Another forge build question(s)

MarkJeffrey

MarkJeffrey

Joined
Nov 7, 2013
Messages
262
Ok. So I've gone through a lot of past threads on this subject, and I know, there's a tonne of them. But.. without wanting to resurrect 5 year old threads I've been forced to start yet another.

I have a fierier friend that lets me use his mobile set up once in a while, but all in all I am rather new to forging. I'm going to build 2 forges, one vertical and one horizontal, but the first build will be the horizontal forge. I have an old water tank that is approximately 11" in diameter and 4 feet long, and I cut one 18" section from it so far to start. My main objective with this will be to someday forge my own pattern welded billets to make my knives from.

First question to get me going on this-

Should I build a double burner for a forge of this length, or should I just shorten the forge body? And if I build a double burner should each burner have it's own gas feed and blower? What would your preference be?
 
Neither, I'd reduce the diameter. You don't need a 7" diameter in knifemaking, 5" is more than plenty. Especially if you plan to get a vertical forge in the future. Either find a smaller diameter tube, or use 3" of inswool to reduce the chamber size. This would let you used a single 100k BTU burner, maybe 125k BTU. Do the math, 400 BTU per cubic inch is recommended for welding.
 
Yes I agree with above. Don't need a huge forge and the propane bill that comes with them. Also do your forge welding in a verticle forge. It will really make a mess out of a horizontal forge quickly. Bunch of flux dripps off onto the forge bottom and next time you go to heat treat s knife it comes out covered in flux. I have 2 forges, a big verticle one and a nice small horizontal one. I think my horizontal is made from an 8" diamater small portable air tank. I will measure it when I go out. Heats up fast and hot. Every time I brake my own rule of no forge welding in the small forge it comes back and bites me on the butt. The nice thing in a vertical forge is all the flux sits on the bottom and causes no problems. And verticle forged need onley one burner and the temp at the door is VERY even. That being said the one thing my Horizontal forge does better then the verticle is heat ball and roller bearings. Them little suckers are hard to control when 2000 deg. So I just set them in the forge and let them heat up. Pull out and squish down and once I get it to a shape that has 3" or so of length I move to tongs and the verticle forge.
 
Thanks guys, I'll keep my eye out for a smaller pipe. I think what turned me on to this size tank was all the builds I was seeing using old propane tanks.
 
The typical mistake of the new smith is building a monster size forge so "maybe someday I can make a sword."

You can only work 2-3 inches of hot steel (max) before you lose your heat - so making a long forge may be a waste of resources. Different answer if you're talking about heat treating.

I'm building forge #5 right now from a small helium tank. Forge #3 and #4 were made from a 3# coffee can with a pass-through in the back - I've made 20" knives with that forge, so size is not so much of a problem.
 
.... "The typical mistake of the new smith is building a monster size forge so "maybe someday I can make a sword." .....

This is the absolute truth. A first forge rarely will need to be more than 12-16" long. I have several forges and use one that is 16" deep for all swords and knives. I have done a 40" blade in it .. including HT.
 
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