[TheForge] Re: Gas forges (burner adjustments)

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

I know that I have been a lurker and Haven't posted anything in a while but 
here goes.

I have used an old home made propane forge that is 19" long and 13" dia. with 
2 atmosphere burners. It was originally made for making long blades. It has a 
number 60 dill hole in the tips. I can't get to welding temp but I can get my 
heat up and keep stuff workable i.e. 10 1/2" square HR stock in it at one 
time. I usually am set at about 10 psi at start and drop to 5-6 psi after it 
warms up.  I have had very few problems with it and I like it as a base 
forge. I have seen blower assisted gas forges that can almost melt steel in 
it and use about 2-3 psi on it. I have seen those forge weld all day long and 
after the day was done they replace the fire brick and continue to work.
  I have also seen small 8" long and about 8" dia. atmosphere forge heat s-5 
and s-7 stock up to heat and put into a 25# little giant and forge them down 
to punches and other tools.

I have not cleaned my tips in my forge for about a year. I have not had any 
problems with it except for my tips that come through the kaowool.  I ended 
up drilling a hole and putting a screw in and the tip of the screw melted off 
in about 20 hours of burning. 

A lot of us here in AZ use propane due to pollution problems here. Most of 
the forges are blower assisted types. I think that the style came from 
someone putting a drawing in a blacksmith newsletter. I have a copy of the 
drawing in a book published by the AABA from stuff published by ABANA chapter 
newsletters. 

I use a 10x15 tent frame with silver tarps for my roof to keep the sun off of 
me. No walls in the summer. Work at night if possible.

I am a hobbyist blacksmith.

Later Ike
Pan's Forge
But it is dry heat.