9 Best Forges for Blacksmithing [2023 Review]

The best forge for blacksmithing is the one that does the job you need it to do. While these statements are true, they are not very helpful for those looking for a blacksmithing forge. I created a review of forges I recommend to help you find one that will do the job for your blacksmithing requirements.

1. Hell’s Forge MAX Propane Forge

While I am not sure how hot the fires of hell are, I am sure the Hell’s Forge Max propane forge comes close.

This forge is an impressive two-burner propane forge that is portable and powerful! I chose to include this forge for its versatility for many blacksmithing needs. The Hell’s Forge Max is great for a beginner and not one that you will not quickly outgrow as your skills grow and your needs change.

One of my favorite aspects about this forge is that it is US-made, and the quality of materials and manufacture is tangible when you unbox the product.

Hell’s Forge Max Pros

The pros of the Hell’s Forge Max make it one of the best medium-size blacksmithing forge options in its class.

• Made in the USA. Parts are readily available.
• Great customer service. The family-owned business is committed to providing a great customer experience.
• Quality materials. The quality of the materials is apparent immediately upon opening the box. This forge is a cut above the rest.
• Square shape. The square shape provides better visibility deeper into the forge.
• Good size. The forge’s 19-inch or approximately 482mm length allows for larger projects.
• Double burner. The double propane burner allows for even heating over a wider surface area of the project.
• Durability. The steel used to manufacture the outer body of the forge is 0.13 of an inch or 3.3mm thick, considerably thicker than most imported forges.
• Forge-welding temperatures. The forge can reach more than 2300°F or 1260°C, which is above the 2000°F or 1093°C forge-welding temperature.
• Ceramic fiber insulation included. The product ships with a 1-inch thick ceramic fiber insulation blanket and refractory cement.
• Base Firebricks included. Fire bricks for the floor of the forge are included.

Hell’s Forge Max Cons

Very little can be listed as a con in the Hell’s Forge Max related to the quality of the product. Most of the cons are more of an inconvenience than a direct criticism of the product.

• Some assembly is required. Don’t think you can use this forge out of the box; preparation and assembly are needed before you can put the forge to use, which will take a few days.
• The user must install the ceramic fiber blanket and refractory coating. This may be a daunting task for first-timers. You will need PPE to protect your lungs and some knowledge in applying the refractory cement, which has a 24 to 48-hour drying time.
• No firebrick doors. No firebricks are supplied to close the ends of the forge to generate more efficient heating. Order these separately when you order the forge to ensure they arrive simultaneously.

2. Mini Whitlox Wood-Fired Forge

The Mini Whitlox wood-fired forge made my list of recommended forges because it offers a starting point for someone wanting to explore blacksmithing without a significant financial investment.

This is a no-nonsense little forge that uses a wood fire and charcoal as fuel to bring the steel up to malleable temperatures.

One advantage of the Mini Whitlox Wood-fired Forge is that you can fuel it with coal, charcoal, or wood. This keeps your fuel costs low but does have some limitations for forging.

While this little forge may look unassuming, it can reach forging temperatures, but you will need to find the sweet spot in the forge where maximum heat is generated.

Pros For The Mini Whitlox Wood-Fired Forge

A small forge such as this option from Whitlox has benefits for people with basic blacksmithing needs or a limited budget.

• Low cost. This little forge is probably the cheapest way to get your steel red hot!
• Compact size. If you do not have a lot of space for your blacksmithing gear, this forge is easy to pack out of the way when it is not in use.
• Cheap fuel. The fuel used in the mini forge is cheap and easily available.
• A great option for off-grid blacksmithing. No electricity or propane is needed to heat your steel to get hammering!

Cons For The Mini Whitlox Wood-Fired Forge

Of course, there are always downsides to every product, especially when the price point is lower, as these products do not have all the modern conveniences built in.

This is not to say that the forge does not work well but that a little more effort and ingenuity are required in your blacksmithing.

