WARNING... Blacksmithing is an inherently dangerous activity. The Artist Blacksmith Association of North America, it's officers, directors, members, local chapters, and the author/editor of this and all other "internet pages" hereto attached , linked, or associated as part of this document; assume no responsibility for any result of action taken by any group or individual as a result of the present or past content of the said Blacksmithing "internet pages or documents".

The Bean-O-Matic Propane Forge

By Ed (1 Anvil - No Marbles) Halligan

As first published in the Ocmulgee Blacksmith Guild Chapter of ABANA Newsletter

[original drawing lost]
  1. The First Step in Building a Bean-O-Matic Forge is to purchase a large can of Beans.

  2. Open the can and eat the contents. Plan on spending the next few hours outdoors.

  3. Wash out the can and line the inside with KaoWool.
    (Search through the Suppliers List for Kaowool Sources. Valley Forge & Welding is one source. Bartell's is another.)

  4. Neatly fabricate a set of legs by bending a coat hanger wire around the can.
    At this point you will need a propane torch.
    The swirl flame tip on the Benz-O-Matic brand works best.

  5. Mark an "X" on the side of the can as shown in the illustration above.

  6. Cut through the "X" with a knife. Preferably one purchased from me.
    You will also need to cut through the wool.

  7. Push the tip of the torch against the "X" and into the can at an upward angle to the cans side, so that the flame will come in near the top and swirl around the edge of the chamber.

  8. Now take three steps back - reach over your shoulder and pat yourself on the back. You have just finished construction on your very own Bean-O-Matic forge.

    I hope that you will have as much fun with yours as I have had with mine. There are a million little jobs that can be done for pennies. To date I have made over a hundred miniature swords from duplex nails, Nipple picks (for Black Powder Guns !), and a small metal frame folding knife.

    So have fun - and when you finish this project - Leave a marble !!!

    (For those not familar with the marble theory, ask any blacksmith.
    I ain't going to tell you - It's a secret.)

    Note from Donnie:
    . . .Besides being a real character - Ed Halligan is a Knifemakers Guild Master Bladesmith that resides in North Georgia. His knives have been featured in major knife publications. He is best known for his carving of ivory handles and for small neck knives (worn in a sheath on the chest like a necklace). His damascus blades are some of the finest around, as are his folders and hunting knifes. His "KISS Engineering" all steel folder just won a "Best New Folder" award and is to be mass produced by a large commercial cutlery company. Ed exhibits his work in knife shows all over the world.
    (He is also the second best scrimshaw artist in Georgia.)

    He can be reached at:
    HALLIGAN KNIVES & SWORDS
    Sharpsburg, GA 30277 USA

    From archive.org February 1999