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How to Make a Natural Gas Blacksmith Forge

Making your own natural gas powered blacksmith forge may be a lot easier than you think. With a few commonly found household items and a source of natural gas, you can find yourself heating metals to their point of malleability in no time. Blacksmithing is an art form that requires a lot of practice to become adept, but keep at it and you will find yourself producing beautiful and effective metal items quickly and often.

Things You'll Need

Old large empty coffee can
All metal garden sprayer nozzle
Kaowool fabric
Drill
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Line the inside of the coffee can with a 1- to 2-inch-thick layer of kaowool fabric. Kaowool is a thermal insulating fabric developed to replace asbestos. You can find kaowool for sale at pottery and some hardware stores. While lining the inside of your can, cut out a circular section to be used to cover the open end of the coffee can forge while it is heating.
- 2
  Drill a hole in the side of the coffee can of the same diameter as the nozzle on the metal garden sprayer nozzle. One end should be removed from the can if not already.
- 3
  Connect the natural gas feed tube to the garden sprayer nozzle and test for functionality by slowly and slightly opening the natural gas valve and holding a flame to the tip of the nozzle. You use the garden sprayer nozzle, because it allows for the flow of more gas than a traditional torch head, allowing more heat to build up in the forge.
- 4
  Place the piece of metal you wish to heat inside the forge and cover the open side with the circular piece of kaowool fabric. Light the tip of the natural gas nozzle and hold it to the hole drilled into the side of the can. Do not insert the tip into the can, as the built-up heat can accumulate to a point where it will actually melt the nozzle.
- 5
  Remove the circular section of kaowool often to check on your metal. Remove the metal from the forge using tongs when the metal develops a red hot hue. Shape it by holding it against an anvil and striking it with a sledge. Replace the metal for further heating whenever the metal cools to a grey/black color.

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