danguite Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I've had a Diamondback 2 burner propane forge for the past year or so and it has been working fine for me, but recently I took a workshop with Dan Nauman and we used coal forges for everything. I think it has me hooked. I just happened to be browsing Craigslist when I came across this unit and sent off an offer which I thought would be too low, but I'd be happy to pay. Somehow my offer of $225 was good enough and I picked this up today. I noticed that there are some cracks around the air vent and was wondering what I should do about those? Should I worry about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danguite Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 How deep should the fire clay be? I assume I should make a bowl shape near the vent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Ideally, the clay should come up to just below the lip of the cut-outs in the sides so you can pass metal straight through the sweet spot of the fire. A bowl-like depression around the grate wouldn't hurt, but it won't be that deep The cracks are the caused by uneven stresses on the cast iron. This is either by differential heating (using water to control the fire can cool the hot metal too quickly) or actually bumping the forge around. That cast-iron tuyere is weighty and swings around on those two bolts that hold it to the table. Moving the forge in the back of a pickup truck without dismantling it can cause a lot of stress to be put on the table right around those bolt holes. That's also why you see a lot of cast tuyere with the bolt lugs broken off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 Greetings Dan, Nice forge.... Great buy.... Just a thought... Remove the two bolts than replace them with stainless and larger washers... That should increase the surface area and add support... I would not worry to much about the cracks spreading they stop at the hole...... Than cast her up and fire her up... Have fun with your new toy.. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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