How to Make a Coffee Can Forge

[@ThrasherGnar]

I’ve heard of “doing it yourself” but I’ve never heard of “doing yourself it”! This is brilliant!

[@chinatrain1999]

if the world as we know it comes to an end, i hope youtube still works. there are some people with amazing ideas and talents. Thanks for the video!

[@AndrewWorkshop]

Thanks!

[@sevencostanza3883]

Its all on hard drives somewhere. That would make for a fun post apocalyptic adventure, breaking into the youtube vaults to steal the lost knowledge.

[@MystikShamrock]

trying to figure out what the hell the hole in the bottom of the can is for, besides air flow..

[@trevorcrane1664]

Celtic Saint so that he can place longer lengths of steel in etc..

[@title1091]

I know, it's better than the American education system

[@themixeduphacker2619]

Hi, I made the forge and it works great I'm going to write out how I did it. so here we go. so to start I used soda cans duck taped together end to end instead of the raid can (this makes it much easier to get out) and instead of making a large hole in the back I just drilled out about a 1/4 inch hole in the back. I also put in the gas port at a slight angle to great a vortex inside the forge. The ts8000 is incredibly fuel-efficient it will run for 30 sec at full bore on just what is in the 4 ft hose I have. I have made a small dagger and a mini Katan out of screws with this and it works great, thanks for the tutorial, Andrew.

[@themixeduphacker2619]

@@nathanthegreat28 I'm not sure what you mean

[@themixeduphacker2619]

@@nathanthegreat28 as for the weapon that you found I would like to know what it is, It sounds rather cool and that would help with name.

[@themixeduphacker2619]

A file can be found at your local hardware store and get some sand paper up to 1000 grit. And I am pretty broke all the time so I can relate. Ps in that other reply I meant luck not lick

[@themixeduphacker2619]

I’m not sure what you mean with file thing for free

[@themixeduphacker2619]

@@nathanthegreat28 you have to pay for a torch

[@unanimousanonymous3354]

Excellent build, most likely to method I'll follow when building mine. Thank you!

[@Gun_Talk]

Does it take Glock mags though?

[@craigpierre2765]

That is an awesome idea. I have been racking my brain on how I could do just this on the cheap and bam...there it is. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@yoshyusmc]

Sadly after research this kind of refractory is not good to use for metal working temps. Plaster of paris and sand are heat sinks not heat reflective like a true refractory is. This mix will degrade, crack and can be dangerous. I confirmed this by building my own version and only used it twice and heard a loud pop. A crack formed on one side, so needless to say I will not be using this mix anymore. The only way to go is with soft fire bricks, or wool and satanite.

[@Thedoug369]

If you put some oil or petroleum jelly on the can you're using for the burn chamber, it's alot easier to get it out after the pp/sand mixture starts to set up.

[@ferdonandebull]

You know a couple of fire bricks to use to close the ends when you don’t need to get all the way through might be a good idea..

[@loraeden1596]

Exactly..🙂

[@danekane7511]

it would explode because of all that fire, oxygen and propane buildup in the chamber

[@sneakmore]

@@danekane7511 if the can was filled with propane prior to lighting then rapidly oxidized that is a different story. But we are talking about the propane and oxygen being in a constant state of vaporization before being replaced and then burned again enclosing it will only make it more efficient until you close it so much that oxygen is no longer in the chamber inhibiting the oxidation of the propane and snuffing the flame. FIre bricks are very easy to move and control the air flow @ferdonandebull is completely correct

[@sneakmore]

would also be cool to retrofit another quarter can full refractory with legs to stick to the back just to keep the fully homemade vibe.

[@Jujujk1998]

It probably needs oxygen flow?

[@DJRaevenHeart]

Just a quick tip: If you mold the opening for the nozzle at an angle, you would get a vortex effect that would not only increase the amount of heat, but also the efficiency of heat per fuel use. Exact angles would have to depend on what type/size nozzle you are using.

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+Valdarian RaevenHeart Cool, will have to try that on the next one. Would you suggest keeping the torch in the middle of the forge, or move it forward or back any?