• No blower is supplied with the forge. Considering that you cannot get the fire hot enough to get your steel up to temperature without a blower, I feel this is an oversight on the company’s part. A blower should be added to provide a complete package.
• Takes longer to heat up. A wood or charcoal-fired forge will always take longer to heat up sufficiently to start blacksmithing than a propane-fuelled alternative.
• Limited depth of heat. The fire is not an even temperature throughout, which means there is a limited depth in the forge at which the temperature is high enough to heat steel. You must play around to find the sweet spot.
• Short length. The short length of the mini forge makes it more difficult to heat up longer sections of steel.

In my opinion, this is a good little starter forge, but you will soon outgrow it if your commitment to blacksmithing grows.

The biggest con for me on the Mini Whetlox Forge is the lack of a blower included in the package. If you are interested in ordering this forge, order a hand crack blower at the same time to install on the forge.

3. Hell’s Forge Single Burner Blacksmithing Forge

This forge is another offering from the Hell’s Forge Company, which is known for the quality of materials and manufacturing used in producing these forges.

The Hell’s Forge Singel Burner Blacksmithing Forge is the baby forge in the range of this US-based company.

Many people mistakenly think these little forges are limited to the heat treatment of knives and other steel products, but they can get surprisingly hot and take steel up to forge-welding temperatures.

Hell’s Forge Single Burner Forge Pros

The following are the main characteristics of the Hell’s Forge Single Burner Forge, which make it a viable option for smaller commercial blacksmithing operations or hobbyists.

• Made in the USA. This feature makes for more accessible parts and components, after-sales service, and quality materials used to manufacture the forge.
• Small size. The forge is small enough to be portable and can be easily stored.
• Oval design. The forge’s oval shape allows the steel to be placed in the optimum spot in the flame to heat faster.
• Ideal for smaller projects. This forge is ideal if you only work on smaller projects.
• The ceramic fiber blanket is included. The ceramic fiber insulation blanket and refractory cement are included in the package.
• Floor fire bricks included.
• Fuel efficient. The single burner, combined with the smaller space, allows the forge to heat up fast, reducing propane usage.

Hell’s Forge Single Burner Forge Cons

There are some disadvantages to Hell’s Forge Single Burner Forge, but I cannot fault the quality of this product.

• Oval shape. The oval shape of the forge may be good for flame distribution, but the view inside the forge is restricted compared to a square-shaped forge.
• Not suitable for large projects. Larger projects can be heated in this forge since the front and back are open, but it requires moving the workpiece back and forth through the forge for even heating.
• No doors on the forge. Including some fire brick doors for the forge would be useful to keep the heat inside the forge.

4. USA Cast Master Elite Double Burner Forge

Cast Master is an American-based company with experience creating various metal heating equipment.

From smokeless firepits to crucible furnaces for smelting and everything in between, this company has experience in getting things hot!

They have forges ranging from single burner to triple burner versions, but the double burner is the most practical for beginner blacksmiths or experienced blacksmiths who work with medium-sized projects.

The Cast Master CMF 2000 is a double burner propane forge about 18 inches long, making it suitable for most medium-sized blacksmithing projects.

USA Cast Master Elite Double Burner Pros

The Cast Master CMF 2000 double burner forge has several characteristics in its favor that allowed me to include it in my list of recommended forges.

• Value for money. The price of this forge, given its size, is very reasonable and is accessible to a wide range of blacksmiths, from beginners to seasoned metal bashers!
• Good temperature range. The forge reaches over 2000°F or 1093°C, making it perfect for most applications.
• Fast heating. The forge gets to temperature quickly, reducing propane use.
• Kaolwool ceramic fiber insulation is included. Insulation for the forge is included to reduce heat loss and prevent heating the outer casing.
• Fire bricks included. Fire bricks for the floor of the chamber are included.

USA Cast Master Elite Double Burner Cons

The following were my main concerns with the Cast Master Elite CMF 2000 Forge.

• Slightly lower quality. The USA Cast Master forge is slightly lower in quality, finish, and durability than the Hell’s Forge options, but it still does a bang-up job of heating steel!
• The ceramic fiber insulator is not rigidized. The kaowool insulation is not rigidized, which reduces the life of the insulation and increases the need for breathing PPE when using the forge.
• No refractory cement is included. No refractory cement is included in the package, and the manufacturer does not give any recommendation to do so. Not using refractory cement to line the insulator reduces the life of the insulating material.

