Propane forge build question.

[tbow]

I picked up a five gallon air tank and I am going to build a propane forge. I would like an opinion on the best position angle to put the burner. I have been using a paint can with a Mapp gas torch previously and have the torch at about 3 o'clock. I am going to use a forced air or venture type burner and a standard size propane tank. I have seen many different set ups and was trying to figure out which would have better performance and be more efficient. Thanks for your input.

 

[J.Babody]

Just set up almost the same deal, 5 gallon harbor freight tank and all. I found that I positioned it angled a bit too much toward my floor. You can position at 3 and 5 and still hit the same hot spot. It all depends on the angle that the burner/tube is at that will determine where the flame goes, if that makes sense. If I were to do it again I would put the burner at 4 o clock ish and point the burner more toward the side of the forge, still producing the hot spot but higher up and away from the floor. I only use the forge for heat treating at the moment so that may play a factor in how I try to control the heat in my forge so take it for what it's worth(opinions may vary for forging blades, idk honestly). Placing the pyrometer and blade in different places in relation to the hot spot can achieve good temps to soak steels like 01 and 1095 consistently (and at the correct time/temps). Also runs very little propane for my purposes, but as I said I'm not screaming it up to forge welding temps... except for fun .

Forgot to add that no matter where you place the burner, you want to create a swirling effect inside the forge to distribute the heat as evenly as possible.

Justin