[TheForge] propane forge

[Dave Brown]

At 14:12 03/31/02 -0500, you wrote:
>I think the reason people make cylindrical forges is the kaowool stays in 
>place.
>
>Although I'm no pro, I beg to differ with Roy, two of the most efficient 
>forges I've seen are the Swan Mini Mother and the Sandia neither one of 
>them have a swirling flame. When I say efficient you must take that with a 
>grain of salt, I have not seen the lab test results. Any one making a 
>forge could learn a lot by looking at these forges.

I tend to agree with this, but still have some reservations.  The swirling 
effect seems logical on the surface.  But when I have a piece of steel or 
several pieces of steel in my pipe forge (tangentially introduced flame) 
with swirling effect, those pieces or part of a piece that are in most 
direct line with the flame heat up fastest.  I'm not familiar with the Swan 
Mini Mother, but the fastest heating gas forges I have ever seen have been 
the Sandia style box forges.  Still, I'm somewhat swayed by the 'swirl' 
argument.

>Personally think that import considerations are the insulting qualities of 
>the forge, ITC 100 seems to help I'm getting slighty higher temps. If I 
>don't need the heat I save money in fuel. A good burner that gives a 
>neutral to reducing flame. The forge has to fit your needs, I have several 
>different sized forges. The forge linings are desposable I get about 
>500-1000 hours out of a forge lining (although if you are rough it would 
>be a lot less),using Kaowool, ITC 100, soft insulating brick on the bottom 
>covered with 3/8" of a refactory mortar i.e. Thermogen 55 or better yet 
>Grefpatch 85 both seem to be borax resistant. I learn something new every 
>time I build a forge make a burner. I have yet to find the pefect forge, 
>but there are may good designs out there. You will not likely find the one 
>to fill all your needs, but you need to start somewhere.

My large propane forge (10"ID" uses a piece of round flue liner (not clay, 
it looks like some sort of compressed ceramic fibre like kao-board).  This 
made a great inner liner for the forge.  Helped hold the 2" Kaowool liner 
in place.  While still subject to abuse from things bumping into it, it is 
much sturdier than the exposed Kaowool blanket.

Dave Brown