My forge is a homemade pipe forge. I used an atmospheric burner from a junk water heater and
tweaked the orifice to generate enough heat. I am working on a 175 pound Peter Wright anvil,
which I find more than sufficient for the solo smith. I am particularly proud of the stand which the
forge sits on. It has a hammer rack on one side and a tong rack on the other. I have included a
pair of bars with one inch spacing to accommodate my hardy tools and there are hooks on the
front for wire brushes and such. There is an expanded metal shelf for my working stock just
below the forge and shelves at the bottom for hot pieces. I made a little copper match-holder and
wired a soup can to the front to hold whatever punches or drifts I am currently using. I think that
it is an efficient little design that allows me keep all of the tools I may need for a particular job
organized and at hand. I keep many of my more specialized hammers and tools on another rack at
the back of the shop and only move them to the forge when necessary.
The steel rack can be seen running down the wall behind the forge. It will accommodate a twenty one foot length of pipe and I try to keep it sort of organized. There is a feed table and a little import bandsaw at the far end of the steel rack for cutting off.
My collection of samples, scraps and inspirational finds is nailed to the wall above the steel rack.
Even though a number of these pieces are rejects from other projects they often prove handy for
illustrating ideas to clients.
I thought there was some interesting stuff in the background here but it turns out to be a picture of my lovely wife, Joetta, mauling Kitty-witty. Kitty-Witty has grown into a full sized cat and a formidable hunter.
Don't Panic. Those are empty gas cans that I rescued in the alley because I like their distressed sheet metal for art purposes.
