Found this video yesterday. Went right out side an 45 min later i got a fully functional forge. Good lookn out brother. I got a few tools to get yet. But with inside a two weeks i should ha e my first piece of metal in the fire.
Planning on building one of these this weekend from scrap lumber I have lying around. Will be slightly modified, will have a shelf on both ends, and a box bellows. Pipe will also be drilled through the box and under dirt, I believe that having it level will make flames less likely to flash back through the pipe.
Hey Trenton, I recently built my first brake rotor forge and I discovered that dual-action hand pumps (the one's for air mattresses) work very well as a bellows/blower. They're only $8 at Walmart and Amazon, and it's a nice electricity-free alternative to a hair dryer
Evan good idea thanks think some thing like that would help a few missionary friends i know help start cottage industry type black smithing forges along with dirt box forge like Trenton showed but also help beginner black smiths as well
I use the same bellows, and have been for about 10 years, and in dirt box forges. I have a second dirtbox forge, for guests that typically use a gas forge. I prefer the air mattress pump myself, for fuel economy, since you have such a heavy blast, even on a low setting. ⚒️👍
Building one at 243 am, this seriously helped me out, thank you!. Pretty sure my propane is going to run out soon, and I'm on a roll, cant buy propane this late. Dirtbox forge it is, firestarter, coal, now a hand pump. I bet the electric mattress variant would work good too!
I really enjoyed watching you tell everyone not to leave the hairdryer in the pipe after you turn it off and then leave it in the pipe at the end of the video. :) I don't know if you did that on purpose or just screwed up but, it really drove home the point watching that smoke coming out of the hairdryer.
Man I gotta say, I've been watching since you were spinning yarns in your shed, and this is one of the best "super duper basic intro to blacksmithing equipment" videos I've seen yet. Everybody else out here going on about all this stuff you gotta weld or go back to the stone age with a hole in your yard. This is the perfect middle ground, Step 1 for the Average Joe. I'm def gonna be building one (just deeper so my pipe can sit level with the base of the fire, and build a fire bowl out of...yup, MORR DIRT!). Thanks again for the great video Trent!
I am looking to design a rocket mass heater for a greenhouse, and I am looking into what it would take for the heater to also be able to melt previous metals for jewelry making. Your video helped me understand what it takes to get to those temperatures. Definitely some design challenges of I decide to do it, though. Thanks!
I have a gas forge that has trouble getting to welding heat... most likely something I'm doing! I'm making one of these next time its not 90+ degrees outside! Love that your making videos for us to follow along with from the book!
Thanks for this… I have been trying to figure out how I could get started … was looking at brake drums sinks all kinds of ideas… I have everything I need for this in my back yard.. I cant wait
By cutting a hole in the side of the box about halfway down and running the pipe in to the center of the box, you can make a better dirt fire pot and increase your ability to heat your pieces
Will this get hot enough to forge weld with. Just wondering i am saving my money to buy a forge but would like to make one till i get the money saved up.
I used a light switch dimmer switch for my first hair-dryer forge. It worked. (But I always UNPLUGGED EV-ERY-THANG when I was done.) ATTENTION BEGINNERS!!! Its an ART. Your forge design just has to work. It doesn't have to be pretty. Just don't burn down the house or injure yourself!
you ever end up with lumps of something that feels like metal at the bottom of your forge? I am getting decent-sized chunks every time I use mine, and it feels like real brittle iron ore.
This is called 'clinker'. It's a bunch of minerals from your fuel or other stuff hanging around, that melts down and forms this mass. Usually has very little value.
I realize it might sound like a stupid question but having not dealt with temperatures that high I thought I'd ask incase there's something I wouldn't know or should be careful of.
@@Damaged7 I always let the fire die out on its own in my outdoor brake drum forge because I never need it out immediately and throwing water on hot steel will inevitably weaken it over time. Once I decide I’m about done forging I stop adding fuel and get a few more heats out of what was in the pot until there are only a few coals left at the bottom of the pot. Unless it’s super windy out letting the fire smolder shouldn’t put you at risk of sparks igniting anything, but if it was that windy out you probably wouldn’t have lit the forge in the first place.
