propane forge

[legato1]

how economical is a propane forge? how much burn time can you get from a standard size bar-b-q propane tank? i was looking at these plans http://www.zoellerforge.com/simplegasforge.html and wondering how and where to get the arm things that is the burner... i can manage all the other stuff. do these plans look pretty decent or is there a better way to go about it?thanks, -Mitch

 

[Dan Zawacki]

Oh dear gods where to start?

The problem with forges is that there's SO MUCH info floating around out there. The real rub of it comes when you get contradictory information from independant sources, both of wqhich have a reputation for being dependable, honest founts of information.

What it really all boils down to is opinions are like behinds. Everyone's got one, and they all stink!

A few links to get you started:

http://www.cashenblades.com/Info/Gas forges.html

http://www.dfoggknives.com/forge.htm

http://www.indiangeorgesknives.com/building_a_forge.html

http://home.comcast.net/~eellis2/EllisCustomKnifeworks/forgegallery.html

http://ronreil.abana.org/Forge1.shtml

http://www.hybridburners.com/

Read through the information on those pages, compare notes fron one page to another, and you will begin to form opinions of your own. Once you've gone and done your homework then it's time to try your first build!

Best of luck, and keep us posted on your progress. If you have any more questions after looking these pages over, shoot me a line, and I'd me more than happy to send you some more resources.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Build a waste oil forge and fuel isn't a concern as long as you can get used fryer or motor oil. Won't blow up, worst thing is a little smell at the start and if you turn the blower off after you finish forging. Welding temps aren't an issue, keeping the forge down from welding temps may be

You have to use a blower of some sort.

Just my 2 cents, I built one and love it

 

[Charles L]

Build a waste oil forge and fuel isn't a concern as long as you can get used fryer or motor oil. Won't blow up, worst thing is a little smell at the start and if you turn the blower off after you finish forging. Welding temps aren't an issue, keeping the forge down from welding temps may be

You have to use a blower of some sort.

Just my 2 cents, I built one and love it

I have been hearing a lot about waste oil forges lately. Where can I find some info on them? How do they work, how to build one, what kinds of heat can you get, etc?

 

[Will Leavitt]

I have been hearing a lot about waste oil forges lately. Where can I find some info on them? How do they work, how to build one, what kinds of heat can you get, etc?

On here I guess you mainly hear me beating the drum for them. They work like any other blown forge, you're just using waste oil (either motor or fryer) for a fuel. Heat? guys use them in backyard foundries melting iron and stuff so forging/welding heats are pretty easy.

Edited to add links:

Here's the basis for my burner. I changed the burner tube to a 1 1/2" instead of a 2" pipe. There's a lot of good info on waste oil burners here:
http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/oilburners09.html