[@DJRaevenHeart]

For that size the placement is fine because it concentrates the heat in the middle, and will still be able to heat longer pieces. If you make a bigger one though...personally I'd place the nozzle in the back angled towards the front, and slightly downward until you get the vortex. I don't have the means here, but if you want I can draw it out for you.

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+Valdarian RaevenHeart I won't be make making another forge for sometime but thanks for the offer!

[@Serkanbah]

+Valdarian RaevenHeart interesting thank you i am thinking to build a forge like this.

[@DJRaevenHeart]

Serkanbah Coolbeans, let me know how it goes. I'm planning to make a similar build once I move to a better area to allow for noisy forge work ;p

[@majorwolf1282]

The design is great. There's only three things I would change about it. Instead of having to make your own refractory mix just buy some refrextory cement (Home Depot sells a 50 lbs bag for fourth dollars on delivery.) and I would angle the torch to hit the bottom of the forge somit comes in more direct contact with the steel, and I'd use a bigger burner. (I'm going to use this design to make my forge welding forge, all in all? Great job that's a cheap and easy starter forge for any up and coming blacksmith.

[@teeljordan915]

435

[@apocalypseforge2666]

BTW, perlite and vermiculite can be found in garden supply stores. The reason you find them there is that they are also used for cutting/propagation benches since they promote root growth. Both are created by extreme heating and thus are also good as a refractory material. Perlite is easy to find most anywhere but vermiculite is a bit harder to find.

[@thejurassicchicken1445]

lockdown

[@BeefNEggs057]

@@thejurassicchicken1445 Fire your idiotic coward democrat state leadership then. Been open the whole time with no problems. Democrats aren’t following science.

[@professorstokes6596]

@@BeefNEggs057 FJB!!!

[@sharpwhits0167]

I made one of these out of an empty paint can. Tried it out this weekend. Had to put a fire brick over one end and it worked great to heat trat a little edc knife i have been making.

[@chancepace4450]

That was a really nice forge you made when I tried it mine only got about 90% full I think my mixture was wrong.

[@salemsanders2075]

I just did this and it worked superbly. Thank you so much for you informative, to the point and definitely helpful content.

[@kevinwade8189]

Did it hold up

[@RevJason1976]

I just made one using your directions....wow I had no idea it would set up so fast. I waited a little longer to pour it in thinking that it would prevent the oozing but I made a bigger mess that way. I also had enough left over to form sort of a door for the back opening to help keep the heat in while heating a smaller piece.

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+RevJason1976 Great to hear!

[@GAZOD]

How did this work out after, did it last or did it crack and break up. very interested as planning on making one. thanks

[@gonefishingtwo]

I thought it's so practical that it's extremely good we'll done .

[@eligriggs9221]

If you try this, here are some tips to consider. One, set up your coffee can inside a strong garabage bag, so, IF, the mix blows out of it's mold, you have someplace to go, other than the table or floor. Two, use Formby's oil soap, from the bottle, as a mold release for the center pipe or can, just wipe a thin coat everwhere the mix will make contact. Three, remove the galvanization, before positioning. Four and Five, use electrical tape to secure the lid to the can and add a small 'rope of Plasticine clay, to the edge of the bottom of the can, to form a gasket that will help reduce or even eliminate the rising up of the buoyant can as the mix is poured in. Do the same for a pvc tube, just to keep it in place better, and do both before you use the oil soap release. Cheers.

[@VT-tz5bm]

You should make your own video!

[@gpcitnc]

You probably already know this but the other side of perlite is probably "Ver-Mick-U-Light". It is used often in soils as it will help hold moisture. Just please be aware, I believe the dust is a known carcinogen (no, I'm not from California). Thank you for the video 5 years ago and people are still watching!

[@BrandXsps]

I just made one of these and used it. I really don't know anything about forging but I was able to take a lag bolt and turn it into a coat hook. I was wanting to make this with only one opening but the plaster set way faster than I expected and my form got stuck. I had to drill out the other end to get it out. It works OK but not great. Good for small pieces. I Think I will try to make a plug for the back end to improve efficiency. It seems to do alright but if It wouldn't take much use really start going through a lot of propane. The price was right though at about 8 bucks and free materials from the scrap metal bin at work. Good video.

