2Tim215

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Thanks for that explanation, makes perfect sense - don't know why I didn't consider it. With the gas shortage we are experiencing I need to find an alternative to gas without the expense of rebuilding everything.

Those came out stunning. I really enjoy the one pc rose - do a lot of candle holders in them. Have you tied a wood stain on steel that has been wire brushed - gives a really nice finish and subtle color tint.

I have been struggling to get LPG for almost three weeks now. I have a total gaz, BP and afrox and have been unable to buy LPG because of the shortage so will be modding all my forges to use recycled oil and LPG. The mod is quite simple on the blown burner set up that I have and from all the research that I have so far done I understand that I will get a hotter flame because the BTU's from oil are higher than LPG. The idea is to do a short preheat with LPG and then run a gravity feed oil line into the burner. Once the forge is at red heat it is hot enough to vaporize the oil without the need to atomize the oil with compressed air. I worked out that at the moment at maximum use of my LPG I am running at 0.95 ltrs of gas per hour at around R23.50/hr as a 19kg gives me 20 consecutive hours of forging time. I could get longer out of a bottle if I really managed my gas flow better, but this would only be a few hrs that really doesn't make much difference. With oil I can (according to the guys in the US) cut this cost to between R3-R5 / hr. And I can get used veg oil by the ton here and if that runs out then the same setup will work with diesel or paraffin at half the cost of gas. I have also been playing around with an idea and I used to have a "old" coleman lantern that worked on unleaded petrol. You pumped the container and it worked like a gas lantern. Seeing that I have been unable to by LPG for almost 4 weeks now due to a gas shortage this gave me an idea that I want tinker with. I have researched veg oil and diesel and paraffin forges and although they work it seems that they are not always reliable. So this is my idea: What if I took a 19 kg gas bottle and modded it to take unleaded petrol. Petrol gives off fumes that in a contained environment would essentially be a gas. If I drilled a hole at the bottom of the bottle and inserted a ftg for a compressed air hose and used the compressed air to create the same effect that the lantern worked on then I would have the required pressure to run a forge? I think. This is just an idea rolling around in my head and I have no idea if it would work. I usually learn things through trial and error but I'm thinking that we don't want trial and error in this scenario. So I am putting it up here on the forum hoping that some heated debate might turn up some ideas and possible ways to see if it would be a viable option - otherwise I am going to have to mod all my forges to run on diesel or oil. If any of you have any ideas or experience with this type of setup I would appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks Pat - sorry guys - step by step will be a while to come - got knives to make - got to put bread on the table.

Actually the grapes were the easiest. I have a 25 ton H frame press that I made a ball die for, heat 25 or 20mm round bar to white heat and press. When cool cut ends off and reheat to red and place in shallow oval and smack it all around to get the hammered look. When I'm too lazy or the costing of a job affects the project, then I use bought mild steel balls and do the smack trick to give the hammered look.

Thanks guys. This is not my first. Been forging for some time now, but have been focusing on knives. Decided it was time to get back to blacksmith work, my second love after my wife (playing safe). This was forged in my knife forge. Had to leave my coal forge behind when we moved and although I live near one of the largest coal terminals in the world now, I can't get coal, so everything is gas now. Main vine started as a 400mm x 25mm round bar, after drawing out = 980+mm, so I was a bit tired to dress my welds and when I tried to pencil grind them later it didn't look so good. Thankfully I started at the back so it didn't mess everything up. Got four Damascus knives to finish so should do another in about 3-4 weeks. Will take pics of the process.

Thanks Don. Will be doing some smaller ones in the near future - will be sure to take some pics.

I haven't posted on this forum before, so feel free to move this if it's in the wrong place. The branches are not forge welded, my forge was too small too fit everything in. Vine was 25mm round bar drawn out by hand. Opinions and criticism welcome.

Hi Frosty Nice forge - have seen similar ones on the net, but couldn't get bricks at the time, now I have more than I need but forge is all ready done. Would appreciate more detailed pics and dimensions, also info on the changes you would make if you had to re-do. Tim

Yes I still have to insulate the door and put the small door on. The reason for the small door just off the large door is so that i can slide the long end of curved work through the large door and out the small door. I tried having them at opposite ends and found that this method worked better. Base is 650mm across and forge is 500mm high. Insulated with 2" ceramic fiber, 1" soft fire brick and 1" castable. Small door is 150X150 and large door is 150X 300. Also, the small door allows me to work small work without losing to much heat through the large door if I only had the large door.

My new gas forge for small, large and funny shapes - thoughts???

Hi Excellent forge design, Plan to be building a similar one with fire brick. Have a question though. I have a forge that is 800 long 200 across (interior measurements)and I have three blown burners on it based on the Indian George design. Both the gas and air flow on each burner can be opened or closed with a gate valve and the burner itself is 1.5 inch pipe. Is this too much burner for the size forge I am using? Thanks Tim