NC whisper Mama forge

D

deloid

Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
458
I'm thinking about getting the Whisper mama forge. For those that have it are you content with welding capability (heat)?

Other forges to consider? I can use natural gas or propane.
 
I have a Whisper Mama, it is alright for forging, a little slow and cold, but welding in it aint gonna happen without an acetelyne torch (or mig) If you're handy build one from the plans on Don Fogg's site, if youre not, buy one from Ellis Custom.
The one time I got enough heat to weld in the NC I literally boosted it with the rosebud tip n my oxyacet torch. They are alright for horseshoes, and shaping blades, but as a welding forge - not

-Page
 
I have the NC Whisper Daddy Low Boy with the three burners. I'm not sure if I can weld in mine. My neighbor has an air hammer, and when I weld, I use his hammer, so I don't really know. I should really try it sometime.

I will tell you that the advice that Sunshadow gave you is spot on. Whether it gets to welding heat or not, you will not like the hot spots in an NC Whisper forge. The burners blow straight down in from the top. There is little or no swirling of the heat, so their forges have hot and cold spots in them. I'm constantly moving my steel in the forge to try and keep it heating evenly.
 
I have a 'Whisper Daddy'. Nice forge and it will get hot enough to weld, BUT flux will eat up the refractory lining pretty fast and it's expensive to replace.

I do all my forge welding in a big, vertical 'Don Fogg style' forge. Best forge I've ever used for welding and blade smithing.
 
Thanks all.

The Ellis and Chili seem (in principle to work in a similar fashion to the NC (mama's ) forges. Maybe the difference is the heat swirl?

I could build a forge but I am way, way, to busy so I need to buy something that will suit for welding damascus billets (at least part of the time).

Why is the Ellis or Chili better. I believe this but I'd like to understand.
BTW OT- but Indian joe , if you want to see a cool pic of my brother's WW2 Indian let me know.
 
A whisper momma will reach welding temp without much problem. For the money I think that you're better off talking with Darren Ellis, if you just want to buy a pre-made one.

Sunshadow, are you running yours at the right pressure? I've never had a problem with welding with a whisper momma, particularly with carbon steels which weld at a lower temp than say wrought iron.
 
I started off with an NC Knifemaker and now use a Chile Habenero. The Chile can get VERY hot and does have the tile floor. The hot spot issue are not nearly as bad, but it is still a horizontal venturi setup, so you are still getting "direct'" heat. The Chile is a great forge for bladesmithing and very adjustable, but I will probaby get an Ellis blown vertical forge when I start maaking damascus.
 
I think the burner design and efficiency has a lot to do with it!...I used the Oliver upwind burner design and tweeked it till it was working right...Bill A.
 
i have had the NC Whisper Daddy Low Boy <3 burner>for 7 years lined the bottom with hard board insulation very flux resistant, and it gets to welding heat easily and quickly i normally use it for welding small jobs i have a pryometer on it and 2400 degrees is easy, one drawback on these forges is the small door openings and of course the price, i will never buy another forge
they are to easy to build to suit your indivual needs
 
I use a Whisper Lowboy a lot. It is quite portable.It is a good starter forge. You can build a better forge, but it is still a good forge. Let it heat up and it won't have such bad hot spots.
Stacy
 
i just bought one of darrens forced air forges,and for the money,i say go with darren,his stuff is great!
 
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