[@Marlow224]

Lol.

[@keirfarnum6811]

You can also use perlite from the garden center bonded together with water glass (made by mixing silica gel with lye drain cleaner; it produces a light purple liquid that can be used as a high temp glue.)

[@scottlloyd1938]

Hi mate, I am following your recipe of water glass and perlite…. I watched a video where someone added aluminium oxide, is that necessary? Also do I mix the water glass in its liquid form with the perlite then put it in the mold? Thanks in advance

[@mompox55]

Man you just made my day! Thanks for posting this. I'm going to build one.👍

[@andrewallason4530]

5:50 using a jigsaw, sabresaw or electric sander (without the sawblade or sandpaper) to vibrate the mixture down to ensure no cavities in the mix. It may also aid in ‘releasing’ moisture from the mix, to be sponged off the surface, speeding up the drying of the mix.

[@goldbunny1973]

I think you were going for Vermicultite? Ver mick you light. Super absorbent. We used to advise it's use for cleaning up certain industrial spillages. A thick rubber band around the can will maximise grip on it's surface; Use of a door/lid to retain heat and/or blowing air into the furnace should raise it's Max Temp.

[@mullmiller]

in the winter time when the forge is cold even though it warms up slowly, will that plaster crack?

[@jimthomas777]

I thought the same thing so I used ceramic , I busted up an old toilet tank , kitty litter - that's clay as in clay bricks , sand and mix , I tried to use more of the ceramic than the clay kitty litter and sand , and mine is in a 55 gal drum , 2 toilet tanks ,1 bowl 50lb sand Bag of clay kitty litter 80 lb Mortar mix Add water Crushed up the toilet with a sledgehammer , layed it on a hard surface , covered it with card board and crunched away , the card board keeps sharp pieces from flying everywhere , but wear safety glasses anyway

[@ricksmith8410]

you can buy refractory cement that can be formed inside this or made into bricks or whatever its very cheap usually near the wood stove stuff in lowes and menards. stove cement also helps with diy stuff like this. not sure why everyone seems to have missed refractory cement though.

[@engjds]

A couple of thoughts, Using a pressured can is a bad idea, unless you pulled it out very quickly as he did, the torch angle should be steeper, so the flame wraps around the radius of the internal, 1:1? heard others say 60 plaster to 40 sand, think all will work, but after a few months the 60:40 might still be going.

[@bigyin2794]

I used ribbed dog food can inside coffee can, filled with bbq charcoal and use hairdryer into the small steel pipe (with forge sat on its Base) as. Couldn't get the gas torch to heat evenly or quickly. Works brilliantly for small knifey type things. Thanks v much for the vid really helped.

[@withoutfurtheradoforever]

Ver-mick-you-light. Great idea for a small forge.

[@sidneylaimbeer5500]

Great idea,easy made with low cash,good job

[@HelenaOfDetroit]

just made one of these myself out of a paint can i bought for 5 bucks. thanks for the design! I haven't even tried it out yet, it's drying in the garage.

[@maxblaze6068]

Helena Of Detroit did it work ?

[@adamweddle7384]

I made 2 just like this from a paint can too, 1 open, 1 closed in. It works pretty well

[@Skelstoolbox]

What have you made so far? Good for you bye the way. I'm currently in welding school and there are a few females there too..

[@punishedcueball6976]

I am a Recyclist. I ride my bicycle 8 miles to work most days. Picking up trash on the side of the road. Thanks. Now I can forge that trash instead of dumping it.

[@essenceneheh-heri7209]

I am going to have to use something like this design to start out with. From what I am hearing from knife makers is this one will not hold up for a long time using it. Also do not try forge welding in it. The borax would eat the lining to the can. Though years ago when I did forge welding in metal fab class we dug a pit, and used coal with an inflation pump for an air blower. Honestly if it works for a few hours it can be rebuilt cheaply, and easily.