For me, the biggest shortfall of this forge is the lack of refractory cement to seal the insulation for better personal protection and to make the material last longer. Get your own refractory cement, and you have a great blacksmithing forge!

5. Cast Master Elite CMF 3000

This forge is another offering from Cast Master, but this time it is the Cast Master Elite CMF 3000, which is a triple burner forge.

While a triple burner forge of this size, over 30 inches, may seem like overkill, the length is indispensable if you are making swords or need to heat long stock for scroll work.

The Cast Master Elite CMF 3000 is not the forge for a knife maker or the casual blacksmith, but if you want to take on more challenging or larger projects, this forge is ideal.

Cast Master Elite CMF 3000 Pros

The manufacture of this forge is by the same company that makes the double burner version, so the quality of the product is the same as previously stated.

The additional pros for this model that make it stand out are as follows.

• Insulated endcap. The forge has an insulated endcap, an important feature on a long forge to keep the heat inside the forge where it is needed, speeding up the heating process and reducing propane use.
• Burner isolation valves. You do not need to run all the burners every time. You can run one burner, two burners, or all three, depending on the size of the project.
• Quick assembly. All the fasteners are wing nuts, which can be fastened without any tools.
• Reaches forge welding temperatures. The forge reaches more than 2300°F or 1260°C

Cast Master Elite CMF 3000 Cons

The main cons for the three-burner forge from Cast Master are as follows.

• Space requirement. The forge cannot be considered portable and takes up a fair bit of space in the workshop. You may have difficulty in a small workshop if you need to store the forge when it is not in use.
• Slow to heat with fewer burners. The forge takes longer to heat when only one or two burners are used, but a solution is to heat the forge quickly with all three burners and then turn off the ones you don’t need.

6. VEVOR Three-Burner Propane Forge

VEVOR is not a company that you would normally associate with blacksmith forges, but they offer everything from office supplies to generators, so why not forges?

The VEVOR Three Burner Forge is a respectable 23.6 inches or 600mm long, giving ample room for medium to large blacksmithing projects.

I like the tall opening at the forge entrance or 9.3 inches or 235mm, which gives a nice size opening for easy access if oddly shaped projects. It would have been nice if the forge width was the same as the height, making the shape square rather than rectangular.

Turning oddly shaped projects inside the forge for even heating may be a little awkward due to the 7.1-inch or 180-mm width.

VEVOR Three-Burner Propane Forge Pros

The following are the features that I like the most about the VEVOR Three-Burner Forge

• Heats up fast. The three-burner design is a slightly shorter forge than most others with this configuration allowing the forge to get up to temperature quickly.
• Comes with accessories. The forge comes with gloves and a pair of tongs.
• Individual valves for each burner. Use the number of burners that best suit your project.
• Ceramic fiber insulation. The forge is insulated with a fiber insulation blanket.
• The forge has an endcap. This helps to heat the forge up faster and keep the heat inside.

VEVOR Three-Burner Propane Forge Cons

The Vevor forge is an import, and as expected, it is not of the same level of quality as the American-made forges.

The following are the major cons of the VEVOR Three Burner Forge.

• Thinner metal on the outer casing. The outer casing of the forge is only made with 0.059 inches or 1.5mm thick steel. This saves weight but reduces durability.
• The insulation blanket is not rigidized. The insulation material is not rigidized with refractory cement, and no cement is supplied with the forge.
• Setup instructions are vague at best. There are limited instructions on how to set up the forge and the initial burn-in.

7. GONGYI GF300 Propane Forge

I am sure that you can tell by the name of this product that it is an imported forge. You may not know that this forge is made by a company known for making smelting and forging gear.

Don’t let the import status of this single-burner forge put you off. It is well constructed and more than up to the tasks of small forging projects or heat-treating steel.

The outer shell of the forge is made from stainless steel, which is a big plus; no rust spots develop on this forge!