you will need to put a chimney on it, and get it to draw properly, thats unless you do what i did in my 8 foot by 8 foot shed I've got mine in and just cut a bloody big hole in the roof!! helps with the heat as well, all i did was use a steel oil tank i had was prity much the same size as the top off my forge cut both ends off and mounted it a couple off feet above the forge and goes strait through the roof works well but can get quite hot in there, the rain floods in but it's not a problem for me to be honest, but i have a steel one,
@@ISOSAILING I figured I might have to... I'm in a 10ft square space with a large door right beside me and I'm using charcoal so I was hoping to get away without a chimney. I'm going to try it and see, just to be stubborn but I have some 6" pipe I can use, not ideal but it'll be an enclosed fire to get good draw...hopefully
@@damianmcneely7884 if you can get smokeless fuel i'd try that, might be able to make a hood with a removable chimney that gos out the door, or maybe a extractor fan
Well I'm going to need a chimney .....I got the box o dert sorted yesterday and fired it up...man the clouds of smoke, while they only lasted for a few mins, filled the shed. I'm using lump charcoal and I quickly got up to heat and once it's hot there's no smoke but in the beginning....so going with an enclosed style forge and a 6" flue. I know it's small but it's what i have. Fingers crossed...
I have a question, if you are only using a small amount, why make it so big. Could you not cut that in half and not have such a large box? Or is the size of the box, what helps with the fire and or forging?? BTW.. Loved the program you had been on. Wish it had not been cancelled.
Another alternative fuel for smaller stock is feed corn. It will work for smaller stock. It may or may not reach welding temps ove about 3/8ths stock, depending on how much corn you get going. Same as in this video, but feed corn instead of the coal. Just work the fire like you have corn nibblet sized pieces of coal. Also, it has to be feed corn, lime what one might use to make moonshine or feed cattle. Human consumption types of corn (sweet corn, popcorn, etc.) will not burn hot enough, and will stink a whole lot more. Regular feed corn does not smell like burning popcorn btw.
Where do you get coal from in the deep south? I can't get a soul (Including places like TSC) to deliver any to MS, other than Ebay where 100 bucks gets you about a shoebox full I can't find any... EDIT: On what he said about charcoal. You *can* use briquettes but the slaggy crap (dirt essentially) they cut the charcoal with will blow all over the creation and make a huge mess.
@@NICEFINENEWROBOT I've done that a few times actually. But it's so inefficient to make I just burn wood in the forge now. By the time the charcoal is done and the wood for making it is burnt I can just spend a little more time heating the forge with scrap wood and cut up logs and actually save fuel in the long run. Coal would simplify that but nobody ships it in bulk to the Gulf Coast area.
if u put the pipe on a drop from the fire, the fire wont rise through the pipe :P just place a rock on top of the pipe and some small rocks infront and u can get all the air comming up from under the fire
That rough cut lumber looks CLEAN! I have gotten lumber from different sawmills and that lumber there looks much finer. Great explanation on the forge too. 🙂
So what I’m hearing is that my uncle literally left everything I need for this except dirt and an anvil in his shed like 7-8 years ago, guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow
Found this video yesterday. Went right out side an 45 min later i got a fully functional forge. Good lookn out brother. I got a few tools to get yet. But with inside a two weeks i should ha e my first piece of metal in the fire.
Planning on building one of these this weekend from scrap lumber I have lying around. Will be slightly modified, will have a shelf on both ends, and a box bellows. Pipe will also be drilled through the box and under dirt, I believe that having it level will make flames less likely to flash back through the pipe.
Hey Trenton, I recently built my first brake rotor forge and I discovered that dual-action hand pumps (the one's for air mattresses) work very well as a bellows/blower. They're only $8 at Walmart and Amazon, and it's a nice electricity-free alternative to a hair dryer
Evan good idea thanks think some thing like that would help a few missionary friends i know help start cottage industry type black smithing forges along with dirt box forge like Trenton showed but also help beginner black smiths as well
I use the same bellows, and have been for about 10 years, and in dirt box forges. I have a second dirtbox forge, for guests that typically use a gas forge. I prefer the air mattress pump myself, for fuel economy, since you have such a heavy blast, even on a low setting. ⚒️👍
Ill look into it!
Building one at 243 am, this seriously helped me out, thank you!. Pretty sure my propane is going to run out soon, and I'm on a roll, cant buy propane this late. Dirtbox forge it is, firestarter, coal, now a hand pump. I bet the electric mattress variant would work good too!
What an incredibly helpful video! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this!! :)
I really enjoyed watching you tell everyone not to leave the hairdryer in the pipe after you turn it off and then leave it in the pipe at the end of the video. :) I don't know if you did that on purpose or just screwed up but, it really drove home the point watching that smoke coming out of the hairdryer.
Very helpful for getting started, Thank you!
Man I gotta say, I've been watching since you were spinning yarns in your shed, and this is one of the best "super duper basic intro to blacksmithing equipment" videos I've seen yet. Everybody else out here going on about all this stuff you gotta weld or go back to the stone age with a hole in your yard. This is the perfect middle ground, Step 1 for the Average Joe. I'm def gonna be building one (just deeper so my pipe can sit level with the base of the fire, and build a fire bowl out of...yup, MORR DIRT!). Thanks again for the great video Trent!
