Help! Problem lighting my new Atlas forge burner

[milkbaby]

So I bought the 30k burner from Atlas to use in my primitive two brick forge. I got it lit with a match on the test run with a little difficulty but then when I was doing a HT, it didn't want to light. It was like the propane flow was blowing out the match at the rear of the forge chamber. I finally got it going by aiming my handheld propane torch down into the back of the chamber, but even then at first it wouldn't light until I aimed the torch flame right into the chamber.

What am I doing wrong? Is it an issue with burner placement or is it not enough airflow to bring oxygen into the chamber? Something else? Below is a pic of my ghetto setup. I set the burner near the front to aim slightly back and up to encourage swirl. There's a little open space around where the burner enters the chamber but not very much.

 

[Josh Rider]

I always light some paper in toss it in there. GOOD GOD MAN do you have enough holes in that handle?

 

[HSC ///]

do you have enough holes in that handle?

I wanted to say something...I'm glad u went first
maybe to offset heavy handle material....idk

anyway, I don't really know that burner style so sorry I can't be of any help...but did you try backing it out a bit? does it need to be into the brick so deep?

 

[milkbaby]

On his website, Charles says to insert the burner until it's 1/4" away from the inside of the chamber. I was assuming this was from the inside of the chamber, plus I have it angled so part of it is further back. I can try pulling it out a bit. I fiddled with trying it at higher and lower flow rates but didn't seem to help.

I'm trying to get a blade forward balance on this about 8 inch chef's knife. Basically half the weight in front of the pinch grip point, half behind. If I use metal liners and stabilized wood, I notice that it's tough to get the balance I want without getting rid of a lot of metal from the full tang.

 

[Josh Rider]

Just be careful grinding after glue-up, some of those holes are close to the edge and could show if you go too far.

Yeah I had to fiddle with my burner too until I found the right depth.

 

[De Soto Mike]

I've been using an Atlas 100k burner for about a year in my homemade forge. Works awesome. Super simple -3 parts.
Not much to go wrong.
Are you using the high pressure regulator that he sells ?
Is there an opening in the back of your forge?
Mine is a little finicky in the slightest breeze. I'm looking at the top of your burner laying on the floor and thinking that might have something to do with your air intake and /or maybe that's where it's blowing out. .
It also looks like it's not inserted far enough. Those are pretty short burner tubes.
I've installed mine vertically and I've also had it horizontal at a slight angle. Yours appears to be almost upside down.
When it sputters,it' usually not enough gas.
I light mine with a lit piece of paper that I toss in and turn on the gas from the tank slowly.
I usually leave the knob on the regulator alone and on the "sweet spot" all the time. I just use it to make adjustments, not to turn the gas off and on.
Hope something helps.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A match isn't going to be an easy way to light a burner. Use a butane/propane torch.

On the Atlas Burners, here is what I do:
Start with the burner just shy of the chamber wall.
Light your torch and stick it in the front of the forge aiming at or near the burner port.
Turn the regulator pressure low and slowly increase it until the burner lights.
Once lit, let it heat up a few minutes before fine tuning things.
The position in the burner port as well as the gas pressure will determine how it burns, so play with those things if needed.

One suggestion on your setup would be a larger burner port. Most 2BF I have seen had a larger hole for the burner to sit in. I don't know if that really matters, though. Charles would be the one to ask.