The GONGYI GF300 Propane Forge is an excellent option for the hobbyist blacksmith or in your commercial shop for smaller jobs.

GONGYI GF300 Propane Forge Pros

This little powerhouse forge has the following pros.

• Stainless steel construction. The outer casing is made from durable stainless steel.
• Compact size. The forge’s compact size makes it portable and easy to store when not in use.
• Heats up to 2600°F. This little forge heats up fast and can attain forge-weld temperatures.
• Comes with a ceramic fiber blanket. The ceramic fiber blanket is 1 inch thick.
• Affordable. This forge is within the price range for any blacksmith starting out without a hefty financial commitment.

GONGYI GF300 Propane Forge Cons

The GF300 is a great little forge, and I think you can tell that I am quite impressed with its performance.

The following is the only criticism I have of this product.

• No refractory cement. The manufacturer recommends treating the Ceramic fiber insulator with a rigidizer and refractory cement before firing it up but does not provide any with the product.

8. Simond Store Double Burner Propane Forge

Simond Store is another brand specializing in blacksmithing equipment, from anvils to smelters to forges of all varieties.

This Simond Store Double Burner Propane Forge can reach temperatures of 2600°F or 1426°C courtesy of the two vertical burners. The burners have individual ball valve controls, so you can dial in your heat as required.

The forge has a tall opening at 6.5 inches or 165mm, but the opening’s 5.5 inches or 139mm width is a little limiting and could be a little wider.

The height of the forge places the firebricks (included) on the floor of the forge at the ideal sweet spot of the flame from the two vertical burners.

Simond Store Double Burner Forge Pros

The following are the pro features of this forge.

• A 1-inch thick ceramic fiber insulating blanket. The ceramic blanket is of good quality, a product the Simond Store company is known for.
• The refractory cement is supplied. Refractory cement to encase the insulation is supplied with the forge.
• USA-based company. After-sales support is good, and spares for the equipment are readily available.
• Fine-tuned gas burners. The ball valves on the burners, combined with the air throttles, allow you to dial the burners in with accuracy, increasing the fuel efficiency of the forge.
• 2600°F capable. The forge is capable of reaching 2600°F or 1426°C, making the forge suitable for a wide range of blacksmithing work.

Simond Store Double Burner Forge Cons

As with any forge, there is always room for improvement.

• Thin steel casing. The outer casing is made from 0.059-inch or 1.5-mm steel, which seems to be the trend, but it reduces the durability of the forge.
• Welding is not great. In some cases, the welding work on the outer casing is not done well and may need re-welding after long-term use.
• Made in India. The supplier is US-based, but the product is manufactured in India, which leads to occasional manufacturing discrepancies in some units.

9. Simond Store Single Burner Propane Forge

The final forge on my list is the Simond Store Single Burner Forge. This forge is the baby brother of the two-burner forge we have already discussed.

The build and materials used in this forge are exactly the same as those used in the larger forge. The Simmond Store Single Burner Forge is simply a shorter version with a length of 10 inches and a single burner.

This forge is good value for money, especially for beginners in blacksmithing and people who do not do heavy-duty blacksmithing.

Simond Store Single Burner Forge Pros

The following pros prompted me to add this forge to my recommended list.

• Price. The forge is very affordable and offers value for the purchase price. It lowers the barrier to entry for many hobbyist blacksmiths.
• Compact size. The forge is small, taking up very little workshop space.
• Stock stand. The package includes a stock stand to rest the end of the steel sticking out of the end of the forge. This is a nice feature, so you don’t have to stand at the forge and hole the workpiece while it comes up to temperature.
• Heats up fast. The small size of the forge and the efficiency of the burner make the forge reach temperature fast, reducing fuel consumption.
• The refractory cement is supplied. The refractory cement to coat the ceramic fiber insulation comes with the forge.

Simond Store Single Burner Forge Cons

The main cons related to this forge are as follows.

