Need a new forge....

O

O'Neil

Joined
Nov 14, 2019
Messages
36
I need a propane forge that will do damascus. I had a 3 burner majestic for 10 months before it completely deteriorated. Before it went to shit, it forge welded easily. I must admit, while forge welding, I would lean a firebrick against the ends and reduce the opening by half. Am I the only one that does this?
Anyway, majestic voided my warranty which means I'm out 475 bucks. And I'm just a weekend bladesmith, I may use the forge a couple hours a week.
Sooooo, I need a new one. Sure as hell won't be a majestic lol. Any opinions?
Oh and I have a 2 burner hells forge but it doesn't get to welding Temps.
 
What went bad on the majestic? Why can’t it be fixed? Why did they void the warranty? Any pictures?
 
The inner shell folded inward and the outer shell folded with it. I do have photos I just can't figure out how to upload them. They told me that within the instruction manual, which wasn't with the forge, that limiting the openings at all will void the warranty.
 
Check of Atlas forges. talk to Charles about your needs.

Commercially, you can't beat the NC Tool Company forges.
 
Or you could build your own....
If the plan is to use it mainly for forge welding, and you use flux, then plan on having to re-do the inside of your forge on a regular basis (depending on how much you use it). Or you can plan ahead and make some sort of removable floor to put in the forge when welding to catch the flux.
Also, make sure the forge you have/use has no exposed ceramic wool blanket insulation, as that will deteriorate quickly as well.
 
I use wd40 on the initial heat, then nothing as it does eat the forge up. Also, I had some friends weld me up a replacement box.

I guess I'm just in awe at the lack of cooperation of majestic to stand by their product
 
They must feel it was abused/ misused.

Everything breaks down eventually fixing and rebuilding stuff is part of life.
 
I picked up a majestic forge in person and that was something they specifically stated not to block off the openings from the outside as it could damage the forge, they recommend to close the chamber on the inside if you needed to. So I have some 2” thick firebricks that I use to close the chamber size and have used the forge almost every other day for a year with no issues. I normally close up the back side to be able to use 1-2 burners more effectively for small work but have also closed the front up with some small chunks of firebrick to create a small internal chamber for forge welding on San mai with just 2 burners. I think it’s mostly in the way it directs heat if the bricks are on the outside you’ll get heat trapped directly on the shell versus bricks on the inside that keeps the heat going straight out the openings, they even have a lip welded on their forges now to discourage placing bricks directly in front or back of the forge.
 
I understand. I just see both sides. Not choosing sides or judging. It’s a crappy situation.
 
So to me it sounds like you just need to Re Line the inside of the forge...
you can do that with Kao wool ceramic blanket.. (it sounds like that is what they used )
or you can get Cast able refractory to pour in instead and let it cure before you fire it..
either product should be available if you look around a bit...
Fact Flux eats floors when forge welding , castable /kitty litter/etc help this problem ..
you could also break up some high temp fire bricks and put them in place when /if you go that route..
Just pointing out what i KNOW after making Damascus for about 5 years..
 
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