Forge help

[smitty0331]

I have 6 soft firebrick, and 6 hard ones and I'm trying to find a good design for a forge. I already have a piece of type S thermocouple wire and a Honeywell temp. controller that I just programed. I was planning on using a MAPP gas torch to heat it, but it doesn't seem to want to get over 1400 degrees. Could I just use a second torch to get up to hardening temp? I guess the real question I have is where to put the torch(es). I had it in the end of the forge with the t.c. wire in the other end. Would I be better off drilling a hole in the firebrick, or what? What am I doing wrong?

 

[M.Griffin]

If I had to guess, I would say that a forge built out of a total of 12 bricks is an awful large area for a mapp torch to heat. Build a simple blown burner and you will probably be pretty happy with the results.

-Mike

 

[sharpeknives]

http://indiangeorgesknives.com/building_a_forge.html
Check this out, built for less than $100.00. Kicks butt. I have never been sorry I built it. Hope this helps.
http://backyardmetalcasting.com/oilburners01.html
This one tells you how to run it on waste oil. Free fuel.

 

[bmcneil]

http://backyardmetalcasting.com/oilburners01.html
This one tells you how to run it on waste oil. Free fuel.

I started another thread about oil fired forges:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=570470

sharpeknives, have you started making your burner yet?

Edit: speaking of forge help, where's the best place you have found for kao wool? and castable to put over the kao wool?

 

[atakach]

a simple forge is very easy to design, if ya want a little help, e-mail me and i'll bs with ya

andy

 

[sharpeknives]

Haven't started the oil burner yet have orders to get out and one heck of a honey-do-list.
If I were going to use a torch for heat i'd go with a coffee can forge or a one brick forge. talking one on one with Andy (atakach) would probably answer all your questions. Info on posts sometimes tho good info still leaves alot of unanswered questions.