How to Make a Soup Can Forge

The above video details the process I used to create a simple and inexpensive propane forge from commonly available materials. In the video below this forge is put to use for the first time making a small fixed blade knife.

Comments

[LETEmDROP]

I made one and I love it! This really got me kick started into black smithing, and I am now in an apprenticeship with a friend of mine. Here's a picture of mine. I used a longer can for longer pieces of steel. Ot fires great as long as you have the right blow torch head (spiral flame).

[Jessesnowden]

How long has your forge lasted? Any breakdown of the plaster yet?

[Hayden Schmidt]

How long does the propane canister last? I've not used mine for any extended period of time, and i dont keep track of how long I've used it. Could I hook this up to a large propane tank?

[NightHawkInLight]

Looks awesome!

[RSund]

How Did you get the flame to get so big?

[Fredrey]

Would I be able to make a hole in the other end so I could heat longer peices of metal, or would that break the creation?

[MARK FORTY TWO]

Will this work with a paint can

[Hayden Schmidt]

Actually search up paint can forge and there is a whole different instructable for a paint can forge, because I doubt the same method used here would work for a paint can, only because a single blow torch could not heat that entire space enough to be useful

[Hayden Schmidt]

my igniter for my torch does not have a button that stays pressed in when pressed in, and then comes out when pressed again. Is it safe enough to use tape to hold it in place, or should I find a different igniter?

[mpantano]

Awesome instructable Dude!!! super simple! Hope you can write for me the composition of the plaster (i didn´t understand that part of the video, as english is not my first language) and the type of gas used with the torch. Best regared!

[DarthAnimus]

50% plaster of Paris and 50% sand mixed to a thick clay consistency

[GerrieP]

wHAT KIND OD SAND NDO YOU USE? GARDEN SAND OR BUILDING Sand?

[uss_albemarle]

made one for my shop class to use. Works good. Thanks

[RyanRamos98]

Cant get mine to heat

[TheNotoriousHoppington]

The only sand I could get my hands on was 50 lbs of play sand. After looking at this instructable again, I think I need a different type of sand, or more plaster in the mix. The forge doesn't seem to evenly heat, and the only place I could get any metal to turn red was right in front of the flame. Also, how long does it take to properly cure? Thanks.

[jwren3]

on other videos they leave the tunnel the whole way through. would that be better? also why dont you just put a can in the middle while it sets then the hole would look allot cleaner.

[MichaelB329]

How long should it take to get to max temperature on first use? Im trying to speed up the plaster/sand mixture drying but its taking a while

[Jessesnowden]

To the original uploader or anyone who has built this: what is the lifespan of the plaster when forging steel? I am building a forge to make knives and may also be doing some forge welding. Need to know if plaster+sand/perlite will be able to stand up to the heat.

[Yonatan24]

Awesome!

[roncar]

Very well presented and helpful. Thanks