[TheForge] Converting a propane tank to a gas forge

Tue Jun 23 18:01:20 EDT 2009

or build two of them.  You can never have too many propane forges.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul N" <crosspein at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Converting a propane tank to a gas forge

>
> Thanks Roger (and others)
> I presently have been using the forge for "general" stuff, and only days
> where I may have to put things away quickly (threat of rain) or if I
> only have an hour or so available to me. But I prefer my smoky coal
> beast, despite the having to move it.
>
> But my "shop" is the area just outside my garden shed, so I have to move
>  things in and out. I just moved my canoe out of there, so I can at
> least  keep my vise and anvil "inside" for now. Maybe a new building
> sometime soon.
>
> Anyway, what I did when I made my forge was opt to NOT put a hinged door
> on it (mistake #1), my (atmospheric) burners need to be closer together
> to avoid a cold spot in between them. I''ll also add some sort of
> door/gate that I can keep more heat INSIDE the forge. I fired it up
> sunday ( 80 degree temps) and it was too much heat, too close to my
> anvil. Even with the idler circuit, I had to take some breaks away from
> it. (I'm still getting acquainted with using gas)
>
>
> Also, I need to add choke plates to my burners, as I'm getting excessive
> scale. I'm also not getting enough heat to forge weld, but that may just
> be an indication that I need to keep more heat inside, or tune the
> burners further.
>
> I'm also wondering if maybe a 20lb bottle might be a better choice. I've
> found that for somethings, the big bottle heats too much material, and I
> end up quenching to do things like a bar end upset. Or better yet, I'll
> keep the 30lb forge, and just move the burners between a small/larger
> forge if I need a longer heat.
>
> thx,
> **paul
>
> Roger Degner wrote:
>> Can not help with the valve as the only ones I have removed are 100# 
>> ones.
>> Some say to add dish soap to the water
>>
>> As for the forge are you building a knife forge or larger opening for
>> general blacksmithing.
>> This year at Batsons Knife symposium I watched Ken Swartzer make a Don 
>> Fogg
>> style upright knife forge.
>>
>> This only had two small openings to put the knife in and out the back if
>> necessary.  He said they once welded a long length of cable by putting 
>> the
>> forge next to the press.  Heat a piece to welding pull it out weld, heat 
>> the
>> next area and then slide it back and forth leaving it in the forge.
>>
>> He poured castible refractory in the bottom but left a hole for flux and
>> gunk to drip out then lined the side walls with Kaowool.  He stuck a 
>> piece
>> of wool on the top and placed a lose piece of steel on top of that.  He 
>> said
>> that was the insurance so when you open the gas then light the forge and 
>> it
>> goes boom it only rains kaowoll and not steel shrapnel.
>>
>> A couple of other things he preached is mount the blower outlet pipe so 
>> it
>> slides on and off the outer shell of the forge.  He welded a 1/2" round 
>> rod
>> bent into a 90 on the outer shell then had a collar that slipped on this 
>> to
>> hold the blower in place.  The advantage to this is you can have one 
>> blower
>> set up and 50 different sized forges.  Another thing he said was to have 
>> a
>> needle valve for gas adjustment.  According to him a ball valve is too 
>> gross
>> of adjustment.
>>
>> UMBA does have a DVD of this but it is not listed on the web site yet.  I
>> keep saying as soon as I finish the next DVD I will send in the new list 
>> but
>> then I keep signing up for class.  I have a 3 day with Kirsten Sikes on
>> chasing and reposse.  Just finished a 3 day with her husband Bill Fiorini 
>> on
>> Japanese stamping tech.  The new list now goes to RD151 and Salt7
>>
>> Roger R Degner
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> TheForge mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> TheForge mail list group photo site is
>> http://www.photoaccess.com
>> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>> Password: anvil
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> TheForge mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 