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Gas Forges
- Thread starter Norseman
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2000
- Messages
- 615
Norseman,
I have the three burner NC Whisper Low Boy and really love it. Some of the more well known smiths I can think of who own one are ABS Master Smiths David Anders and Jerry Fisk. It seems that Joe Flournoy may have told me that he has one as well. There is also one in use at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington, Arkansas. They teach bladesmithing with both coal and gas.
I would suggest that if you buy one, have them send you a couple of welding bricks also, if you are going to make Damascus. These lay in the bottom of the forge and protect it from the flux. Flux will really eat up the bottom of a forge.
I have the three burner NC Whisper Low Boy and really love it. Some of the more well known smiths I can think of who own one are ABS Master Smiths David Anders and Jerry Fisk. It seems that Joe Flournoy may have told me that he has one as well. There is also one in use at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington, Arkansas. They teach bladesmithing with both coal and gas.
I would suggest that if you buy one, have them send you a couple of welding bricks also, if you are going to make Damascus. These lay in the bottom of the forge and protect it from the flux. Flux will really eat up the bottom of a forge.
If money is no issue that would be the way to go. If money is an issue, you can build you own for a fraction of the cost and it will work just as well. Don Fogg has a great design on his web site: http://www.dfoggknives.com/forge.htm
Wayne Goddard also has some great plans: http://www.continet.com/goddardknives/ but you will need to email him to get them.
Ravenclaw
Wayne Goddard also has some great plans: http://www.continet.com/goddardknives/ but you will need to email him to get them.
Ravenclaw
- Joined
- Dec 26, 1999
- Messages
- 119
Norseman,
I also have the three burner Low Boy and have really liked it. I do all my heat treating in it, including 440-c stainless steel. (yes it can be done quite successfully)
But, get them bricks if you plan on welding. I'm going to get me some now that I know about them. Flux has ate my forge for lunch!
The thing I like best about the NC forges is you don't need any electricity to run them and they still get hot enough to do whatever you need to do.
Get one, you can't go wrong for the money!
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Craig Blankenship
Blankenship Knives
http://www.blankenship-knives.com
I also have the three burner Low Boy and have really liked it. I do all my heat treating in it, including 440-c stainless steel. (yes it can be done quite successfully)
But, get them bricks if you plan on welding. I'm going to get me some now that I know about them. Flux has ate my forge for lunch!
The thing I like best about the NC forges is you don't need any electricity to run them and they still get hot enough to do whatever you need to do.
Get one, you can't go wrong for the money!
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Craig Blankenship
Blankenship Knives
http://www.blankenship-knives.com
- Joined
- Dec 14, 1998
- Messages
- 4,870
I built my own also .. I like it better than any one I have ever used..
Nc Makes a nice one also..
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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
New Web at www.darrelralph.com
Nc Makes a nice one also..
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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
New Web at www.darrelralph.com
- Joined
- Jul 23, 1999
- Messages
- 1,409
I'm all for the homemade variety of forges. I have used just about every commercial forge out there at one time or another, and unless someone has recently come up with something other than a square design.........I don't feel it's worth the trouble. Square forge chambers, no matter how well insulated, present the problem of "hot spots". Anywhere they put the burner(s) in this design will cause the flame to be in direct contact with some portion of your work piece. It will work for steels that are not temp sensitive, but when you get into different types of damascus or steels such as 52100, you are likely to have problems.
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Ed Caffrey
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.caffreyknives.com
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Ed Caffrey
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.caffreyknives.com
- Joined
- Jun 12, 1999
- Messages
- 1,110
same here Ed,
i'm working on building a huge forge, round of coarse. about 24" inner dia. without insulation.
i'm working on building a huge forge, round of coarse. about 24" inner dia. without insulation.
Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll go with the NC Whisper Low Boy. I need to spend any spare time I have making knives not building forges. Someday when I have more time than money (not that I have any extra of that either) I will try building a forge, but for now I guess I will have to pay to play!
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As long as it is realized and accepted that warriors must comprehend right and wrong, and strive to do right and avoid wrong, then the way of the warriors is alive.
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As long as it is realized and accepted that warriors must comprehend right and wrong, and strive to do right and avoid wrong, then the way of the warriors is alive.