which forge should I get?

[coolhandluke4]

I'm looking to get into forging/ making my own damascus eventually, and am looking at some forges. here are links to what I've found. I've got about $600 to spend on one, I already have an anvil, tongs, and can pick up hammers at my local flea market. Any suggestions I don't have linked, length I'll need? I don't see myself forging anything over 15 inches, and I would assume I don't need a forge that long.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Knife-Maker...211?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415dfed9bb
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Forge-B...415?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb8b11827
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Knife-Maker...238?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415e1c318e
http://www.riversidemachine.net/item15875.ctlg

Do I need one that's 18" long? And what's the difference between one with a blower and one without?
Lastly, I promise, any good books, videos about forging that I don't already have?
Thanks guys!
Luke

 

[thegeek574]

you can build a beast for 600 bucks.
for example, go with a 20 inch 12 inch diameter with 2 ribbon burners. the only trouble that you will have would be keeping it at low temps. with a thermocouple setup you could keep up with the temperature easily. I doubt it would take more than 600 dollars and would probably be better than anything you could buy.

how long you need it would be relative to how long your stuff is. 18-20 is probably safe.
the difference between "forced air" and "venturi" burners is that the forced air uses a blower to push the air, mixed with propane into the forge, while a venturi uses air that is sucked in by some complex effect that makes it work. forced air is more expensive and requires electricity, but is easier to tune (from what I have read, don't murder me) and has fewer troubles with hot spots. here are links for good resources.

blacksmith.org/forums/threads/509-Ribbon-Forge-Burner/page1
blacksmith.org/forums/threads/526-Ribbon-burner-forge-build
ronreil.abana.org/design1.shtml

that should get you started.

 

[mgysgthath]

Just food for thought, Chileforge makes some fairly (compared to others I've seen) inexpensive ones.. they gave me a set of smaller nozzles for lower temp running for free. There are many that are much more knowledgeable about the subject than I am. I've seen Ed Caffrey say Chile's burner angle creates a hot spot because it doesn't circulate.. but the ABS school uses some Chiles. So to each his own I guess?
Tai built one from a weed burner and coffee cans, so it can absolutely be done much cheaper than a pre built forge. Tai has more expensive set ups, but he still loves his coffee can forge. Tai also has a couple dvds on forging.. there's a lot of instructional stuff out there, but Tai is pretty entertaining