i'mma making another instructable, showing what you can upgrade this to without much work. coming soon!
This instructable will show you how to make a small (no more than 2 feet by two feet) forge for melting lead and/or heating thin-ish steel to shape it.
Unfortunately, i only have pics of the forge in action, as i didnt think of making an instructable until i came in.
Be careful with this, as it can produce high temperatures and will almost certainly injure you if you touch the bricks after use. Give it about a 2 day cooldown period just to be safe.
Step 1: Bricks!
Also, something to put underneath it. I used roofing slate, and although it cracked because of the heat, it kept it burning REAL hot.
Step 2: The build stage...
Step 3: Fuel!
BE SAFE WITH THIS!