Several times I've tried blowing oxygen into the air intake of my (coke) forge, thinking that it would make the fire hotter or something. It seems to have no effect at all. Has anyone else been bored enough to try this and can anyone explain why it doesn't work?

If you are running enough air so that your fire is oxidizing then blowing more O2 in won't do anything as all the fuel is currently burning that can.

If you switch to only straight O2 the fire should get hot enough to melt/burn up your forge as then it doesn't have all the Nitrogen along that has to be heated up by the burn as well.

For what we want there is plenty of oxygen in the atmosphere and its free. Pure oxygen and fire arer a nasty combination which should be generally avoided.

Cheers

When I served my time we used to have an oxy line coming into the blower pipe going to the burner for our biggest furnace. If we need to get a job really hot, we would turn it on, (had a reg on it too). You had to keep an eye on your job as the furnace got that hot it would burn your job, (8"square no probs to burn).
The only thing has has stopped me from doing the same in our workshop is we have no bulk Oxy tank.
It works ok in a furnace as they are a constant rate of fire, a forge would be suitable as you regulate the air with your heats.

Phil

Adding oxygen to a professional setup that is doing large work is one thing BUT not for a backyard setup. Its not necessary for normal size work and can be positively dangerous as well as expensive.

Cheers

When I served my time we used to have an oxy line coming into the blower pipe going to the burner for our biggest furnace. If we need to get a job really hot, we would turn it on, (had a reg on it too). You had to keep an eye on your job as the furnace got that hot it would burn your job, (8"square no probs to burn).
The only thing has has stopped me from doing the same in our workshop is we have no bulk Oxy tank.
It works ok in a furnace as they are a constant rate of fire, a forge would be suitable as you regulate the air with your heats.

Phil

Stupid me. Left out a not, A forge is not suitable for the addition of O2

I often add oxygen to my forge fire, but only when lighting it. I light my torch hit the coal with the flame then turn off the fuel gas and hit the oxygen lever on the torch. Coal forge running in about 2-3 minutes.

I often add oxygen to my forge fire, but only when lighting it. I light my torch hit the coal with the flame then turn off the fuel gas and hit the oxygen lever on the torch. Coal forge running in about 2-3 minutes.

Cheater!
Don`t you own a weed burner?

i light my forge with my propane torch, the ones that use the camp stove propane bottles. of course i burn charcoal in my forge. i clean then fill my forge with charcoal, then start the airflow just slightly, and then put the torch to it. it is going in about 2-3 minutes.