Recommendation? Heat treat forge questions

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May 6, 2021
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I looked up some tutorials about making a heat treat forge, but they all seem too small. I want to start small in making knives, but eventually, I want to make something over 12 inches(maybe around 16). Should I just buy some firebrick and make a 20-inch long forge without any guides? If so how many torches would I need, and what brands do you recommend? Do I use refractory cement to put them together? Any help is appreciated, and thank you in advance!!
 
I looked up some tutorials about making a heat treat forge, but they all seem too small. I want to start small in making knives, but eventually, I want to make something over 12 inches(maybe around 16). Should I just buy some firebrick and make a 20-inch long forge without any guides? If so how many torches would I need, and what brands do you recommend? Do I use refractory cement to put them together? Any help is appreciated, and thank you in advance!!

The Atlas forges are small but have an opening on the back end so larger knives/swords feed through the small opening. I think they have a YouTube where they show that. I intend to build something like that. With a removal brick, one for smaller knives and another brick for a pass through type situation.
 
Welcome to Shop Talk.

When you say "Heat Treating" forge, are you talking about forging knives or doing heat treating ( hardening)?

As Devin said - If you want it to harden knives, an 18" deep HT oven (paragon, Evenheat, etc.) would be a better choice.

You won't make a suitable forge running on torches over 8" long. For a longer forge ( and any good forge) you need to make or buy a forge burner. Venturi burners are OK for forging, but you will need a blown burner for doing HT. PID control is also advisable for a HT forge. Building an 18"-20" long HT forge is not a beginner project.

The Stickys has info on forges and PID controlled forges. Using the Custom Search Engine ( in the stickys) will find many treads on building forges, HT ovens, etc.
 
Welcome to Shop Talk.

When you say "Heat Treating" forge, are you talking about forging knives or doing heat treating ( hardening)?

As Devin said - If you want it to harden knives, an 18" deep HT oven (paragon, Evenheat, etc.) would be a better choice.

You won't make a suitable forge running on torches over 8" long. For a longer forge ( and any good forge) you need to make or buy a forge burner. Venturi burners are OK for forging, but you will need a blown burner for doing HT. PID control is also advisable for a HT forge. Building an 18"-20" long HT forge is not a beginner project.

The Stickys has info on forges and PID controlled forges. Using the Custom Search Engine ( in the stickys) will find many treads on building forges, HT ovens, etc.
Heat treating. If I make a longer blade I will cut it out of steel, not forge it. I don't really want to buy a forge, what about if I make a longer charcoal forge with a blowdryer as the fan?
 
Heat treating. If I make a longer blade I will cut it out of steel, not forge it. I don't really want to buy a forge, what about if I make a longer charcoal forge with a blowdryer as the fan?
That’d be the worst way to accurately heat treat a blade. They aren’t telling you to buy a forge. They are telling you to buy an electric heat treat oven. In the long run it’d be way cheaper and you wouldn’t waste time ruining steel.
 
I think that is the old link.
That is part of the main Good Information Sticky now.

I was able to pull it up with the Custom Search Engine:
 
I agree that an electric oven is a good solution. If you're set on a more rustic method, you might look for Goddard's $50 Knife Shop book, or other similar sources. There're many books and videos out there, Ed Caffrey is another that comes to mind. Unlike most youtube vids, a good source will give you a better understanding of the process, set you up for what you want to do in your shop. Good luck.
 
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