[TheForge] indoor forges

[Jerry Frost]

No gas company will encourage you to build and operate 
a home made gas appliance. The liability they'd be 
exposed to if you blew yourself up, burned yourself out 
or poisoned yourself would wipe them out. They have to 
try discouraging you. If you're not sure of what you're 
doing or aren't familiar with experimenting your way 
through inherently dangerous endeavors I won't 
encourage you to try either.

That said, propane is heavier than air and will settle 
in low spots waiting for a spark to ignite. Carbon 
monoxide is also heavier than air and will pool in low 
places waiting to displace the oxy in your hemoglobin 
and kill you. The forge burner will consume large 
amounts of oxygen and if you don't replace it you'll 
run short sooner or later. The forge burner will also 
make unpleasant byproducts like water vapor to condence 
on your tools and machinery and rust them right up. 
It'll also be generally acidic condensate as well 
seeing as a properly operating forge is hot enough to 
make nitrous oxide as a by product to assist in 
corroding your tools and equipment.

Most of this can be solved by taking basic precautions. 
Do not operate a propane appliance of any kind where a 
leak can settle into low places like a grease pit or 
basement. Ventilation to remove heavy gasses is a 
really good idea. Heck, a must.

1/4 turn gas rated (red handle) valves where you can 
get to them in an emergency is a really good idea.

Be sure you have a couple fire extinguishers close to 
the exits too. Don't put them where you think a fire 
might break out. If one does your fire extinguisher is 
going to be IN the fire itself OR you'll find yourself 
running the WRONG way in an emergency. If you're locky 
there will be a narrow window where one person with a 
fire extinguisher can put it out but we're talking 
seconds. If you're caught on the wrong side of a fire 
when that window closes it may be curtains for you. 
Best to have the extinguishers by the exits so when you 
get to them and turn around you can see it's too late 
and get out. Getting OUT is the important thing, not 
saving a shop, some tools, etc.

It's good you're asking these questions now and not 
after you're hospitalized for CO poisoning or waiting 
for the ashes to cool enough to see what you can 
salvage.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.


From: "Lucky7Steel" <lucky7steel at gmail.com>


> Hi there,
>
> Do any of you folks have inside forges?
> I assume people do but i'm having propane worries. 
> I'm wondering where
> people get their propane and hoping people can make 
> me feel better about it.
> I know it's a no no if you ask the gas companies. I 
> just put together my new
> forge and now i'm feeling so discouraged :-(
>
> ~K~
>