Propane

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Sunny850FL

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May 3, 2017
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I'm just starting out with knife making and forging. And I was wondering how long a regular sized propane tank, with three burners, on 5 psi would run for? I would just like to know an approximate time. And if you have any tips or suggestions I will be grateful for you taking time to respond to my post.
 
A 20 pounder will tend to freeze up. Get yourself a 40 or better yet, a 100 pounder.
 
When I was still using a 20lb tank with two 3/4" z burners I would get about 8 hours at 5psi.

It was almost impossible to use for any length of time unless it was about 80 degrees or more due to freezing. Even my 100 lb tank freezes in the winter running those two burners.

I think running 3 on a single 20 pounder will be problematic.
 
jdm61 said:
Do you already own a 3 burner forge?
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The plan is to purchase one. Because I looked at some
kuraki said:
When I was still using a 20lb tank with two 3/4" z burners I would get about 8 hours at 5psi.

It was almost impossible to use for any length of time unless it was about 80 degrees or more due to freezing. Even my 100 lb tank freezes in the winter running those two burners.

I think running 3 on a single 20 pounder will be problematic.
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Thank you a lot man. And if it gets to were in using to much and going threw them too often I can always upgrade.
 
5PSI doesn't have much to do with how much propane an hour the forge burns.

In a tiny orifice mini burner, 5PSI will use very little propane in an hour ( and won't get very hot at that low pressure).

In a single burner venturi forge with a .032" orifice, 5PSI is running at low heat ( most run in the 5PSI range for HT, and 10PSI range for forging, and 15PSI for welding).

In a 3/4" blown burner 5PSI would look like a rocket taking off ( most run at 1PSI or less).

My three burner venturi forge consumes about $4 an hour ( about a gallon or so) of propane when running at forging heat at about 8-10PSI.
 
Ok so if I wanted to take a regular railroad spike(which I don't know the type of steel) and transform it into a knife I would need to be running around like 8-10PSI like you said?
 
I never really thought about what PSI might be. Our gassers are single or double jet with blowers. I just turn up the regulator until its hot as it need to be.
Btw, I seldom use the double, its quite large...
 
I must be lucky. IIRC, my Chile Forge Habanero with 2 of the old style burners runs slightly below 5 psi when it is getting warmed up and I can back it down to like 3.5-4 after that.
 
Sunny850FL said:
Ok so if I wanted to take a regular railroad spike(which I don't know the type of steel) and transform it into a knife I would need to be running around like 8-10PSI like you said?
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A small single burner venturi forge would do that.
 
I just built a forge from a 30 lb tank and it has one venturi burner with an .030 orifice . It runs at 1500° at 1psi and the choke most of the way closed. I've been running it around 7-8psi and forging. I've run it as high as 15psi, but I haven't let level out at that setting. I've let it hit 2300° and backed it down, but before I turned it down, it was still climbing, and climbing pretty fast. I have no doubt I could hit the 3200° rating of my satanite coating.
 
Ask yourself if you really need a 3 burner forge. A single burner forge is going to be less aggressive on fuel usage and let you have a smaller tank. You'll get more time per tank and have less freeze up issues. I have a single 100k btu burner on my forge and it gets plenty hot to bang out a knife. I use a regular 20lb tank and I've run it outdoors in freezing temps without it freezing.
 
lanternnate said:
Ask yourself if you really need a 3 burner forge. A single burner forge is going to be less aggressive on fuel usage and let you have a smaller tank. You'll get more time per tank and have less freeze up issues. I have a single 100k btu burner on my forge and it gets plenty hot to bang out a knife. I use a regular 20lb tank and I've run it outdoors in freezing temps without it freezing.
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Well the one I'm looking at you can control each burner individually so that is why because you can use less or if you work up to be able to work with more you have 3. If that makes sense
 
Why would you need 3 burners? I forge weld with 2. if I wanted to get "cool" enough to heat treat before I got my Paragon oven, I used a 1/2 single burner and a muffle pipe.
 
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