Setting up forge

J R Green

J R Green

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I built a venturi forge and am having issues. First was finding the right fittings to build it. Lowes need to hire a librarian to pot the stock in its proper place.

I finally got it build and hooked up the gas and it blows out big yellow flames. I'm thinking its too much gas not enough O2 so I have to get a good regulator.

Has any one else build on of these and how did it go?

I also acquired a coal forge that I built a stand for today. I am thinking about using a dust collector system as the blower but the exhaust port is a weird size so I'll be sniffing around Lowes again tomorrow looking to adapt the pipes. Or maybe just use the blower from a shop vac?
 
No advise, but I'll be following along on this one.
 
jr, do yourself a favor get an atlas mini forge they aren't very expensive your troubles will go away. I have one and used it enough to know for the money there is no equal. it is hot enough to forge weld and also works in hardening the blades afterward. if the burner isn't angled right, if the burner entry dosent have enough air space if the chamber is too big. to many variables and not enough info to answer reliably. I can run a 25lb bottle of propane all day long and never shut it down. I have built two and trouble starts if not at first later on. had tha atlas 5 yrs still trouble free.
 
dewey said:
jr, do yourself a favor get an atlas mini forge they aren't very expensive your troubles will go away. I have one and used it enough to know for the money there is no equal. it is hot enough to forge weld and also works in hardening the blades afterward. if the burner isn't angled right, if the burner entry dosent have enough air space if the chamber is too big. to many variables and not enough info to answer reliably. I can run a 25lb bottle of propane all day long and never shut it down. I have built two and trouble starts if not at first later on. had tha atlas 5 yrs still trouble free.
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If I had known how much the fittings would be before starting I may have done that. Does it come with the regulator or is that extra?
I spent $100 on fittings and then another $35 on a quality regulator not to mention having to build a sheet metal case and get fire brick.
 
with tha atlas you add propane that all, it is complete, hose reg, burner, forge. install the burner to 1/4 inch from inner chamber of forge, turn on propane light and go. and the outside walls are stainless now so you don't have to even worry about rust.atlas knife co. atlas mini forge 2 1/2x 11 3/8 inner chamber. tell Charles dewey sent you. less than 300 will get you what you want I think he includes a foot of steel now as well. if you don't have access to good carbon steel then you have something to start on. I promise you he knows his forges and stands behind what he sells. I have made well over 100 in mine and its trouble free
 
I have a home-built job that I started on that might work for you. Now I use a forge from NC Tool.

You can try it out if you want, but I would agree with Dewey that you could save some frustration buy buying a pre-made forge.
 
my point was the less time you spend trying to get the things tuned and working would be time better spent hammering out blades. sometimes it is best to realize a mans limitations, I am a better knifemaker than a forge builder. less than 20 minutes out of the box I had a blade forged. I already had the experience, I swapped from coal to gas. I might have spent 20 days tuning after I built a forge to get it right and not knowing how the thing would work anyway. I told my wife if it didn't work I would shut up and let her rake me across the coals. she now encourages me rather than argue with me. why? because she isn't hearing "I wish I could find a bag of coal or the wood just don't reach the hotter temps". Charles knows forges and I know knives I leave you with that.
 
J R Green said:
The propane forge I built is working but it takes a really long time to heat up. The charcoal forge actually works better.
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Thanks! I'm thinking of making a quick/cheap homemade charcoal forge to get started. Have a bunch of info and plans from the iforgeiron forums.
 
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Here's what I'm using, It was given to me and works well but here is what I'm thinking next.

rs=w:600,h:600
 
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