FarmerJon

I haven't had a lot of time to work on this thing, but I removed all of the diesel lines and pump per everyone's suggestion. My new question: does the piece of casting in the picture have any place on a propane forge? My plan was to make a blown ribbon burner but maybe this could get me started sooner. Or should I scrap this and start with known plans? Would there be a downside to hooking up my propane line and trying it?

Thanks for the replies. I suspected if diesel fueled forges were a good way to go they would be more popular. No need to reinvent the wheel, propane wins.

I agree, it looks sketchy! But it looks (at least partially) manufactured. I saved it from the scrap yard and figured the frame was worth hauling it home. I don't really have any expectations of getting this thing going with diesel, I'm sure the seals in the pump are bad. I think I will work on changing it over to propane, it seems easier to regulate a pressurized gas than to dial in this series of valves and return lines.

Hello everyone, I have been a long time lurker and have slowly been accumulating some blacksmithing equipment. I have an anvil, a couple leg vises, and a newly acquired- rusty pile of iron and firebricks that used to be some kind of blown diesel powered forge. The blower runs and it has a heavy angle iron top and frame and some fittings I was planning on reusing for a blown propane forge. My question- is there any compelling reason to try and get the current system of pumps and valves fixed back up or just gut it in favor of propane? I know this thing looks pretty rough but the frame is much better than it looks.