[TheForge] gas forge design

Mon Apr 21 01:31:01 2003

Paul;
Allow me to maul both lingual and environmental sensibilities here and 
cover for you...Todd is a good guy and we all kvetch about one thing or 
other.
My first forge was powered by a $2 vacuume and drain  oil...it was great 
fun.
First, you have to filter drain oil pretty well in order to meter it.
 Second, it is  a sign of descretion (see)  as well as pragmatism to 
start your burn with a lighter fuel. Contaminated diesel often goes for 
a penny a gallon.
Third, you need a stack to get the fumes out of nose range.
4th, you need a healthy blower. If you use old vacs..have several extras 
handy.
5th, It helps a lot to have a separate fire box within the forge.  
When the little firebox is up  to a pleasant white heat, it pretty well 
takes care of any organic molecules and much of the rest seems to 
deposit on the firebox walls.
Burning drain oil ( wait till the firebox is hot) is something best done 
in private.
I never said any of this...........Pete

Paul Hewitt wrote:

>Ok I like this thread, now I have some questions.
>
>Oil fired forge?  I am assuming like #2 Fuel oil, or equivalent.
>
>I am interested if anyone has some thoughts on a waste oil fired forge.  I
>am about to build one as an experiment, has anyone else done such a thing?
>In the past i built a transmission fluid fired furnace for a glass crucible.
>Transmission fluid was used because it burns very clean.  Would the extra
>carbon from waste oil burn hurt the forge or the pieces being worked.  I am
>going to assume not because we use coal forges...  What better place for
>carbon soot than coal.
>
>I would appreciate and comments anyone might have.
>
>Thanks
>
>Paul Hewitt
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jerry Frost" <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 10:12 AM
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] gas forge design
>
>
>  
>
>>Hi Sheldon:
>>
>>The shape of the forge is less important than the volume to burner ratio,
>>with one cateat: that there are no crannies the flame can't reach and make
>>cold spots.
>>
>>There are a number of forge shapes and when you get down to the nitty
>>    
>>
>gritty
>  
>
>>they all work fine.
>>
>>In high school we had a very hot square box, oil fired four burner forge.
>>    
>>
>It
>  
>
>>had two burners on each side of the door, two high and two low, making a
>>horizontal vortex. If you needed a general heat you propped the stock off
>>the forge floor in the center of the vortex. If you needed a more
>>    
>>
>localized
>  
>
>>heat you placed that part directly i the burner's path on the forge floor.
>>You didn't have as much control of the heat as with a coal forge of course
>>but it was pretty flexible.
>>
>>Most commercial gas forges are rectangular with the burners aimed straight
>>down and they work fine.
>>
>>Folk place the burners in cylindrical forges in several different
>>configurations. The two basics are: One, Directly opposing and two,
>>tangential.
>>
>>The directly opposing configuration usually has the burners mounted at or
>>near the top, aiming straight at the opposite side of the forge.
>>
>>Tangential mounted burners can be found mounted all over the place.
>>    
>>
>They're
>  
>
>>usually high, aimed at the far top side of the forge but some are on top
>>aimed down one side and some are mounted on the bottom aimed across the
>>forge floor.
>>
>>All in all, I don't believe the shape of the forge makes much difference
>>    
>>
>as
>  
>
>>long as there are no flame shadows and there is enough burner for the
>>volume.
>>
>>Regardless I'm still experimenting. <grin>
>>
>>Having enough exhaust porting does make a real difference with naturally
>>aspirated burners and with cylindrical forges it's common to block off the
>>ends with fire brick, leaving enough gaps so the burner burns freely.
>>
>>Frosty
>>------------------------
>>If it ain't forged
>>it ain't real.
>>Wrought iron is.
>>The FrostWorks
>>
>>Meadow Lakes, AK.
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Sheldon Laing" <[email protected]>
>>To: <[email protected]>
>>Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2003 5:17 AM
>>Subject: [TheForge] gas forge design
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>I have been working with a coal forge for a while now and I have been
>>>considering building a gas forge since last year and I have finally
>>>decided to do it. I am well acquainted with Ron Reil's excellent site
>>>and I have chosen to use a side arm burner type. I still however have a
>>>few questions regarding the forge shape and design.
>>>
>>>1. Will the forge perform a lot better if it is a cylinder? I want to
>>>use a semicircular forge (cut in half cylinder) with a flat base on
>>>which to rest the steel, will this make it less powerful (i.e. will it
>>>not refract the heat to a lesser extent than a cylinder? If so, will it
>>>be a big enough difference that I should change to a cylinder.)
>>>
>>>2. What sort of exhaust area should I leave? Should I leave the one side
>>>of the "cylinder" open or would it be okay to close it up (NOT airtight
>>>of course).
>>>
>>>3. If you have any tips or other advice gained from building your own
>>>gas forges please let me know.
>>>
>>>Thanx in advance for the help.
>>>
>>>Sheldon Laing
>>>Hephaestus Forge
>>>Cape Town
>>>South Africa
>>>[email protected]
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>theforge mail list group photo site is
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>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>theforge mail list group photo site is
>http://www.photoaccess.com
>Login:  [email protected]
>password:  anvil
>___________
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>
>
>  
>

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