[@youyoyouyo1407]

What are the materials used??, Gypsum only??

[@davidfuertes1973]

Great video. You have given me an idea to insulate my smoker 👍

[@DrGamerCake]

will this work on my honda?

[@iCanHazTwentyLetters]

lol

[@johnnystock7294]

Yes just don’t forget the oil

[@octaviusgalacticus2253]

Probably tbh

[@jasonibarra2143]

yeah, should melt a Civic no problem

[@Atlanticsoutheasthillbilly]

Is it vtech?

[@joranviken390]

To be honest, I did this build and followed every step. I found that it doesn't get the metal to a good enough heat. Personally, I would highly recommend you go with a small devil Forge. Found the results were much different than the ones in the video.

[@LBCAndrew]

If made using ceramic fiber blanket like Kaowool to insulate the forge, it will easily get hot enough to weld. And much faster than using either soft brick or refractory cement.

[@Community-Action]

You could add Campbell’s soup can to the back of your exhaust so you can still sink your rod in and lose less heat

[@danielbutler6823]

I made mine with a paper towel roll pretty much the same thing but didn't have to worry about the cylinder getting stuck in there..

[@chancetolbert4852]

@@danielbutler6823 Pringles can for mine. Same reason.

[@wattienewton5447]

To p

[@robertlombardo8437]

@@chancetolbert4852 You are a GENIUS! I'm going to remember that!

[@mademydayyt]

@@chancetolbert4852 GENIUS!!!

[@briantremblay9157]

So I followed the steps. My forge will not heat to temp... Any advice?

[@alangeisdorf4198]

Its a good idea to use an oil or wipe the surface of the metal can your going to remove with diesel to prevent it sticking to your molding material. It will come out with greater ease and help prevent damage on removal.

[@patrickdewhurst3378]

Or use a Pringles can, and just burn it out when done.

[@tobedetermined4180]

Is the one to one part by volume or weight?

[@2011petersch]

Hey i used the lid of the raid as a mold to make a plug for the back. Put a bolt in the middle so it can be moved in or out

[@WO1Josh]

Thats a really good idea!

[@travissmith7471]

Thanks for sharing tutorial... Very neatly done...

[@krelliankruge9993]

By any chance can you provide the part numbers for your hose and accessories to connect a barbecue tank to a benzomatic TS8000 torch??

[@tonyallenby7508]

Amazing thank you! I will now follow your steps but minus the exhaust. Will post a video when the unit is complete!

[@cody_d3628]

Did you make it?

[@buuger]

Did you make it?

[@audiosoil1]

Is this good for actual forging or mostly heat treating knives and such? I have the supplies to make one of these but I want to be able to work railroad spikes.

[@tritonmemnon5801]

We have noticed that most of the forging chambers you folks are making you do not use a simple silicon release for your forms, the Raid Can or the Pipe nozzles. Silicon release mediums can be picked at your local sculpture or clay supply stores. Using a non-stick spray on the cans or pipes when prepping is even less expensive. Then you don't risk deforming your chamber.

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+Triton Memnon Good tip.

[@shexdensmore]

thanks for the video, but wouldn't it been better in the long run to use aluminum oxide blasting sand?

[@danielagrimonti8705]

I’m using a ts4000 for this, is that going to produce enough heat or do I need the ts8000?

[@luciusirving5926]

Good for beginners. But I would recommend mixing fireclay with fiberglass to get longer lasting results.

[@gabe7120]

i made one of these when i was a kid. left the bottom on and it got hot way quicker

[@edwardenglish1519]

I am wondering if the tube for the torch was created at somewhat of an angle would it create a venturi effect. This might cause the flame and heat to follow a circular pattern to spread the heat more efficiently rather than concentrate on the opposite side of the forge wall. Great job regardless.

[@davidray7437]

Venturi effect is when any fluid flows through a pipe and the pipe becomes smaller in diameter, causing a decrease in pressure while increasing the speed. You describing laminar flow which is the cause of a less turbulent "swirl" effect.

