bigb

Trying to make a "D" handle for a scoop shovel. I started with a piece of 1.5" 10 gauge tubing because I have a bunch and it fits the shovel. I did some of the heating with OA to try and localize where I wanted it to bend. Everything was going fine till she cracked. I was trying to spread it open on the horn and probably didn't have enough heat where it cracked. Also the horn doesn't seem too well suited for evenly opening it up, it wants to twist. I have some heavy wall 2.5" pipe I may try in place of the horn. Thinking about mig welding the crack and continuing on. Any advice welcomed.

Here's my home made blower. Funny thing today I forged for a couple hours and the air flow just didn't seem right. After I was finished I noticed the butterfly valve on the forge air pipe was closed the whole time! Was still able to heat the work but it was slow going. Sheesh its tough getting old. The sheet metal is riveted then I taped it for leaks. It was open on one end so I made a box to cap it, then the snout with flanges that I riveted to the box. 3.5" hole saw for the intake and a scrap of flat 18 gauge for the gate. Added a toggle switch and a 10 foot cord. Works great when the butterfly is open!

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I built a sheet metal "snout" for a small squirrel cage blower that was originally designed for a air duct booster. It fits perfectly onto my forge's air pipe. I cut a 3.5" hole on the side of the housing for intake, then fabbed a "gate" of sheet metal bolted on with a 1/4-20 bolt and nylock that I can simply pivot over the intake hole to vary output. I reasoned that restricting intake would reduce the load on the motor whereas reducing output would build pressure inside the housing and work the motor harder. Plus, I saw my buddy's high dollar store bought blower and it has the air gate on the intake side as well.

Maybe superstition or maybe not but I have read somewhere that a penny (or any copper at all)  tossed into a coal forge will ruin the fire and will have to be cleaned out and started over.

You may want to get some "Greenfield" or metallic flexible conduit and fittings to put that Romex into. It will protect it from an accidentally dropped piece of glowing steel and the proper fittings will protect the wire from abrasion where it enters the knockout. Also since the whole setup is metal you want to be sure it is grounded.

PS The exhaust fan motor may not last too long on a dimmer switch and will likely get pretty hot. If you care about the motor at all a better solution  is to build an air gate to restrict air into the fan. Do not restrict air flow out of the fan as this can overload the motor.

Not a forge expert just an electrician.

Well thanks guys, I've been reading some threads here on gas forges as well since my first post. I really like the propane cylinder design and I just may go that way. I can always weld a bottom on to that piece of pipe and use it for a quench bucket. Don't know about the Sandbox Frosty (been hanging out mostly at Weldingweb) but I will check it out and yes I would like to know about your burner. Wayne Coe I visited your site, that's some pretty cool stuff. I'll have questions for sure about propane cylinder construction and looks like you have everything needed except the burners?

Right now I am forging split crosses with my 11 year old grandson, he loves pounding on that glowing hot steel. Soon we are going to make some ants out of rail spikes. He wants to make a chain also. Eventually I want to make hinges, bolts, rivets and latches for the furniture I have been making. Maybe some ornamental pieces for the doors as well.

Been lurking awhile and this is my first post. I've been using coal but I also want a propane forge. I have a chunk of 3/16" wall pipe 12.5" diameter which I plan to cut down to 9" long and line with 2" of wool with a fire brick on the bottom. Haven't decided if I'll make doors or just use fire bricks.  Been checking out burners on Reil's page, Zoeller, Rex and the AABA home made write up. If my calculations are correct my cubic inches will be 510. Some sites say I'll need two burners but some burners I've seen look like they would be enough with just one (the T-Rex for example, but it is $200!). I have the skills and tools to build some of the home made ones I've seen. Just looking for some advice and recommendations. Thanks...BigB