Home Made Propane Forge Advice

D

Denzer

Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
22
Hi everyone, I'm relatively new here and hope I'm posting this in the right place and doing everything correctly. If not, then I apologize but will happily accept any help I can get.

I made a propane forge powered by a grass torch that I think should work alright if I'm careful, but I wanted to let you guys have a look to make sure I'm doing this safely and correctly enough. I wouldn't want any serious burns or death so I appreciate anything you may have to add. Thank you for your time.

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The torch is suspended over the forge vertically, the hot parts of the forge are made out of simple old red brick (I have firebrick on its way), and I do have a fire extinguisher at a safe but reachable distance.

Let me know if you need more information and thank you again for any help you can give.

-Gavin Denzer
 
Not sure how hot that weed torch gets, mine doesn't put out a whole lot of heat, just a big flame. I'd be concerned about the red brick. Likely not intended to handle the heat of a forge. If it's gotten wet or has moisture inside, you're looking at it cracking at best or exploding at worst.

Have you been researching the two-brick forge? That's a great place to start with a pair of soft firebricks and a propane plumber's torch.

J-
 
Until now I have been using a charcoal forge and I have also done some work with smaller torches but I felt it was time for something bigger that could be used in a garage or basement type setting where sparks are hard to vent. Unfortunately it is very difficult to get normal forge building materials here in Hawaii which is why I tried the red brick.

After some testing just heating up a brick with the torch you are right, they crack and crumble. I will have to get normal fire brick. The torch I have gets far more than hot enough, it is actually a bit hard to control the gas flow and gets a bit too hot. With my configuration I believe controlling oxygen levels will be difficult and I may also benefit from having the torch blow from the side to reduce the heat the torch head would experience being above the forge.

If you disagree or have anything else to add then please do. All input is appreciated.
 
There are lots of different forge plans around, check the stickies or do a forum search.
Definitely angle the torch so that heat rising from the forge doesn't damage it or your gas line. Do you have any kind of regulator on the gas line? If not you're going to need one, and not the standard bbq regulators, find one that goes from ~0-30, a pressure gauge is also helpful.
Red brick will not work, as you've discovered, have you looked at hightemptools.com? They supply everything you'll need. I don't know about sources local to you, maybe another member does. You could look for ceramics/pottery suppliers as many materials overlap between the crafts.
 
There is good news - the post office delivers to Hawaii now. A flat rate box is the same price to Honolulu as it is to Hoboken. Regular shipping is a bit more to Hawaii, but still affordable on lighter weight boxes. Check out HTT&R to find the supplies needed to build a proper forge and you will be miles ahead of using a weed burner and bricks.
 
Ditto....

I am in the process of building my first "real" propane forge. Started with a two brick, moved on to a homemade 2.5" chamber made from leftover clay and some refractory material (it sorta worked).

I just did a lot of research, about 75% of it on this forum and the various links herein, and save and scrimped to get what I wanted. Read everything you can and look at all the forge building videos you can find.

I bought everything I couldn't find locally from http://www.HighTempTools.com and I'm almost finished. I've been taking pics as I progress through the building process and will post a full thread after the first official burn.

You're doing the right thing by getting on this forum and asking questions. Everyone here will help and it's almost always good advice.

Here is my post from back in May when I decided to get more "serious" about having a good forge.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1188360-Building-my-first-forge
 
Yeah, I looked at Hightemptools.com but even with the flat rate box deal I'm looking at over $60 for 6 bricks so I will try to search locally a bit more before I break down and buy from them. Thank you lastbrunneng that's a big help. I've been trying to work with the standard hardware that come on the torch and the tank. The hose is well out of the way and I will work on adjusting the angle of the torch.

Thank you all for the great help.
 
Pacific Refractories LLC. is reportedly in Hawaii.

Pacific Refractories LLC
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: (808) 456-0055
 
Check and see if there are any pottery making supply places near you? You may check at any places that have glass blowing or glass works kind of stuff? They usually carry the high temp bricks and kaowool and other refractory items. Maybe even a local college offers pottery making or glass working as an art class?
 
Thanks, I'll be sure to check those places too

What specs should the regulator be? (ie. how much psi or BTU)
 
Isn't Hawaii the US capital of volcanic rock? There must be someone taking advantage of that material for making castble refractory.
 
I found a regulator from a local gas and welding shop I will try soon and pacific refractories is a distributor here I just need to catch them during business hours.

Hawaii is volcanic and I may be able to use some local natural materials for the forge but certain types of rock work better than others and I don't know for sure if the can handle the temperatures needed for a forge (lessons learned cooking pig under ground).

Also no company in their right mind as far as I know would make refractories out of Hawaiian volcanic material because ignoring all other logistics it is extremely extremely extremely taboo here to remove volcanic material from the island it came from.
 
You're definitely on the right track with the regulator... check with them for gas rated fittings and valves as well.
 
I'm not entirely sure what you meant by "gas rated fittings and valves" can you elaborate on that?

Thanks again for all the help.
 
Not every device designed to handle a fluid is gas rated. Some are rated for air, liquids, oil, etc. Others are rated for fuel gas. This is especially important in solenoids, which open and close thousands of times. The seals are made from a different material ( butyl rubber, IIRC). It probably wouldn't be catastrophic if you used the wrong type on a forge, because we use pretty low pressure, but eventually the seals would fail and create a gas leak.
 
Totally agreed... I test for leaks no less than once a week, more if I find myself using the forge more than 3-4 days in a row.
 
My first forge was a soft fire brick one powered by a weed torch. It will definitely get hot enough with the valve opened wide. However, the problem is the back pressure, which it can't/wasn't designed to handle, forcing the torch to pretty much stop burning propane at the flare/bell part, it is then ignited by the residual heat in the chamber of the forge. That, to me anyway, seems unsafe and is a disaster waiting to happen. I built one of these, more info here (click on the "Frosty's Narrative" link). A 3/4" one heated my fire brick forge to welding temps. I am putting a 1" version in my larger propane tank that I'm still working on.
 
Yes I definitely got a propane regulator, thank you for clearing up what you meant

I combatted the back pressure problem by adjusting the shape of the forge and placement of the torch to somewhat lessen the back pressure while still having favorable atmospheric conditions (by controlling where the oxygen is introduced). I also made an emergency shut off mechanism that I can use to stop the gass flow via pulling a string from up close or a distance. So if the flame goes out I can immediately stop the gas before a flare up occurs and I only light the torch in a cold forge or light it seperately and introduce it to the forge.

Thank you everyone for your input. I got a lot of help here and it is all very appreciated.
 
Sounds like you have a plan...

99% of people involved in an accident while working alone remember that moment just a few seconds before the accident when they balanced risk and reward... risk won... good luck and be safe!

Post pics when you can.
 
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