Vertical vs. Horizontal Redux....

D

deker

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
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I know it's been covered before, and I've done a bunch of reading, but I'm still on the fence for vertical vs. horizontal forge. I've decided I'm going to buy from our own Darren Ellis, so at least that bit is decided. :D

I am hoping that you folks can help push me off of the fence on which to order though.

My reasoning for a gas forge at the moment is that it'll be cheaper than a chimney for my coal forge, and more useful for knife work to boot. I plan to begin on damascus work as soon as I get my new forge, but I'd like it to be a good general use forge as well. Though I eventually do plan to have a vertical and a horizontal, it'll probably be quite a while, so I want to get the most utility out of what I get now.

I also have this (apparently odd) tendency to cut a piece of steel and then forge a knife out of it. I find it works better for me to use tongs rather than forge a blade out on the end of a bar. I also tend to use a lot of found materials like coil springs, railroad track springs, etc that generally come in smaller pieces. This seems to be a strike against a vertical unless I come up with a way to hold smaller stuff. That being said, the opening in the door of Darren's horizontal doesn't really allow for work to sit on the floor of the forge either. The vertical would hold a more even heat and get eaten less by flux.

Long story short, I have decent reasons for either one, and I'm sure that either will serve me well. What I'm looking for is that "X-Factor" that makes one design better than the other for the combination of work I have planned for it.

Any opinions or stories from folks here? Somebody help me figure out what I want!

Thanks,

-d
 
Its a simple decision, bubba. If you are going to be smacking up a lot of damascus, a verticle forge is great because it will minimize the flux eating away at your liner. If you will mostly be forging, then a horizontal will be fine. My advice is to buy a horizontal from Darren, and build your own verticle when you are ready.
 
There is no law that says you can't use a forge both ways.Make a pivoting mount for the forge and swivel it from horizontal (tong forging) to vertical (damascus).
 
bladsmth said:
There is no law that says you can't use a forge both ways.Make a pivoting mount for the forge and swivel it from horizontal (tong forging) to vertical (damascus).
Click to expand...
now thats smert
best of both a tipping forge for whatever your mood :thumbup: cool
 
I think I've decided to follow the advise from Mr. Higgins/Sweany...Now I'm just awaiting a call from Darren to finalize my order, make sure I have regulators and appropriate refractory coatings in the order as well, etc.

How many CFM should I be looking for for a blower? I saw in another post here somebody getting welding heat @1psi with a 164CFM blower. That's a bigger blower than I would have though to use, but the results sure sound good. Thoughts from the peanut gallery on this one?

Thanks again folks,

-d
 
The 164cfm blower is more than enough - a smaller one would certainly be sufficient.
 
I'll try the small squirrel cage I have for my coal forge first then and get something else from surpluscenter later if needed then.

Thanks!

-d
 
I'm no expert on it but i do have a horizontal forge,I like it.If your looking for flux proof darren sells bubble alumina which IMO is the cats ass,I combined that stuff with IG's hard fire brick and i havent had a problem yet.
 
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