forge too hot ??

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,254
I was using my forge today, and while heating a ball pein hammer head to make a tomahawk the steel got so hot that it melted a 1/2'' deep hole on the fire brick floor. The floor is soft 2300 degree fire brick coated with ITC 100.why would this happen? I am thinking of cutting a piece of thin stainles to put on the bottom, will this work?? And no I have never had any flux/borax with in 10 ft of the forge. hope someone can shed some light on this for me...
 
Are you watching the pyrometer for your steel heat or are you watching the color of the steel to make sure that it's not getting to hot? You shouldn't have had steel come off the hammer head and burn into the floor unless it got to hot and part of it melted off. If you are running your forge at 2300, it is important to pull your piece every so often and watch the color. Some steels will burn quicker than others, that is why I recommend you watch the color of the steel when forging. Good luck on the next one.
 
I'm watching the steelcolor, it was yellow and throwing a few small sparks.The steel didn't melt and nothing came off of the hammer head, the whole thing just kind of sank into the fire brick. I don't have a thermometer for the forge so I have no idea what temp I'm at :( . Where can I get something that will register 2300 degrees and not melt????? Will the stainless floor Idea work or will it melt? This is the 1st time this has happened. thanks again..
 
You didn't say what kind of forge,but I would bet it is a blown one.If the flame is too hot it can make the soft brick so soft that the hot hammer head would just settle down in it like it was in sand.Adjust your blower/needle valve so the forge is at the desired temperature,not running at max.
 
I use the hard brick for the floor in my blower forges and I can run them full blast all day with no problem and the flux just piles up on the bricks too and doesn't eat thru them.
 
If you have sparks jumping off your metal you have definitely overheated, i.e. burned the metal. It is now time to trash this one and start over.

Jim A.
 
Too Hot ? Turn it down. I can burn the ceramic wool out of mine running wide open. I run mine with the blower flap around 15% open and the gas adjusted to it.
 
Throwing sparks ? I would say overheating. MAXIMUM recommended forging temperatures for most steels is about 2200 F.
 
Turn it down. 2300fh. is welding temp. Forging temps for most carbon steels is 1900fh. and lower. If you are using propane with a venturi setup try 12 lbs or around there. Stainless warps under forge heat, unless it's mighty thick. Fred
 
Does anyone use a pyrometer on their forge?? My forge is small (interior is 6in x 11in x 6in high) I have a RR type burner with a blow dryer attached. well insulated with 3 1/2 in kaowool + ITC 100. It gets so hot + bright that I wear sunglasses to look in it.
 
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