Thanks Rich, Matt, and Phil, for your input. Hadn't really thought about the extra size factor, and how much fuel will be needed to heat that up... Plus, I guess I really should read the forum, as I am realizing more and more how little I know about this, and I really subscribe to the theory that I should try to learn from others' mistakes before I have to learn from my own. And thanks for the info on O2, Matt. I was touring the Bullseye Glass factory in Portland last week and they inject O2 from a LOX system into their natural gas, and it saves them a lot of money, so I had a thought it might do the same for me, but on such a small scale, and using it for steel rather than glass, I could see where I would not only not get any benefit, it may actually be detrimental. (BTW-- if anyone gets a chance, they have free public tours for individuals or groups at Bullseye Glass, just call and set it up. They are easily the nicest business people I have ever met, and how they do things there is really fascinating. I could watch those guys dropping 10-lb. dollops of molten glass into the rolling machines for hours-- but then, perhaps I am easily amused...)
Well, I'd better get reading! Thanks again, you guys.