[@paulbadon4794]

thank you no irratating background music

[@eddieplayer7740]

Andrew w. You should get/make a bigger torch it will heat up your metal in a very short time. It will probably cost a lot but it will be worth it if you want to get into blacksmithing. I recommend "the King of random" gas blaster propane torch. Beware you will have trouble with the set screws

[@the_all_around_guy547]

the perfect video I was looking for with quality instruction! Thank you! great job

[@rufustfirefly4190]

Great video! I doubled up the cans to make it twice as long with another torch hole. Haven't fired it up yet, need to get another torch. I used a piece of black 2" PVC for the chamber and could not get it out. Twisting it with a pipe wrench and hitting it with a hammer and wood block did nothing. I let it cure for a week and tried it again; nothing. I then used a 24" bow saw to cut the pipe in three places (with the blade inside the pipe). Then PVC glued a plug in one end and was able to finally pound out the pipe. What a relief. Thought I was going to end up with a 35lb paper weight. Not sure if there was some sort of chemicals reaction with the PVC and the Plaster of Paris. For the torch holes I used steel pipe and they can right out. The foundry also seems to be rather brittle. Hope it holds up!

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+Rufus T Firefly I think the longevity of forge is ok, probably get a bunch of uses of it, but for the cost and simplicity it's hard to beat. I've used mine a bunch of times and it's still holding, but I try not to touch the top or the sides. I'm going to try making a different type of forge in the next few months that hopefully it will be stronger. Someone here suggested using a Smartwater bottle for the chamber, it's flexible and easier to take out. I bet putting a coat of oil on the PVC would have helped too. I plan on making a DYI torch soon too. If you are looking to build a forge that will hold up, look up Kaowool forges.

[@e.t.preppin7084]

Aren’t forges just so neat. Just plain old neat. Here 5 years later and I’m still fascinated with forges. I even have a nice heat treat oven but I still enjoy making and using different forges.

[@e.t.preppin7084]

BTW the plaster of Paris and sand doesn’t last forever but even with the cracks my first forge is still working about 4-5 years in. Pretty darn good for such a small expense.

[@danielgrim9279]

I'd stick a fire brick in front and back to help with efficiency. roughly how long will a 20lb cylinder last?

[@danielsmith5664]

I'd imagine with something like this quite some time. A friend of mine ran a much larger 2 burner forge off the same kind of tank and could get like 4-5 hours off it.

[@Hoss_1966]

really like your design, thanks for sharing, looking for something to heat treat knife blades. Seems like would be a lot nicer than a charcoal forge like a lot of people suggest. Can't wait to try it. Thanks

[@geckomage]

if you get a few fire bricks and set them on the ends to make a slot as wide as your work you'll make it much more efficient. :)

[@shitmonkey]

+geckomage yeah that was an excessive amount of heat loss on the rear opening.. the bricks are a really great idea..

[@dougmorgan4766]

+geckomage Could you make those bricks out of the same material, Plaster of Paris?

[@geckomage]

I guess you could just to have something to cover the opening. i just went to a local fireplace store and picked up a few. home depot might also have some. if you do cast some out of plaster of paris i'd recommend lining your form with plastic so you could pull them back out easily without breaking them. or do some research on sodium silicate. (you could make fire bricks out of that and sand, or perlite, and it should work quite well.

[@JKoznek]

@@geckomage homedepot does have them, also Amazon.

[@paulandrulis4672]

Believe it or not, out of all the supposed coffee can forges I have seen built on youtube, your's is the first I have seen that is actually a functional forge -- and not just a foundry tipped on its side being called a forge. For those reading this that are wondering what I am talking about, a forge needs a spatially controlled heat source for precise application of heat to the metal -- notice the burner entering the unit at a ninety degree angle. Angled burners are for foundries that have a crucible taking up the center of the unit so need a swirl flame inside the chamber to evenly heat the crucible.

[@sixgunsam79]

A couple of pivoting covers would make this a lot more efficient. Even if it was just coffee can lids of the same size with a small exhaust hole or two on each side would help.

