Forge question, 1 burner or two?

O

Ordenrahl

Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
37
I have a 10" wide by 16 inch long, 3/8 thick round steel pipe that I would like to turn into a forge. I would like to forge weld damascus, and will make small items like knifes, leafs, hooks, etc.

I am planning to add 2" of insulwool for the sids and top and use 2" thick soft firebrick for the bottom. I most likely will coat the inside with ITC 100ht.
This gives me a volume of about 450 cubic inches.

I would like to purchase a burner as it seems a quality burner makes a big difference in the performance of the forge with all things being equal. After reading several posts and have gone back and forth but have finally settled on a venturi style rather than forced air.

The burner I am looking at is a 3/4 inch T-Rex burner from hybrid burners. I'm a ways over the average area for the T-Rex (350 cubic inches) but also would have a well insulated forge which increases the volume that the burner could heat. I could also just go 1 size larger to the 1 inch burner which can handle 600 cubic inches.

My question is that with my forge measuring 16 inches long, would I need two burners spaced out or could I use 1 burner without creating unreasonable hot/cold spots?

I can afford 1 T-Rex, two would be a challenge. Maybe I should I opt for two less expensive, (non hybridburner) smaller burners for a more even heat?

What do you guys think?

John.
 
I would do the one, larger burner. The smaller burner might be sufficient but will take much longer to heat up your forge. I would cheat your burner towards the back of the forge, say at the 11" mark rather than the 8" mark, and get it set at a good tangent to produce a swirl.

But that's just my opinion. Others here are much more knowledgeable. I'm building my third forge right now and have pretty much given up on venturi burners.
 
First, wrap the wool all the way around the shell inside. Coat with Satanite and ITC-100. I would use two 1" layers of Hi-Z wool. for a 10 inch pipe that is a piece about 55" long. It can be in pieces, but one continuous length is simpler to install and coat. Once the lining is coated and cured, add the fire brick floor on top of it.

I would suggest you build a 1" blown burner if you are planning on running it for damascus. HTT&R sells burners pre-made or as kits, (as well as all the refractory supplies - http://hightemptools.com/supplies-mainpage.html ), but it is so easy to build one that it is just as simple to take a trip to the hardware store or plumbing supply. I like to make the burner pipe stainless, but that is just a personal thing. Black iron pipe is fine. The details for making a high efficiency blown burner are in the stickys.
 
Thank you for the posts. Haven't seen the insulwool hi temp stuff before. I also appreciate the tip about placing the brick on top of the insulwool for the floor.

John.
 
I have a Chili Forge single burner forge that I bought off ebay five or so years ago. The burner I use has plenty of power to bring the forge up to welding temp, and for the most part it has served me well. The only thing I will say is that having the single burner does create a noticeable hot spot that you have to be careful of. Especially when the forge is still heating up. I have to think that having two slightly less powerful burners would reduce that, but I could be incorrect as it's only conjecture on my part.
 
Yes, be careful of hot spots, bear in mind that if the back is closed that area will be hotter, so have the burner closer to the front port.
Don't direct the flux toward the back or you will suck more oxygen inside and get more than necessary oxydation.
Two burners will allow for more control, unless you are planning to use the forge just for welding
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top