• Occasional manufacturing discrepancies. The mass production of these forges does not seem to have consistent quality control, causing some units to have minor defects.
• Thin steel is used for the outer casing. The thin steel used for the outer case of the forge reduces long-term durability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some other questions regularly come up when blacksmithing forges are discussed. I will address a few of these questions to give you an overall perspective on forges.

1. Who Makes The Best Blacksmith Forge?

For local availability, quality of manufacture, and durability, the Hell’s Forge products are hard to beat!

2. What Kind Of Forge Do Blacksmiths Use?

Blacksmiths use various forge types, from coal-burning to propane gas-burning forges.

3. Which Is Better, Coal Or Propane Forge?

Coal or wood-fired forges are great for off-grid situations, but propane forges burn cleaner and heat up faster.

4. What Brand Of Forge Is Used On the “Forged In Fire” TV Show?

Majestic Forge is the forge brand used on the “Forged In Fire” TV show.

5. What Is The Hottest Forge?

Coal forges are the hottest forges. They are slow to heat but can attain temperatures of up to 3500°F or 1926°C. This is much hotter than propane, word, or charcoal-fired forges.

6. What Is The Strongest Metal To Forge With?

Tungsten is the strongest metal to forge with, but it requires hard tools and very hot forges, generally beyond the scope of a hobbyist blacksmith.

7. Can You Put Rusty Metal In A Forge?

Rusty metal can be put in a forge. The heating process and striking the metal with a hammer will cause the rust to fall off like forge scale.

8. What Are The Four 4 Basic Types Of Forging?

The first three types of forging all use heat to make the metal soft enough to form. Cold forging does not require heat.

1. Impression die forging. Also called closed-die forging. Hot metal is compressed into a die to create a form.
2. Seamless rolled ring forging. A thick circular chunk of steel is compressed in rollers to squeeze it into a thinner form.
3. Open die forging. This forging method is what we know as blacksmithing, where hot metal is hammered on an anvil (open die) to create various shapes.
4. Cold forging. The metal is compressed into shape without using heat. This forging can only be used with soft metals like silver, gold, copper, and brass.

9. What Should A Beginner Forge Be?

A beginner forge should be within your budget, but it must be able to heat steel to more than 2000°F or 1093°C.

If the steel does not get hot enough, it will not be malleable. This makes it hard to move the steel, and microfractures will develop in the steel when it is hammered, weakening the structure.

10. Is Coal Or Charcoal Better For Forging?

Coal is better for achieving higher temperatures and maintaining the temperature for longer. Charcoal is suitable for smaller projects and for heat-treating steel.

11. What Coke Is Used In A Forge?

Coke is a form of coal. It burns cleaner than standard coal and generates high heat output.

12. What Steel Is Best For A Forge?

Mild steel is usually used to make a forge and works fine if insulation material is used. Thicker steel is required when the forge fire is in direct contact with the forge, such as coal, charcoal, or wood-fired forges.

13. Can You Forge With A Torch?

Forging with a torch is possible in theory, but in practice, it takes longer to get the steel up to temperature with no enclosure to contain the heat.

It is only possible to heat smaller steel sections with a torch, making it less efficient than a forge.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Blacksmithing Forge

Blacksmithing cannot be done without a forge to heat the steel to a temperature where it becomes malleable by the blacksmith’s hammer.

In my experience, finding an appropriate forge to stake your blacksmithing or knifemaking to the next level can be a little challenging with the vast array of choices available.

When I was in this position, looking for my first decent forge, I valued the input from those further ahead in their blacksmithing journey more than I was.

To provide the same service to fellow blacksmiths starting their journey or looking to upgrade their forge, I compiled this review of blacksmithing forges I can recommend. The forges range in complexity and the type of blacksmithing they can be used for.

Many people starting out on their blacksmithing adventure are exploring the activity as a hobby, which limits the available budget to spend on gear. For this reason, I have included forges at a range of price points that will still get the job done.

Final Verdict

If I had to choose one forge, I would recommend the Hell’s Forge Max double burner forge. The double burner and good size of the forge make it versatile for a wide range of projects.

The quality of the steel and material used to make the forge and the workmanship makes this forge robust and excellent at retaining heat in the forge. It is worth every penny!