[@e.t.preppin7084]

After reading a few more comments I can attest that this small scale forge works well. Not the most efficient maybe but it gets my carbon steel knives up to temperature in order to heat treat. A piece of pvc would be better than using a can for the chamber when it’s time to pull it out. Also you can wait to drill your hole for your burner last if you want. Nice video 👍

[@calennesten9995]

I want a closed back, but I like the tube idea... (I'm so new to this) .. what could I use in the center that would be easy to remove once set? A longer piece of PVC?

[@radubugulet5610]

Nice man ... love your video. Big thx from Romania

[@jadm110]

how much do you spend on propane for heat treating steel in this forge??

[@101platayoro]

How warm does the outside of the can get,generally speaking? How long did you wait for the mixture to set or cure before firing? Nice clarity and pace in your instruction. Thanks.

[@AndrewWorkshop]

101platayoro Thanks for watching. It gets pretty hot but not so hot that it would burn paper or anything like that. Actually you don't need to wait for it to cure once it gets solid you can fire it up and water will dry out of it. It will just take 10 or 15 minutes to dry the water out of it (it won't explode).

[@rubens.4116]

Very nice. Love the creativity. Might try it out not that a DIY ground forge won't work to hear up rail road spikes, but this could be an alternative.

[@ashwynn4177]

Most kilns including the Kwik Kiln have the nozzle going in at an angle but yours goes straight. Any reason for that?

[@jdisdetermined]

Did you add more plaster mix off camera or did it expand and rise? The entire can lip was covered and the Raid logo was no longer visible after the footage cut, but it wasn’t like that after the pour but before the drying time cut?

[@MrZhefish]

next time, wrap some plastic foil from the kitchen around the core you want to extract and grease it up with petrolium jelly or vaseline it's called in europe. you could further help it release with silicon or vegetable oil.... comes out much easier. also to get a bit more milage out of refactroy material, split the 50% sand part into maybe 25-30% perlite from the garden store and the rest sand. also ceramic gravel from same store gives more structural strengh... maybe also inox or rustfree sponge from the kitchen for netting

[@marcossoares1975]

greetings, I'm from Brazil, congratulations. Could you tell which material you used? thankful

[@Catboy-hr2qp]

I built one similar but it never heats up, gonna try lining with refractory cement and see if that helps and if it doesn't guess I'll go back to good old hole in the ground charcoal forge for heat treating 1084

[@walteratkinson7519]

I have an old mailbox metal mailbox and I was wondering if I could use that instead of the tin can?

[@AndrewWorkshop]

Sure, be cool looking too.

[@walteratkinson7519]

Working on it ... still need the paver rock on the bottom and the plaster sand for the rest of it

[@donnabennett3866]

Weu (put put c altYboruher p yup pwyramid pi Pou pi waltèrsolrrilAtkinson

[@oregongreen969]

This is good and all but if you use a smaller tubed three way burner, which would equal the same diameter overall to reduce waste of propane, you could disperse heat over a wider range and be more efficient.

[@CoolRanchSociology]

Plaster can get pretty hot as it cures - according to google, up to 150 degrees. Is putting a pressurized can inside of that really a good idea?

[@bradboxrud7233]

Have you thought about putting some lids on? that would greatly prevent heat from being lost. it could just be a slab of the plaster that you slide over the holes to make the chamber heat faster. just a thought :)

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+Brad Boxrud I actually already have done what you said, made a plug from a the left over plaster I had, thanks!

[@depikebustergonewild5701]

Hi. Nice build. You mention that you have your hose. Connected to a 20lb bbq tank. Can I inquire, is that just an ordinary bottle of gas. Regards john from Ireland

[@Anonymouzor]

why not make a lid for the back to open when you need the opening?

[@buldusmihai]

Maybe it would melt of?

[@camgnilpe9300]

don't worry about it!

[@abdelmalekbouaziz]

just put a brick

[@buffordevans6942]

How efficient is this little set up in terms of gas cost and the amount needed to do like hunting and camp knifes ?

