New forge

[tattooedfreak]

Well, I am done my first "real" forge. I just finished firing it to cure it and hopefully I can fire it up next week to heat and bash some metal. It took awhile and it's not a traditional one but it should last for a bit as I dont forge much. It is IRC made from a recipe from myheap.com instead of wool but since I made my coffee can forge the same way and it worked great I figured why not. Otherwise it is pretty much the same as the 5 gallon forge on zoellerforge.com. The shell is 8x12 stovepipe with an end cap.

I had a little problem getting it started, I had it at 7psi with the choke barely open but the sound wasnt right. It wasnt until I was at 12 psi with the choke about 3/4 open that it looked and sounded right. When I block the front with brick, it pops a little and sounds like it wants to go out. I don't have an opening in the back like others do, is this a problem? Could it be causing me to run at higher pressure? Otherwise, I am happy with it.

 

[reevestx]

adjust your gas tip in and out until it get the fuel and air mix right.

 

[Abrasive]

You can't run a venturi with much back pressure. A small opening at the back would help a lot.

Dave

 

[tattooedfreak]

I was wondering about the back opening. In moving the tip in and out, is there an easy way? Or is it a matter of taking it apart, adjusting, putting it back together and setting it back up in the forge, over and over?

 

[R.C.Reichert]

I noticed your using Imperial high-temperature mortar to line your forge (btw nice forge!)... I had ordered a 5lb bag of Satanite from Ellis Custom Knives but it's been like 4 months now and I still haven't got my order from them yet. How well does the Imperial mortar work? I can easily get some from Canadian Tire store where I live.

 

[tattooedfreak]

It is a little stiff to start with, use a sturdy stick to mix it with, I used a chair rung. Once it looks fairly well mixed, mix it some more and make sure you scrape the bottom. Your inner form should be sturdy as well as when you pack it, it has a tendency to move your form if it isnt tight. I mixed one tub at a time to make it easier then used the leftover cement mixed with water (light syrup) to seal it and then for the bottom I mixed in some crushed firebrick to thicken it up for a flatter bottom.