My new toy came in today!!!

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
3,415
My new Mini Atlas forge is here! I still got to figure out how to adjust it and all, but I fired it up and banged on some steel. I just wanted to feel how the steel moved, I had a 16# sledge hammer in a big anvil vise and took some whacks at it. I really need a good anvil. I almost had a small one but called in too late. I also need a better hammer. I got a 2.5" mini sledge hammer and beat the snot out of this piece of 1084. I would have done more but I have to go to my kids open house, so I got to get cleaned up for that. :mad:

I did notice I didn't get red all the way out to the opening, only about half way though the forge. I might need to fine tune it or I am doing something wrong. Anyways, I am a happy camper, I can feel the call to pound steel even louder now. And my arms are weaker than a 5 year old girls and are out of shape. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:


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Nice Pancho! I've had my eye on one of those for a while. Have fun with that sucker:thumbup:

I love the idea of not only buying something made in America, but also made by one of our own BF brothers:D
 
Frank, if that's all the redder it got, it's not getting nearly hot enough. How open is the back plate? PM me your address and I'll see what I can do to help.
 
The back plate has a gap of about 3/32" open when I took the pic. I can try and tighten it up to see if it closes the gap. I am really exited to have my first forge. It is really well built. I have never attempted to forge or operate a forge so its probably user error. Thanks!
 
You want just enough opening in the back that your stock will fit through. I'm switching from the adjustable opening to a 1/2" x 2" opening on future models. Let it heat up for about 10 minutes before sticking the metal in. It should only take a few minutes to heat up after that. I've forged a few knives with an earlier model so it should be functional, but these tips can help. Bend a piece of metal and use it to cover the top half of the front opening, it will hold the heat in better. The disadvantage is that the plate will get red hot eventually. Alternatively, you can get a bigger torch. However, the choke plate should make the biggest difference.
 
I closed the gap and its getting red hot up to the opening. I guess the heat was escaping out the back. Thanks for the tips zaph1. Now I just got to play around and learn to forge propely.
 
it should be orange hot, if your going to be hitting it. If its red like the picture you shouldn't be hammering on it.
 
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