Tuning air/gas for Atlas Graham Forge

[Leon Husock]

I just got one of these and turned it on for the first time (haven't forged anything yet). It seems good, but I've never used a blown forge before and I was wondering if anyone could help me with the correlation between fan power and propane PSI. I know that if I'm getting a lot of dragon's breath out of the forge then my gas is exceeding my air flow, but other than that I'm a bit lost. Is there a point where adding more air to a given amount of gas isn't productive?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Start with making a stable flame and letting the forge run for 15 minutes to fully soak the chamber
Turn down the gas until there is almost no dragon's breath (or it sputters).
Turn down the air slowly to get a stable flame again.
Switch back and forth raising or lowering to get just a small dragon's breath flame of slightly yellow color. It should not be roaring loud or screeching.
That should be a stable moderate level reducing flame suitable for forging heats.
If you need hotter, slowly raise the two to maintain a reducing flame. The hot flame is for welding and drawing billets and thick bars out.

Practice to see how low you can get the forge to run and remain a stable flame. This is your low HT flame.

 

[Leon Husock]

Awesome, thank you! This is super helpful.