All these videos are going to be geared that way. I wanted to answer some more entry level problems!
I am looking to design a rocket mass heater for a greenhouse, and I am looking into what it would take for the heater to also be able to melt previous metals for jewelry making. Your video helped me understand what it takes to get to those temperatures. Definitely some design challenges of I decide to do it, though. Thanks!
just made one out of 2 old pallets thanks for the helpful videos they inspire me alot
iam give that suggestion to get some pallets easy and cheap
Great video !
Down to earth and easy to understand.
Thanks
Absolutely welcome!
Great tutorial on the dirt box forge, it's much appreciated!
The birds are happy for sure 😁😁
I have a gas forge that has trouble getting to welding heat... most likely something I'm doing! I'm making one of these next time its not 90+ degrees outside! Love that your making videos for us to follow along with from the book!
Thanks Trenton for this, I cant wait to get started, thanks for all that you do for us home blacksmith's
Certainly Welcome!
Awesome. Thank you for this and all the information you help us out with. Keep up the great work! 👍👍😁
Very welcome!
Learning the tricks from those big shows, good job!!
Thank you!
Thanks for this… I have been trying to figure out how I could get started … was looking at brake drums sinks all kinds of ideas… I have everything I need for this in my back yard.. I cant wait
Awesome! I'm just starting to build my own box o'dert..great timing. Great video and great instruction...thanks
always enjoy seeing your videos but damn its good to see you finally working on a project again
Yeah, its hard to cut the time out for these vids but its good to be back
Great vid! Glad you're back.
Good to be back
Thanks for the video. I appreciate your time......
Great demo very in depth glad to see you back on this type of video THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS📖⛪
More good stuff coming!
Great video
Wow. Now I just feel lazy for not having one already. I'll get right on it. Thanks.
Chop chop.
Real talk. My first melting forge was basically a version of this.
Love this thank you for doing this!!!
You sir are a really good teacher, I'm looking forward to your next videos.
Thanks! Its good to be back.
Love my dirt box forge.
By cutting a hole in the side of the box about halfway down and running the pipe in to the center of the box, you can make a better dirt fire pot and increase your ability to heat your pieces
Wish I made this, my flowered box forge had limited space, it worked but having a bigger bed of fule would have helped not drop it in wet trash can
Just bought my copy of your book. Hope you enjoy the note I left
Thank you
Love this idea!
Awesome !
just dirt and rocks! Mix em n form the forge!
Will this get hot enough to forge weld with. Just wondering i am saving my money to buy a forge but would like to make one till i get the money saved up.
Is there a reason the forge is in a box and not a hole in the ground? Just curious
I used a light switch dimmer switch for my first hair-dryer forge. It worked. (But I always UNPLUGGED EV-ERY-THANG when I was done.) ATTENTION BEGINNERS!!! Its an ART. Your forge design just has to work. It doesn't have to be pretty. Just don't burn down the house or injure yourself!
How many hair driers did you melt- to learn about the back flash.....lol
Normally I have that holder a bit lower, used to working with stuff thats proper!
What type of coal
..Great job Trenton !! for a minute there i thought you were going to lose your eyebrows...!
Damn thing got hot!
you ever end up with lumps of something that feels like metal at the bottom of your forge? I am getting decent-sized chunks every time I use mine, and it feels like real brittle iron ore.
This is called 'clinker'. It's a bunch of minerals from your fuel or other stuff hanging around, that melts down and forms this mass. Usually has very little value.
Imagine a dirt box forge with a bag and bucket bellows very primitive but functional
When is Vidal Sassoon going to start sponsoring you?
They need to pay me the big bucks
outstanding... almost reminds me of Roy Underhill, almost
What is the proper way to put the fire out when you're done?
Pee on it.
I realize it might sound like a stupid question but having not dealt with temperatures that high I thought I'd ask incase there's something I wouldn't know or should be careful of.
@@Damaged7 I always let the fire die out on its own in my outdoor brake drum forge because I never need it out immediately and throwing water on hot steel will inevitably weaken it over time. Once I decide I’m about done forging I stop adding fuel and get a few more heats out of what was in the pot until there are only a few coals left at the bottom of the pot. Unless it’s super windy out letting the fire smolder shouldn’t put you at risk of sparks igniting anything, but if it was that windy out you probably wouldn’t have lit the forge in the first place.
