MickSCollins Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I'm thinking about building me a gas forge, but I want to get a good idea of what I'm looking at in terms of fuel consumption and efficiency. What are the dimensions of your forge? How many burners do you use? What PSI do you forge at, and if you weld, what do you take it up to? What size and how long does a bottle of propane typically last you? How long does it take your forge to get up to temp? Is it naturally aspirated or blown? If there's anything else that could be considered pertinent, I'd be much obliged if you shared it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Turner Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I have to gas forges one I use for shoeing horses and the other for knife making. My shoeing forge is a NC Whisper Mamma, I am not very fond of this forge at all but it was expensive so I use it. It is a venturi burner forge and just heating shoes I have to run it at 11psi. My knife making forge is a blown forge it is 18" long and has a 7" ID in 15 minutes it is up to temp. I used a 3000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentin Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 MIKE: it lasts me about a month with serious forging...1 month(How big is the tank ?) mine only abount 15....20 Hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Before you worry too much about efficiency, you need to decide what you are going to be heating in your forge. The size, shape, and number of burners of the gas forge you build should be determined by what you intend to forge. If you are going to be making small stuff, a single burner (1/2" aspirated), 6" OD tube (maybe 8" long), lined with thermal blanket (and coated) will probably do the job. If you are going to do heavy larger work, the forge would need to be bigger, with more, and larger burners. With aspirated forges, the number of burners is determined by the internal measurement (cubic inches) of the forge. If I recall, it's one 3/4" burner for each 320 cubic inches. You obtain efficiency by using the right size forge for the job, and having the ability to adjust the pressure of the propane and the amount of air that goes in with it. How much propane pressure you need varies with the size of the pipe, orfice, and whether you use aspirated or blown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
looper567 Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I have to gas forges one I use for shoeing horses and the other for knife making. My shoeing forge is a NC Whisper Mamma, I am not very fond of this forge at all but it was expensive so I use it. It is a venturi burner forge and just heating shoes I have to run it at 11psi. My knife making forge is a blown forge it is 18" long and has a 7" ID in 15 minutes it is up to temp. I used a 3000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtforge Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 What are the dimensions of your forge? It varies. The top is 10" x 15" with the front opening 1 1/2" I mounted it on a scissors jack and can raise it up to accommodate larger pieces. I raise it up and put fire brick around the side and back then lower it onto the bricks.How many burners do you use? One, I built in a spot for a second but never needed itWhat PSI do you forge at, and if you weld, what do you take it up to? Depends what I working on. 2# to 30# I'm full time and when I'm making 1/2" tent stakes I put in 7 to 10 and turn the heat up.What size and how long does a bottle of propane typically last you? I use a 330 gal. tank. It lasts a yearHow long does it take your forge to get up to temp? When I'm working smaller stock it may take 3 min.Is it naturally aspirated or blown? Naturally aspirated I make the burners myself. But after reading about the blown burners gas useage I might try a blown one to see how it does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickSCollins Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 MT: The scissor jack idea is ingenious, I may just have to borrow it. I work a large range of stock and some very strange shapes, so the ability to change the volume of the forge to match is ideal. I didn't figure that the type of insulation would make that big of a difference, but it does make sense. As to not worrying about efficiency, if you don't have time to do it right the first time, you've got time to do it again. It's a lot easier and cheaper to change the shape of something before you've made it than after you got it all put together and working. If you can make something in such a way that it'll save you a lot of money and hassle trying to fix it if you didn't, shouldn't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I have a 10" OD blown pipe forge about 16" long. 1 layer of 1" kaowool with a hard brick floor. It runs about 6-8 hours on a BBQ tank at a good high heat with the front "door" wide open for teaching a class. I have a 9" OD 2 aspirated burners pile forge about 14" long that will run 8 hours on the same sized tank. I have welded in the blown one when turned up; but have not tried it in the aspirated. I still use coal for my billet welding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.