Vertical Forge

[JTknives]

Well at work i stepped out side and in the dumpster that the auto shop uses was 2 freon tanks. I have been needing a vertical forge to weld in as i dont want flux in my nice forge. but what i'm wondering is if a freon tank would work as a vertical forge. I have all the refractory i need for this thats why its been on my mind so much.

 

[Rusty McDonald]

It's kinda small for a welding forge.

 

[Dan Seaver]

I use a 16 gallon barrel for my vertical welding forge and I weld up to 30lb billets in it. I find it perfect for smaller 15lb billets though, I weld over half a billet in one heat. Its 10" ID inside the refractory. Barrels like this are a bit harder to weld a frame onto but it is possible with a little extra work.

I suggest you cut out a few inches of insawool below each door and fill that area with satinite or clay. I learned about that the hard way. Also if you want some natural fireclay for the floor (I use a 2 inch layer on top of the insawool) I can send you some for just the cost of shipping. There is a huge deposit on my grandfathers land so I can get as much as I want.

-Dan

 

[T Blade]

Jarod,

I don't know the dimensions of those freon tanks. If you build with freon tank and you have a good burner for it, I don't think you would have much problem with welding heat.

I just finished a verticle forge that I will be using for welding. This is my second verticle, the first one welded no problem, but the flux drip would ruin the bottom liner. The top of the old one was removable but I would have to re-line the bottom often.

This new one has a hard firebrick base coated with ITC100, 3" X3" opening with shelves to help minimize flux drip down the sides, and a nice homemade 304 stainless thermowell to protect the thermocouple from the high heat of the interior. the pipe is 8" diameter and stands 16" tall, with 1" kaowool coated with ITC100. As you can see it's all bolted together, easy dismantling for maintenance.