LeeHene

Forge and firebrick have been coated, now I wait...

So let it dry overnight then fire it up for a couple minutes? I'm not sure what is normal. I'm starting to hit information overload where a lot of stuff runs together. (Tomorrow I'll probably be recalling I need to mix the stuff with a 2hp VFD controlled motor running 3400rpm until it reaches 1550 to 1650⁰F with a slightly rich, non oxidizing flame. -lol)

My 100 HT was delivered today. The (online) application instructions from ITC state something like let it dry 24 hours and then heat below 600⁰F for six hours. Granted, the instructions seemed to be geared toward very large kilns. How do you guys cure it before use?

Thanks a bunch!

I ran a test the other day, starting the forge and ran it a short time without the fire brick. (The cracks had already formed.) Without the brick inserted, I had to crank the regulator almost wide open to keep a steady flame. Even then, the forge took much longer to show any signs of heating up. With the brick (aka) heatsink inside it's reducing the open volume (216 cuin) of my forge by around 1/3. Still plenty for what we're using it for at the moment. I realize there are better options out there for doing the same thing, but it's a pretty steep learning curve between dialing in the forge for effectiveness and efficiency, mounting the anvil, procuring forging tools and safety gear, grinding equipment and learning to move hot steel! All input is greatly appreciated. Sometimes its difficult to prioritize things when just starting out. (Especially for someone like me who tends to obsess over every single detail.)

So ITC100 is thick enough to fill the cracks that have formed? (Guessing 1mm wide.) I was of the impression it only to be used as protective radiant coating without any real structural rigidity. If so, that's great news! Just ordered a half pint. Thank you!

Still no luck finding a small quantity of Cast-O-light 30. To make things worse, looks like the Hellcoat that came with the forge isn't holding up either. This was after application and break-in per directions. The forge has well under 10 hours of use, andnot running wide open either.

Wow, thank you for the information. Any suggestions on where to get smaller quantities of Cast-O-lite and Plistix?

Good idea! One more question... At the moment the ceramic blanket inside of the forge is coated with Hellcoat 3000, as that's what it came with. Is that sufficient to protect the floor or should I add some Cast-O-lite 30?

Mikey, THANK YOU! I'll certainly do as you suggested with the floor of his forge. Again, I have full intention to build a better one in the future when life calms down. November - end of December is always crazy busy with my wife's business, holidays and my son's birthday. I'm looking forward to a ribbon burner and I've got an empty tank waiting! I've been trying to figure out which refractories to use. Lee

Thanks a bunch guys!

Thank you, great to know! Any ideas to stop the sputtering when the regulator is turned down and/or the back is restricted?

Thank you for the words of warning. I do need to get my son a leather apron and a cotton shirt for safety. As for position of the forge, that is temporary. I was very careful to monitor temps of all surroundings and there are some firebricks behind the forge too. I'll get a better arrangement worked out very soon!

Hey guys, I've been reading through posts on here for a while and it's about like drinking from a firehose. Great knowledge base! My 12 year old boy has been interested in smithing (I am too) so for Christmas we got him a Hell's Forge single burner. I plan to build a nicer forge with a ribbon burner if he sticks with it. I have a question in relation to the jet size. The manual mentioned it being .035" I found that the regulator doesn't have to be opened much to heat the forge enough to work steel. (Which is good, because I'm making him buy his own propane.) However, in order to keep the flame from occasionally running back up into the 3/4 burner tube, I have to open it up more for the sake of velocity. There is a fair bit of dragon's breath as a result. Would a smaller jet help with this? I'm tempted to update it with a Frosty T-burner. Also, when I try to partially cover the back to reflect heat, it also has the same effect on stability of the burner. Thank you in advance, Lee