New Forge-Update (pics)

[nc_cooter]

Had a nice visit with Brian Goode this morning. We did some testing on my forge. He supplied some leaf spring to heat up.

There has been some question about operating sidearm burners at such low pressure i.e. 4psi.
We ran the forge at 4 psi this morning as can be seen in the pics. I have no definitive answer as to why mine will work at this setting, but it does. One idea we kicked around was backpressure in the forge. My forge was designed with minimal backpressure in mind. I left about 1/2" to 3/4" around the movable back wall in addition to the pass through opening. I also spent a good deal of time tuning the burners before mounting. I did this at night to see th flame better. I varried both the insertion depth of the Tweeco tip and the flare placement.

This is a 3"x12"x5/16" piece of leaf spring.

Pressure gage-forge running

Forge at 2 min after start

Test piece at 6 min-nonmagnetic

Forge interior at 9min

Thanks for looking.

Mike

 

[galadduin]

This forge you've got is perfect as far as I see. I have to re design mine after seeing this thread. I wait for these temps about double you wait and I thought that was normal. (a bit envy ofcourse )

Emre

 

[Terry_Dodson]

got any pics and specs on the burner? what size & legnth pipe, t-adapter. and what size tweeko tip? how high is the opening on the front door? had you thought about making the slit verticle in the front door? I have wondered if keeping a hot piece of flatbar laying in the forge sideways would make it warp? I try to keep mine verticle for that fact, but not sure if i have to.

 

[nc_cooter]

Terry,
This site shows the burner design.

http://www.geocities.com/zoellerforge/sidearm.html

I used the 3/4" size and the modification shown at the top of the page with the size 35 Tweeco 114 tip with the 3/4" Zoeller stainless steel flare.

The opening on the front is 1-3/4" high. I just finished the forge and have not used it for HT yet,so i can not comment on flat vs verticle and warpage.

Mike

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Just a thought,but have you checked another gage against the one on your regulator.These inexpensive gages are pretty inaccurate at the low end.All that said,your forge is running very good - If it ain't broke don't fix it! Nice job.

 

[blgoode]

Man - This forge is nice! I too thought about the guage not working right untill Mike tapped (lightly!) the nob and the gas almost shut off. HE was running at below 4 psi. The forge has minimal hot spots and NO cold spots. Heated the steel just a perty as she can be.

Hey Mike! Too bad you have a dog....I'd be sneaking off with this one
Good job buddy!