Just wondering how do manage smoke or the heat? I'm in a small shed..
you will need to put a chimney on it, and get it to draw properly, thats unless you do what i did in my 8 foot by 8 foot shed I've got mine in and just cut a bloody big hole in the roof!! helps with the heat as well, all i did was use a steel oil tank i had was prity much the same size as the top off my forge cut both ends off and mounted it a couple off feet above the forge and goes strait through the roof works well but can get quite hot in there, the rain floods in but it's not a problem for me to be honest, but i have a steel one,
@@ISOSAILING I figured I might have to... I'm in a 10ft square space with a large door right beside me and I'm using charcoal so I was hoping to get away without a chimney. I'm going to try it and see, just to be stubborn but I have some 6" pipe I can use, not ideal but it'll be an enclosed fire to get good draw...hopefully
@@damianmcneely7884 if you can get smokeless fuel i'd try that, might be able to make a hood with a removable chimney that gos out the door, or maybe a extractor fan
@@ISOSAILING I'll give it a go and let you know. Thanks for the input.. It's good to talk!
Well I'm going to need a chimney .....I got the box o dert sorted yesterday and fired it up...man the clouds of smoke, while they only lasted for a few mins, filled the shed. I'm using lump charcoal and I quickly got up to heat and once it's hot there's no smoke but in the beginning....so going with an enclosed style forge and a 6" flue. I know it's small but it's what i have. Fingers crossed...
I have a question, if you are only using a small amount, why make it so big. Could you not cut that in half and not have such a large box? Or is the size of the box, what helps with the fire and or forging?? BTW.. Loved the program you had been on. Wish it had not been cancelled.
The size would be to get the most heat insulation from the dirt as possible to keep the boards from burning.
Yep, you need a certain thickness and space of dirt to insulate the whole box. And remember, extra table top space is always a good thing.
Wish I could give more than 1 thumbs up
Another alternative fuel for smaller stock is feed corn. It will work for smaller stock. It may or may not reach welding temps ove about 3/8ths stock, depending on how much corn you get going. Same as in this video, but feed corn instead of the coal. Just work the fire like you have corn nibblet sized pieces of coal. Also, it has to be feed corn, lime what one might use to make moonshine or feed cattle. Human consumption types of corn (sweet corn, popcorn, etc.) will not burn hot enough, and will stink a whole lot more. Regular feed corn does not smell like burning popcorn btw.
Do you do a live VLOG?
Not lately, no time!
Mmmm, I could smell that pine lol
Your anachronism is showing. I've read about deal in old woodworking books, but you're the first person that I've heard say it.
brake rotor or... brake drum...? i think you're mixing up part names? or not?
Both have been used but the rotor is preferred
Where do you get coal from in the deep south? I can't get a soul (Including places like TSC) to deliver any to MS, other than Ebay where 100 bucks gets you about a shoebox full I can't find any...
EDIT: On what he said about charcoal. You *can* use briquettes but the slaggy crap (dirt essentially) they cut the charcoal with will blow all over the creation and make a huge mess.
No way making your own charcoal? UA-cam has a lot of recipes. Seems easy.
@@NICEFINENEWROBOT I've done that a few times actually. But it's so inefficient to make I just burn wood in the forge now. By the time the charcoal is done and the wood for making it is burnt I can just spend a little more time heating the forge with scrap wood and cut up logs and actually save fuel in the long run.
Coal would simplify that but nobody ships it in bulk to the Gulf Coast area.
Birmingham has a few places and Mobile does as well. Thats going to be it for bulk coal down here.
@@purgatoryironworks Thanks, I'll ask around in Mobile. I travel there several time a year.
if u put the pipe on a drop from the fire, the fire wont rise through the pipe :P just place a rock on top of the pipe and some small rocks infront and u can get all the air comming up from under the fire
That rough cut lumber looks CLEAN! I have gotten lumber from different sawmills and that lumber there looks much finer. Great explanation on the forge too. 🙂
My guy has a really nice band saw, its good stuff
Channel bump
A whole in the garden do the same work :D
Either you farted or someone moved a chair lol
No Kitties?
Oh, they are here
@@purgatoryironworks LOL This morning update showed the were still there
So what I’m hearing is that my uncle literally left everything I need for this except dirt and an anvil in his shed like 7-8 years ago, guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow
i hope that place is open-air, or extremely well ventilated. please be safe brother.
if you really want it cheap pallets go to store and ask if thay got a or 2 pallets yhat you can buy cheap for get for free
My first forge was a dirt box. Until I burned it up.
I would not do that indoor 😅
I have a box with soil in the garden, works fine with a hole in the middle, the bricks would not be nessesery
i put a rotor forge in my dirt box forge
420 like😏