Emmettculligan

I just made my first forge using 4 propane burners spaced about 18" apart that enter into the side of the forge which is about 7' long by 2' wide by 2' tall. Ive got a fire brick floor, 3 courses of insulating brick and fabricated steel with Kaowool making up the balance of the walls and top. The problem that Im having is keeping the forge buning after I close the top. With out the top, the burners are putting out 15 psi each and really cook. Once I shut the top off I basically get the flame coming out of the exhast holes at either end of the forge that I created by removing a fire brick. THe flame is basically shooting out of these exhast holes and isnt burning at the burners themselves. Ive tried tuning the burners very low and very high as well as making the exhast hole bigger. Not sure what Im dealing with here and would like some advice. Maybe I need to let the forge heat up this way before it works properly??? THANKS!

Does anyone have any experience with inflation forging? .....IE heating an enclosed fabricated mild steel form to red hot and then injecting compressed air into it to make it expand. This method has been used in industry and I was thinking of incorporating it into my artistic language

We are fabricating funiture frames with 1 1/2" steel tubing. We degrease with laquer thinner and sand metal with orbital before applying presto black by Birchwood Casey. We wipe off with wet rag and dry with another dry rag before spraying the metal with a two part catalysed polyurathane. THe problem we are having is that clear coat is lifting and taking the blackener with it, leaving the raw metal. I have photos as well. Any help is appreciated. Emmett. 303 507 5275