Run a forge off a home-sized tank?

J

Jason Fry

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 5, 2008
Messages
3,159
I just bought a new-to-me house. Everything in the house is electric, but there's a full 250 gallon propane tank as well. The tank was set up for an RV hook up, and also runs two wall heaters in the former greenhouse, which is now my knife shop.

I don't like the idea of open propane flames in the shop where I'm making dust. Even if I did, I'd not run out of propane for years and years. May have to look for a propane tractor or something.

Question then becomes, what can I do to get this propane tank to work with my forge? I've got gas pipe outlets at a couple different locations, and think it would be cool to be able to hook up multiple forges for a hammer-in or whatever. Any ideas? Anybody ever set up one of the big tanks to run a forge?
 
A local guy uses one by me. I'd say it's a 200 or so. He just has a hard line right to his forge with a shut off at the junction where it runs to his forge about 3 foot away. I don't see a problem with what you've got going, I'd be burning propane like it was free, up until it is empty!
 
The larger the tank the longer it runs. Any tank above 5 gallons is a step up. Propane is also cheaper when delivered.
 
Our local propane supplier cannot according to state law connect any line over 3-4 psi into an enclosed building. (I was going to get a big tank for the shop installed last month, but no dice)
He suggested 100lb tanks. When I was foing ornamental blacksmithing in southern Vt., the guy I worked for had a 500 gallon tank-but I suspect it was already on the property and he did what he pleased with hookups. It's the best way to do it if you can get away with it.
 
J W Bensinger said:
I suspect it was already on the property and he did what he pleased with hookups. It's the best way to do it if you can get away with it.
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This is my situation already. I have the tank, and hard lines from the tank to the buildings. I haven't yet figured out what I need in terms of regulators and connectors. My current forge is venturi, and my regulator for running off a bbq sized tank goes 0-30 PSI. I typically run between 5 and 10. I may be better off building a blown burner and just using the standard pressure in the shop. Something to think about.
 
I generally run my NC around 5-10 as well-but it will forge weld nicely at 15 or so. Where you live it may not even be an issue-i think it's a Vermont state law.
 
All you need to do is add a second regulator in the line ( parallel to the low pressure one that runs the heaters). It should be a 0-30PSI unit. Run the gas line from it in either black pipe or copper tubing. It would also be a good idea to put a solenoid shut off valve on the line from the bulk tank ( if there isn't one already).
 
I also just built a new house and had the tank line run to the shop. Took a bit of discussion/arguing with the gas company to do it. He said they cant run high pressure or over 2psi line to a house, but this was going to shop. The way it is set up is a 10psi high pressure at tank that splits to a 2psi low pressure at house and another high pressure line with shut off in shop. I have a high pressure regulator regulator there that goes to my forge.
 
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