Jane Smith received her Bachelor of Science in education from Kent State University in 1995. She provided educational supports for 11 years, served people with multiple challenges for 26 years, rescued animals for five years, designed and repaired household items for 31 years and is currently an apprentice metalworker. Her e-book, "Giving Him the Blues," was published in March 2008.
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Horse FarrierSUPPLIES
- Sheet steel or an old cast iron hibachi
- Arc or MIG torch
- Welder's helmet and gloves
- Power drill, 2-inch diameter hole saw
- 2 feet of 2-inch diameter black iron gas pipe
- Duct tape
- Variable-speed hairdryer
- 100 percent clay cat litter
- Kindling
- Coal
Overview
The turbo hibachi steel forge has been a standard for beginner blacksmiths around the world. While advanced blacksmiths may wish to invest in a factory-built forge, beginners and do-it-yourself workers will find that a home-built forge, when properly adjusted, is on par with any factory-built forge. The advantage is, it costs much less to build and maintain. If you decide blacksmithing is not for you, you do not have a huge financial investment in equipment that you are not going to use. According to veteran industrial and artisan blacksmith Gypsy Wilburn, "The turbo hibachi was my first coal forge. While it was crude in design, it worked fine through hundreds of knives and other projects. Sometimes I still miss that old forge."
Step 1
Put on a welding helmet and welder's gloves. Use an arc or MIG torch to weld sheet steel together into an angled box similar in shape to an old-fashioned, cast-iron hibachi. Or, use an existing cast-iron hibachi if you are able to locate one. Do not use an aluminum hibachi, as it will melt at the temperatures needed to heat steel.
Step 2
Use a power drill and hole saw to make a 2-inch diameter hole in the center of the long side of the box, with the edge of the hole touching the floor of the box.
Step 3
Insert the 2 feet long, 2-inch diameter black iron gas pipe into the hole so that 1 inch of the pipe is inside the box. Duct tape the hairdryer to the other end of the pipe to prevent it from being dislodged during use.
Step 4
Make a slurry of 100 percent clay cat litter, the consistency of a mud pie. Coat the interior of the hibachi and all around the pipe with a 1-inch thick layer of the 100 percent clay cat litter slurry. Be careful you do not get slurry in the pipe opening.
Allow the 100 percent clay cat litter slurry to dry for several days, until it is completely dull white. Bake the 100 percent clay slurry layer until it is bright white. Repeat coating the hibachi if the clay cracks during baking. One hundred percent clay cat litter slurry works as well as refractory clay when properly applied and baked, and costs much less.
Step 5
Build a fire inside the hibachi box, using kindling. When the kindling is burning well, add coal. Adjust the hair dryer speed to the desired pressure. Adjust the pipe to the desired angle of draft. If a MIG welding torch is available, weld the pipe to the side of the forge.
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