Dale M.

I think we are getting off base here with throwing in metal color for temperatures, think original question was "how hot is the fire" (meaning most intense heat in actual fireball in forge).... Dale

Sorry there is a misunderstanding here, I do no have one, I was asking about the validity of the particular unit though.....It seems to have all the attributes that are required for a burner though,,, It is venturi fed, has air adjustment (choke) and fuel jet/connection and is documented for temperature ranges.... Can't see that it is much if any different from most other venturi burners other than it s a bit shorter (desirable) and more cost effective.... The way I see it a venturi burner is a venturi burner no matter what its called and what application it is used for..... Probably find out its something designed for totally different application than what the link claims it to be.... I am really thinking of using two if and when I get around to building a gas forge... http://www.gasapplianceco.com/pdf/venturi_spec.pdf This seems to be parent company... http://www.gasapplianceco.com/ As for mounting, same as any other venturi burner... Weld a sleeve on outside of forge body, drill and tap for a few set screws and insert output end of burner into sleeve and tighten setscrew against burner body.... Dale

Yes never abandon the YELLOW PAGES.... Let the fingers do the walking.... And so on.... Dale

I found that the grill and rods on base of fire pot work a bit better when flush with bottom (so to avoid any need for clay) ... But if you have clayed up bottom, it does same thing.... I was having a bit of problem with heat and after watching one of our lady apprentices (I am aspiring to be an apprentice) stoke the fire by moving coal around and OVER materials that was being heated she was able to create a very intense fireball in center of forge, also she was using plenty of air.. I think the more often movement of coal is helping it to coke up rather then just laying there not doing much... Tried this with my forge, also brake drum, (poking metal down into center of fireball) and upped my air and drawing coal over fireball improved heat quite a bit.... IT may not be the fault of the coal, it may be you have not learned where most intense heat is in fire pot or you are not managing the fireball well enough.... The heat does not seem to be at top of coke pile but down in the center....Also up to a point more air creates more heat, but also increases consumption rate of fuel... Also to little fuel in firepot (mound) may cause a cool fire... Might want to look at this thread.... http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/30887-forges-and-fires/ Dale

Don't think I need a cage ....I think My Pet Rock is dead, it lays there in its box and does not move or eat.... Dale

Probably... A blower is nothing exotic... its just a air mover .... Only real problem is it may not move enough air... if it supplies to much air you can always throttle it down by a "blast gate" on inlet or outlet or a rheostat (solid state lamp dimmer?) ... Dale

IT not in $30 range but maybe very affordable.... http://www.axner.com/mr-750venturiburner.aspx Dale

Some of those block would make great anvil and weight for small power hammer or treadle hammer.... Wish seller was a little closer.... Dale

Get good dead weight chunk of steel, be it a true anvil or just a chunk of scrap, get as heavy as you can..... Make a simple forge maybe a "break drum" one or a stack of fire brick.... Anything can be adapted as you go like hammers and maybe use pliers till you can make/buy tongs... Decent starter tongs are about $30 a pair new online, and you can get kits (blanks) to make your own tongs for about $10 a set.... As you drive around the pieces of scrap met you see along side of road will take on a whole new meaning....My lovely wife bought me a #100 anvil for my birthday ($200)... I made a brake drum forge for about $50 in parts and bought a couple sets of basic tongs and two inexpensive ($35) rounding hammers and a #50 bag of coal ($35)... For about $450 you can be setup VERY well or if you are a real scrounger you can do it for less.... In some less developed countries a blacksmith may be lucky to have a decent hammer and he uses a rock for anvil and and local wood for fire.... Be inventive and adaptive..... Yard or garage sales and flea markets can supply you with many "workable" tools some times almost for next to nothing.... Dale

When weather is fine.... When weather turns bad its either a 2002 Jeep Wrangler of 2005 Chevy PU... Dale

Looking good.... Might try the focus thing on camera a little bit more though, would show off your work much better..... Dale

I was sort of thinking along the lines of something like this..... Just wish they were not so expensive... http://images.petfooddirect.com/107110011_lg.jpg Since my forge and coal supply are stored in garage when not in use was sort of trying to control the coal dust.... Dale

Lets see some pictures of your coal storage anything more elegant than a plain bucket or tub... Want some ideas for easy access (front opening for shove/scoop) and maybe portable, capable of holding 50 to 100lbs of coal.... Dale

Respect her when she confronts you, but its your yard, you are not working during city quiet hours, usually 10:pm to 6:am... And she is actually trespassing by looking into your yard and commenting on what you are doing.... She is the problem not you.... Forge on.... Dale

Here is one possible source but they are out of San Francisco... Maybe they can drop ship to you in south part of state... http://www.lazzari.com/industry-bituminouscoal.html Dale

Glad you are ok.... About all you can do is pitch in to help others.... Rode out a 7.1 on Ricter scale in 89 and its no fun.... Dale

For the time being just over the counter AO polycarbonate glasses.... Dale

We could really go 'quackers' about this if we wanted to... Best not too.... Dale

This would be my suggestion for "projects"... http://images.lmgtfy.com/?q=blacksmith+projects Dale

Actually I learned the "fluid" trick at second Saturday of the moth regular local hammer in... Where from 5 to 10 local smiths and learners get together and all the old experienced gentlemen use the "starting fluid" method to start coal in forges... Just so you know there at least 6 forges 8-9 anvils on premise along with one power hammer and treadle hammer.... These guys are serious.... Dale

Maybe a ounce....... Basically just enough to wet kindling for easy ignition... Dale

I noticed in second video you dipped punch in water to cool then into "something else".... Was it a lubricant like bees wax or something else.... Dale

Next time you have really rusty tool, vice or just raw material, you could try removing rust by electrolysis method.... Only takes a 12 volt battery charger, sodium bicarbonate and an anode in tank of water with item to be cleaned..... http://www.instructables.com/id/Electrolytic-Rust-Removal-aka-Magic/ Dale

A base (stand) from gas grill is almost ready for fire pot.... Why waste time energy and materials fabrication off a hand truck, when most of the hard work is already done with grill base... Dale

The way I light my coal/coke is to wad up a piece of newspaper, place a few wood chips/slivers (kindling) on paper wad a small squirt of charcoal lighter fluid,,, Let burn a few minutes turn on air and introduce coal/coke... Dale