oxy/acetylene versus mapp

[ScottRoush]

I'm putting together my 8 pound can forge and am wondering which would be the best torch set up... oxt/acet or mapp? Can you power down the oxy set up enough for smaller blades???

 

[McAhron]

Build yourself a venturi burner.Tons of plans are availible.The last one I made cost 8$ not including the bbq type propane tank,regulator and 10ft hose.

 

[69_knives]

Propane would probably be the most economical, oxy/acet = too hot, mapp = $$ Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt4OfHUi5V4

A propane burner can be made for about $15.00 in parts. you'll need a regulator and hose to run off a barbecue tank.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Neither....you want propane.
Stacy

 

[ScottRoush]

ugghhh... Back to drawing board! So I can find and modify a propane burner to work with my little coffee can setup???

Thanks for the responses...

 

[Justin King]

You can build one from scratch very easily. The hardest part to find is an adjustable regulator, and those are not that hard to find. Wherever you source that item should be able to sell you some propane hose also. The rest of the parts that you need are availible at Home Depot or just about any decent hardware store.

 

[69_knives]

The hardest part to find is an adjustable regulator, and those are not that hard to find.

It's the same as an Acetylene regulator, you mentioned oxy/acet torch for your forge so I would assume you probably already have the regulator. Just don't use the acetylene hose for propane. You should be able to pick up a propane reverse thread hose that will connect to the regulator for 10 bucks or so. You may already have a hose if you have a weed burner.

 

[ScottRoush]

no... but I do NEED an oxy/acet torch. So I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone. That never works.

So.... can the propane/venturi burner set up get to forge welding temps? If so... then I might as well get going on it. I just liked the simplicity of sticking a mapp torch burner through a hole in the side of the can.

 

[ScottRoush]

69..... I just watched your video. Are you saying if I get a weed burner type set up then I don't need to bother with making a venturi??? Just get the reg and hose for it? I just saw one at my local hardware store for pretty cheap....

 

[ScottRoush]

I'm looking at the Ellis burner kits because I won't be able to find black iron fittings where I live... so it might be easier for me to just get something like what he has. So... forced air or side burner? Right now I will just be forging small to medium blades... but eventually I'd like to make mini damascus blades from small wire rope. So which set up???

 

[69_knives]

A venturi burner will likely last longer than the weed burner in the video. I posted the link to the video mostly to show that propane is the fuel to use and that things don't have to be complicated.

 

[DrThunder88]

I used a weed burner to do some preliminary tests on my forge since my POL fitting still has not arrived.

 

[A C Richards]

I went to oxy propane on my heating and cutting torch. It eliminates the need to store acetylene and is much cheaper. I am still using the partial tank I started with 4 years ago on my propane. When I run out I can use any one of the several others I have around for the forge.