shop made forge: newby on a budget.

[chuckwagonRN]

Has anyone made a coffecan forge? I am just beggining and found Choffa Hossa's link to Zoller and am really intrigued about the paint bucket or coffee can forge. I am fairly well equiped with basic equipment for shop tools and I am not looking for a full fledged forge. I just want to heat some metal and learn. For the finances and other commitments I like the size and cost. I am not looking for a shop forge at this time. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with them? I gather from my reading that a really hot fire with some wind would work. How would it be done in the 1800's out in the woods? I am gathering that there was some fire side forgin goin on. A hot fire with good wood and a correct breeze? Just askin for some input.
Thanks for your time.
Chuckwagon

[FrankG]

Ive used the shop stove for heat source when my oxy/acetlyne was emty ! Just kept dragging hot coals on steel till yellow hot and went after it !

Now a 5 gal bucket cut off and a bag of clay kitty litter , old hair dryer , soup canwith both ends cut out then split for rollin down smallnuff to fit around old hair dryer outlet and duct tape in place . Take  a couple soup cans and make sheetmetal out em and then duct tape together forming a pipe , cut a hole in side of bucket toward bottem that your 'pipe' will fit in and locate outlet inside about in center . Mix the kitty litter with water and mix till clay is formable and pack it in bucket to build up and hold 'pipe in place . Needs to be round 3" thick and you form your center (turye) and keep airway open . Ya end up with a big dognut 

[chuckwagonRN]

Great Christmas was spent at my inlaws. Wonderful family gathering in far west Kansas. I knew I was a "Genius" when I married the farmer's daughter!!
It was cold, cold. After a full day chattin and catchin up the men were goin a little stir crazy spendin all the time in the house. We went out to the shop and started lookin for some thing to do while enjoyin malt beverages. I went back to the big house and dodged the women and pulled up plans for a simple forge. We found an old metal bucket and put together a small propane forge. The farmer got out his welder and it was done in less than an hour. It is exactly the size I have had in mind. The shop is stocked with everything one would need to fabricate anything a guy would need. Got ta love the farmer and his ability. Have taken to heart that "young" guys need to hang out with "old" guys- they know stuff. Will be getting some BBQ paint and possibly repaint the body? Kind o like the Co-Op bucket look. Pics will be forthcomming. My question is- Is it necessary to repaint the bucket or will the fire blanket keep the outside cool enough not to blister the paint?
Chuckwagon