just get a big mess LOL

[Hydropyric]

Unfortunately, when I went to get the pipe fittings I was priced at about $84. I tried online and the best I could get was around $40 with shipping (about $4 was shipping I believe). It may be because I live in Chicago, I don't know. I'm still hoping to find an alternative now...

[BaconLettucePickles]

Try looking at construction or home remodel sites. 2 inch isn't easy to come by but you can get lucky. Some times they will just throw old metal stuff away when they are replacing with PVC.

You will probably have to buy the 2 inch flange unless your really lucky.

Also check with your local Fire department. The one I use to live by use to have tons of bicycle and pipe parts in back. (no idea why)

[ductonius]

Having Teflon tape on there is a bad idea. When heated it decomposes to a harmful gas. Even tiny amounts is toxic to birds, and larger quantities will produce flu-like symptoms in humans. If you need to seal those pipes take it to a welding shop and have them run a bead over the joint. They probably won't even charge you.

[Hydropyric]

I really am thinking of building my forge exactly like this. Thank you so much!

[sandman0077]

great video. alot simpler than others ive seen. thanks

[Southern661]

OR: make a pipe entirely out of ductape!

[GavinS1965]

Its gotta be easier than a back mounted water cooled tue iron..

[womule2005]

awesome

[BelligerentAuthority]

Thankyou. You made my day.

[grimcat27]

thats how im gona build my next forge the one I have now just isnt big enough and I think Ill add a tire rim maybe just a spare or full size depending on what I can find maybe I can find some punctuation to

[dudeman1823]

thanks man

just those two vids helped me out on how i can make my forge

good video

im gonna go watch the other ones lol

[Sirus20x6]

I LOVE redneck engineering!

Extra credit for mentioning the Darwin awards!

As soon as spring rolls around I'm heading to the local junk yard and building one!

[MaxForton]

Lol, i finished the video and found what i was looking for to my last comment. But, what would u recommend for the covering?

[MaxForton]

How do you build the fire in the forge? I made a forge very similar to the brake drum forge but I don't understand how to keep the charcoal from falling in through the duct pipes. How do I keep the fire on the fire pot? Thanks for replies.

[LincTexPilot]

You have a really good speaking gift. You should market yourself out to other instructional videos.

[jtphantom]

Useful tip, if you dont want to do it this way, just go find a old weber grill at a junkyard, cut it down to 4 inches tall, cut a hole in hte bottom and line with 3 inches of refractory cement, air assembly same as shown here, but you will be able to get a bigger fire for a more even heat.

Galvanized will work just fine, just make sure you use a torch on it OUTSIDE to burn off the nickle coating on the first few inche that would get hot and your safe as can be.

[1ToNJaB]

How hot can a Forge like this get?

[1ToNJaB]

These are great videos.

thanks for sharing!

[TheShnuz]

I'm gonna make me a Forge!

[goteeman99]

thanks for the info!your vids are great.and........unn i don't mean to sound like an idiot but what's the difference between a brake drum and a brake router?

[jdorsey89]

Brake Drums are mostly from older cars or jsu tthe back wheels on newer cars. They are a large bowl-shaped hub. The wheel attaches to the outside and the brake pads push on the inside.

Brake Rotors are the "disc" in disc brakes. The brakes pinch the disc, like pinching a spinning record. They're better at stopping so most cars have them now.

[medievallover120]

wow... thats.... kinda confusing

[TheShnuz]

Tell us what part and we'll help ya.

[worthlessprotoplasm]

Three Threaded Nipples. Lol.

[AndreaGanora]

Great video.

Thanks for sharing.

[klezemkidija]

why cant you veld them together? flange and rotor. is the rotor from cast iron?

[thusalwaystotyrants]

yea most of them are and cast iron doesnt weld if you didnt know that from experience

[mortson978]

I welded a brake rotor today. Not too tough.

[kijauan]

Ooh..sorry. I mend a furnace not foundry..heh..heh..so, any idea in furnace making & the pot they use? i really need some ideas..:)

[kijauan]

Now I know how to make a forge but what about making a foundry and the pot that they using, is it clay pot or something? sorry for asking this if it doesn't related but mind if giving some idea on making one of this foundry thing..

[georei]

I made one just like you shown and it works like a charm. The only differences I made is that I used an old blower from a furnace and for the body an old gas grill. I work for a fire sprinkler company so the fittings and pipe didn't cost me a thing.

[dishdemon]

hey thanks a ton for all the info!! i am very interested in trying on of these! on my list i want to try a rail-road tie knife and a sword or large knife from a vehicle leaf spring. i love the antique looks this skill produces and is a very cost effective hobby or trade!!

[booyackshaw]

it sounds like ur next to an airport or a highway and can someone please tell me how do you take the heating element out???

[purgatoryironworks]

That part I stay away from, being that there is risk of electrocution. I try to hedge my bets. Talk to a qualified electrician.

[purgatoryironworks]

Check my new video that I filmed for you.

It only takes about a minute to get good heat with a proper blower.

[viper8red]

Excellent videos. A really great walk through for the newbie.

[wraith9712001]

Awsome this was just what I wanted to see. I am off to they junkyard this weekend to get a drum. I think we have an old Kentworth tractor still with the drums on it. hey gotta use what we have no?

[camandoe]

never mind the hair dryer thing

[Sniper1968]

Great how-to video, but I think the brake rotor is a bad choice mainly due to the lack of depth. I have one myself (brake drum forge), and found that old CJ Jeep brake drums make the best pots.

[purgatoryironworks]

Not a bad choice at all if you have a working plan. Youll find in the next video we install this into a pan. A drum gets to be too deep with this modification but whatever works for you.

[3rdconfederate]

This is cool. I've wanted a forge ever since I joined the SCA about ten years ago and met about five people who had them. There's just something about hitting red-hot metal! Don't know what the neighbors are going to think, though.

[purgatoryironworks]

Aha, I knew you had the odor of scadian about you! What kingdom?

[3rdconfederate]

Ah, don't laugh, but it's CAID. I live in the central valley where it's mostly ag. Lately I've started WBTS reenacting and have run into more people with forges, so I think it's just my destiny.

[purgatoryironworks]

Good Show :)! It certainly is its own culture. Im looking forward to playing sometime this fall. It will be nice to be in a smaller setting for once.

[jakemostov1]

Haha, the cat wasn't in the video anywhere! :(

[purgatoryironworks]

It will work but its real tricky. Plus you burn a LOT more power running a compressor as opposed to a hair dryer

[WhiteVanMansGirl]

Hello Ash XXX

[pitbike2006]

hello belly

[xTrotusx]

Your vids are great. I herd in one of them your in GA. I live In GA to about 2 hours from Macon. Down near Cordele GA. I am starting to build a new forge due to my old one being poorly built. Your forge is great to get me by. THANKS

[purgatoryironworks]

I went to school in americus and I live around albany now

[Malaachi]

Thank you so much this is exactly what I needed. Keep up the great work.

[PiIsYourFfriend]

This was great. For me, the idea of making a forge has been the primary thing keeping me from getting started in blacksmithing. Now I know better then to think I can't do it. I just subscribed.

[purgatoryironworks]

Hey, I am as bad as I wanna be!