Another quick gas forge question

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Dr Feelgood

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Jan 3, 2011
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I am trying to build a propane forge that can handle everything from small blades and patter welding steel too creating large blades like custom machetes and eventually swords. I know i just have to heat a small section of the long blades at a time so im going to put a rear door on the forge... That being said, what is the ideal length, internal diameter, internal cubic inches and operating temperature range for such a forge ? Thanks!
 
The question doesn't really have an answer.

That said, a 8" by 16" piece of pipe will make a very good forge for most work.
If you plan on making damascus, I suggest a dedicated vertical forge around 12-16 wide. Forging swords and making billets of damascus are very different processes, and do best in different type forges.
 
Agree with Stacy. I built my propane forge using an old propane tank, it works pretty good but I am limited to length because I used the standard size (think its 3 gal or something) BBQ tank. Dont get me wrong it works great but is limited on some stuff. Next one I build I will probably use the longer 5 gal tank and put a door in the back for longer blades.

One thing you have to consider also is the burner your going to be using. I got mine at high temp tools (they can be made cheaply if you have the skills) but I think there are better ones out there. Mine will do I think its up to 300 cubic inches. Thats about the size of the small propane tank once its filled with refractory. I can get mine up around 2000F usually. I have had it at 2200 before depending on where my probe was at. Generally for forging I run it around 1900 to 1950 depending and I can usually control it enough to hang out at 1500 to 1530f when doing HT.

Forgot to add that the inside is only required to be as big as the work you want to fit in it plus either room for a muffler or room to get your work piece out of direct path with the burner unless your utilizing that for something.
 
Here's a WIP I'm doing on making a vertical heat treat forge (Making a Vertical Propane Heat Treat Forge). While this is being built for heat treating, it could easily be modded for a horizontal forge for forging knives. I'd use a 2" blanket of Inswool instead of one inch one I'm currently doing and maybe add another burner. I'm using a 15 gallon steel drum that is about 15 1/4" in diameter by about 22" tall. I found this one for about $40 on ebay.
 
Not too "quick" of a question really, the answer really is to start probably with a small horizontal forge that will handle hunting knives and such, then when you need it build a big vertical welding forge, then when you need it, a long heat treating forge if you do get into really long blades. Start simple when learning to build them...
 
I built a forge that is 8"x20" it's a 15" center section with 2-1/2" doors. It is blown and I can run it at 1489 degrees forever. It seems to be a sweet spot on the adjustment and up to 2,400 degrees as high as my PID reads. It uses around 1.5# propane an hour. I think the longest blade we heat treated was 17" or so?

I like my forge, but I'm building a second vertical forge that is narrower so I can heat shorter sections of long blades.

I used 1" of Inswool and 3/4" of 3,200 degree refractory coated with an IR reflector similar to ITC 100 in my forge.

I just helped my buddy Greg Haile build a small 9"x12" venturi forge so he/we can forge stuff like hunters and EDC size blades easily. It seems I'm learning no one forge is best.

My 8"x20" forge has a rear opening door and I could easily use it to forge a 26" Katana... In time....
 
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