Home-brew propane forge questions

J

Jason_G

Joined
May 11, 2008
Messages
24
Hey guys,

First off, I apologize for asking this, because I know these questions must have been answered before, but my searches just turned up a lot of unrelated threads, so bear with me:

I've been doing only stock removal knives, and I am wanting to build myself a small forge (my first). I've been looking at the paint can/coffee can forges, fueled with the Bernz-O-Matic style propane/MAPP torches.

Here's my main question: Will these materials work in place of Kaowool and Satanite: Roxul stone wool, and Do-All furnace cement, both from Lowe's?

I can't find anyone locally that sells either the Satanite or the Kaowool, and was trying to avoid having to wait on something to come in the mail, but if the Satanite and Kaowool are that much better (or maybe cheaper?), I will try to find an online vendor.

Another question I had is about how efficiently one of these types of furnaces use fuel. Do I need to get a hose and connect the burner to a big propane tank (like 5 gallon size), or will the smaller plumber kit sized tanks work? I'd hate to run out of gas in the middle of a heat treat or something.

My last question is about monitoring temperature in the forge for more precise heat treating. Short of a $250 IR pyrometer, what are my options (if there are any) for monitoring temp on the cheap? I know I can read the colors, but I was looking for something a little more exact than that if possible on a budget.

I know these are a bunch of "Oh God, it's another new guy to forging" questions, so I appreciate y'all's patience.


TIA,
Jason
 
Jason,
I don't know about the Roxul but the furnace cement will soak up a good deal of the heat from that small burner
making it less than efficient. If you're just looking to ht the occasional simple steel blade with the torch maybe
you could do something like this. (Google "Two brick forge")
2brickforge.jpg

Fire brick is inexpensive, reflects the heat efficiently and is fairly straight forward to work with. You can usually find
them at ceramics supply stores. If you use a steel like 1084 or 5160 you should be able to get a good HT with just
a magnet to find critical temp. If you later decide to build a larger forge you can check out PID controllers,
thermocouples, solid state relays, etc... Hope this helps.

David
 
You can get a PID and a thermocouple from Auber instruments for about $60 for both. Thats what I have in my home made forge. Right now I am just using it to show temperature which it does really good at.

They also have a high range thermometer which is $40 I think and will read up to 2000f I think.
 
Definitely don't use that Roxul stuff. Not the same thing at all as kaowool. What you need is ceramic blanket, which goes by kaowool, inswool, durablanket, cerablanket, and some other names as well. 1" thick Inswool with an 8# density and a 2400 degree rating is about standard, 2600 deg. is better if you can find it. Fireplace and stove stores will often have it, but your best deals will generally be found online. I suggest High Temp Tools dot com.
 
Last time I checked, the mail and delivery services still delivered to every part of the USA. Unless you live elsewhere, getting the right supplies is about two days wait and a few bucks shipping. Hightemtools carries everything you need for a forge.
http://www.hightemptools.com/supplies-mainpage.html


I bet if you google "Refractory supplies near (where you live) " you will be surprised to find what is near you. Alternate searches are using the word Pottery, Boiler, Kiln,or Ceramics.

Filling out your profile would help us a lot, as we would know if any of this even applies. Also, there might be a maker in your town who would give you a piece of kaowool.
 
What's locally mean?

Where are you ?
Click to expand...

Filling out your profile would help us a lot, as we would know if any of this even applies. Also, there might be a maker in your town who would give you a piece of kaowool.
Click to expand...


Whoops. My apologies guys. I thought I had filled that out a long time ago. I guess I forgot to do it. I'm in northwest Louisiana. Close to Shreveport, if you know where that is. I did a search for refractory material suppliers, pottery materials suppliers, etc. Not much luck. I will probably have to order online.

Last time I checked, the mail and delivery services still delivered to every part of the USA. Unless you live elsewhere, getting the right supplies is about two days wait and a few bucks shipping.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I know, I was just hoping that I might could run somewhere and pick this stuff up. Guess that's a no-go. No big deal.

Thanks for the Hightemptools suggestions. I'll probably just go that route.


Jason
 
Jason,

You can buy K-wool and at the best prices I've ever found, as well as the ITC 100 ceramic coating you will want to coat your K-wool with at the absolute lowest prices I've ever found ( as much as 50% less than other places) at Seattle Pottery Supply - ask for Eric. He's the go to guy for all the stuff you will need to do it up right.
They also have the high pressure propane regulators, hoses etc. and other ITC products (like ITC 213 for coating any exposed steel in and/or on your forge ( like the burner nozzle that can burn off without the ITC 213 coating). I found that in time the steel around the opening of my forge was being destroyed by the heat and flame. I cut some new steel and welded it over the burned and flaking area and then coated it with ITC 213 and it has never changed a bit since! Amazing stuff really. I believe it was originally made for NASA for the shuttle. You can also use the ITC 213 to coat your heating coils in a knife kiln if you have one of those. The coils will last almost forever, unless you bump them when they are hot, if they are coated with ITC 213 on them.

Their phone number is 206-587-0570 PST Zone. A lady will answer and just ask her if you can to speak to Eric.

They have a website to. You can Google that, But, you are way better off to just call Eric.
The site is basically for pottery people.

Good Luck!

Colin Paterson
ABS Apprentice
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top