[@kadenwhiteaker]

You should put a bolt in the back and a plate of metal attaching the the back bolt so you can close and open it. If you have a short piece keep it on and you can put the thing on low, so then you can put that thing on low and have that tank for like a month cause like that little thing runs a lot for a small space like that and you have it hooked up to a big tank.

[@Seamusyt1396]

Can you link the regulator and coupler you use to connect to your gas bottle

[@jrx2662]

questions: what made you use plaster and sand? and did you study it before you did it?

[@catsupchutney]

It might not be a great forge, but it would make a great oven for storing or desiccating LoHy welding rods. Every bit of insulation reduces electricity costs.

[@cpaul1093]

There are a few bags of Diamond Veneer Finish plaster left over, can this material be used instead of plaster of paris? THanks!

[@sup3rior_vez437]

How long did you let the inner wall dry?

[@cheyennew811]

I built one of these and for some reason, it will not get up to heat. I did not make it open on both ends. I have even tried placing fire brick in front of the opening and it still will not get up to heat using a spiral tip torch. Any ideas on what might be wrong?

[@crazylt6096]

What type of sand did u use

[@stevenleades]

God vid, looking at the test firing i was thinking the torch may be better at more of an angle to get more of a swirl rather then pointing at the other side of the chamber.

[@onemanbanjo975]

How long should I let the mixer dry before actually using it?

[@tctime]

Added this to my liked video list my friend...because plaster of Paris and sand are readily available anywhere not hard to find learned something today by watching this video thank you so much for making us content. I will be applying what I've learned to the current project I'm working on for a hot water on demand steam-powered DIY pressure washer. Hope you get to check it out videos not made yet but just wanted to send you an invite because I'm going to use your formula on insulating the burn chamber.. wouldn't mind mentioning your channel name in the video when I make it?....have a good one brother

[@jeffreyjones6409]

Thanks for posting this. You may want to try coating your chamber with a product like Satanite or ITC 100. That will help with the thermal "reflection" to help get a little more heat out of it. Also as previously posted blocking the back end when not working with long stock would help. I have built a few propane forges and unless I have an air assist on them they seem to struggle to get to welding heat (my experience, not an expert on these matters). Very cool, I like the home brew refractory and think I will try it on my next forge. Has it held up over time/use?

[@AndrewWorkshop]

Jeffrey Jones Hi Jeffrey, I have only used it a few times but so far it seems to hold up. Thanks for mentioning ITC 100, I actually have some left over from many years ago when I built my first large forge, I'll have to get around to coating it. I don't need to do any forge welding so this is perfect for bending some long pieces of metal. Best part takes no time to heat up.

[@evanpennock1301]

so I followed your design except mine does not go all the way through and my hole is slightly smaller. it seems as tho the only part of my metal that gets hot is the part directly in contact with the flame. is there a reason for this? help please!

[@carlreynolds1111]

Can you use a tiny little bottle of Map gas with the with the same torch With a map gas torch and do you think that’ll work too harden already made knives? Great video thanks cheers

[@robh.4827]

great looking forge. have you measured the temp of the exterior while in use? I'm curious how hot the coffee can gets?

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+Rob H. After a while the outside does get fairly hot (that it's hard to keep your hand on it) but not so hot that it will catch anything on fire.

[@loraeden1596]

Yeah, good question mr Goodlooking.. you look just like Kevin Costner...

[@tarronadam5435]

Is that mixture supposed to be liquid, like still super runny and then gets hard

[@mrtuxedo372]

would I be able to just take sand from the beach and sift out any rocks ?

[@nickdunbar2967]

Cheers Andrew. Very informative.

[@russellpalmer5610]

Would a flat bottom on the forge center hole be more functional and the torch at a higher angle to get the flame blowing more on the metal being heated for producing higher temps for the forge to be able to weld the metal?

[@foxmoulder7724]

I wonder if it would effect the gradual composition of material faster if I went with rectangle shape for the hole, using a can of paint thinner instead or something 😅 I'd want it to be wide enough for axe head's

[@gavinwright8261]

Would this be any good for heat treating a knife ?