While it might initially seem complicated to create a brake drum forge, the steps below show it's a fairly easy process.

This project's only precaution is to avoid using anything galvanized since it releases an extremely toxic zinc oxide vapor when hot. You probably already knew that if you're a blacksmith pro, but it's just a friendly reminder!

• (1) 2-inch black iron piping with standard threading

• (1) 2-foot long piece

• (2) 1.5-foot long pieces

• (1) Tee fitting

• (1) End cap fitting

• (1) Hat fitting

• A table stand to hold the forge in place (you can either construct one yourself, but I just used cinder blocks to prop mine up).

• Electric or hand-pump blower. Even a hair dryer will do — and those are always available during garage sale season.

• Your charcoal screen (for keeping the fire inside the brake drum, and not falling into the piping). This doesn’t have to be too complicated, as I found a simple steel plate with several holes drilled into it works just fine.

• Non-galvanized bolts, nuts & washers, roughly the same diameter as the holes that brake drums already have, because they were formerly attached to the truck somehow, right?

• Metal plate (This is optional, in case your brake drum and iron hat-fitting don’t line up properly. Simply drill out holes to line up with both, just to keep the dern thing in place.)

Now thankfully, assembly is pretty easy …

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