Thoughts on a primitive foundry operation?

Check out the forge/kiln type thing this guy has going on at about 2:15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P73REgj-3UE&ebc=ANyPxKrs82E9-bRz3jmzzNTfw87_CxsZu8FMI3-G_RiJzal4FmbaZQFcVrSsvVNVhUaD0WaQ5HNkn1bFTyvUVCSuXgtDpk0p4g

Would this work, with charcoal, as a furnace to do basic smithing/foundry work? I'd be cheating and using canvas bellows or a hair dryer but the idea of making something like this is awesome. I'm mostly just asking to make sure it won't literally blow up and pepper me with pottery shrapnel.