Uploaded November 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Building two examples of quick and simple diy sideblast charcoal forges with found and reclaimed materials to demonstrate that lack of equipment and materials should not be a major obstacle. See more in-depth forge builds on the bladesmith forge building playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ5AOs7cMwCSinW7foaiHFZKbZDkasQL
Ways to improve these concepts include: mixing copious amounts of chopped straw or charcoal powder into the clay to make it refractory, using high temperature kiln bricks, making the walls higher and longer, using the clay to narrow the tuyere to about 1sun/3cm right where it enters at the bottom side of the forge, putting a barrier up to protect the fuigo (and allowing a shorter pipe), allowing the clay to dry before lighting the forge, etc...
Note that if the pipe is galvanized best fit with another section of non-galvanized or at least file off the last 2 inches of zinc in case your tuyere accidentally gets heated to an orange yellow heat and burns off the zinc causing toxic fumes...
Full traditional swordsmith forge build documentation here: islandblacksmith.ca/2017/01/building-traditional-swordsmith-forge
Smaller tanto forge build here: islandblacksmith.ca/2017/04/building-a-charcoal-tanto-forge
Fuigo box bellows: youtube.com/watch?v=3Ecetg1B7y4&t=0s&index=16&list=PLBJ5AOs7cMwCSinW7foaiHFZKbZDkasQL
Building two examples of quick and simple diy sideblast charcoal forges with found and reclaimed materials to demonstrate that lack of equipment and materials should not be a major obstacle. See more in-depth forge builds on the bladesmith forge building playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ5AOs7cMwCSinW7foaiHFZKbZDkasQL
Ways to improve these concepts include: mixing copious amounts of chopped straw or charcoal powder into the clay to make it refractory, using high temperature kiln bricks, making the walls higher and longer, using the clay to narrow the tuyere to about 1sun/3cm right where it enters at the bottom side of the forge, putting a barrier up to protect the fuigo (and allowing a shorter pipe), allowing the clay to dry before lighting the forge, etc...
Note that if the pipe is galvanized best fit with another section of non-galvanized or at least file off the last 2 inches of zinc in case your tuyere accidentally gets heated to an orange yellow heat and burns off the zinc causing toxic fumes...
Full traditional swordsmith forge build documentation here: islandblacksmith.ca/2017/01/building-traditional-swordsmith-forge
Smaller tanto forge build here: islandblacksmith.ca/2017/04/building-a-charcoal-tanto-forge
Fuigo box bellows: youtube.com/watch?v=3Ecetg1B7y4&t=0s&index=16&list=PLBJ5AOs7cMwCSinW7foaiHFZKbZDkasQL
