My forge build

R

Randy3000

Joined
Jun 3, 2017
Messages
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I have a 2' long 1' diameter air tank, some 11-12 gallon. It was rusting in my uncle's yard and i grabbed it and cleaned it up and welded some feet on it. I am going to make a forge out of it.

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I make slipjoints by stock removal. Whenever i tell people i make knives they immediately think i hammer steel on an anvil, and truth be told i kind of want to a little. I may fire this thing up a few times a year, or i may get hooked forging i dont know. I know for sure i want to experiment making damascus. I am not really a sword guy. The fact is, i dont really know what all i want to use it for. I have built 4 pid controlled kilns and plan on making this forge pid controlled. I am comfortable with all that.

Will i realistically be able to run this big thing off a bbq grill tank?

I called a few weeks ago to cancel my propane account, since my propane company quit servicing the 100lbs tanks that my house used for a gas fireplace. My only option is to pay some $600 to buy a 100gallon (not 100lbs) tank and get it connected. That is absurd for a fireplace. But then i got to thinking, if the forge would devour bbq tanks, i may very well fork over the $600 if the propane company could hook up my forge to the same big tank.

Will a propane company run a line for my forge?

I wouldnt want a permanent setup, ideally there would be a second valve on the tank i could hook up to and then connect a long flexible hose to hook up the forge. I realize i would have to run gas awhile to purge the hose from air, and it would be kind of a pain, but i wouldnt be doing it often.
 
100 pound tanks are portable. Empty, they don't weigh much at all. I just stick mine in the back of the car and take it to U-haul or the local hardware store and have it filled. A hand truck is nice to move it with once filled ( put a strap around it for safety).

You may have a heavier tank for your fireplace, but new ones from HD and Lowes sell for $75.

Any plumber should be able to run a line to the forge. A flex hose will work just fine, too. There won't be any "purge" needed. The hose will have some propane in it all the time, just not under pressure. Use "Quick Connect" gas fittings for ease of hookup. This also allows you to use the same hose to connect to other propane devices.
 
Wow, i never knew uhaul refilled propane. Heck yeah i can put a quick disconnect on my fireplace line and keep a 100lbs tank in the shed when not in use. I hate having to mow around stuff and wasnt looking forward to a propane tank sitting in my backyard.

I have a lot of irons in the fire now with my house and workshop, this is a simple fast solution, thanks.
 
I made the connections to hold the end cap once i cut it off. I will just bolt it together. The bent piece i am holding in place is a piece of angle iron i chopped up, cut a wedge in, bent with a hammer, then welded the seam.

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How many burners should i put in this?
 
My forge will probably be done next summer(work pffft)

But I was going to go with 2 3/4 t rex burners.. and mainly run just 1 ..and have he second on tap for more heat

Lots of people like the blower burners.... I just thought the t Rex's where awesome .

But I have 0 forge exp besides playing around so dont take my word for gospel ;)
 
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