Mcholla Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 I am starting to gather materials for what is going to be my first attempt at a forge build. It is going to be a Freon tank mini forge, 2" inches of ceramic wool with rigidizer, most likely kast-o-lite 30 hot face, still trying to decide on a kiln wash / IR coating. I believe I have read everything in Forges 101 as well as Burners 101, and have what is probably a dumb question that I hope someone can answer for me. Would I be better to go with a single 3/4" burner, or 2 smaller (1/2" or 3/8") burners for this build. I am looking to have a solid build (never going to be perfect) that is going to be reasonably fuel efficient, while still being able to hit welding temps (not at all times, but when desired). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 This may depend on exactly what you want to do. Two half inch burners evenly spaced will provide more even heat inside the forge compared to a single 3/4 inch burner. However, sometimes a "hot spot" is desirable. For reference sake, my current forge is a freon tank using the same materials you describe. However I cut it lengthwise and cast a flat floor, so I may have a little less volume than you will have. I use a single 1/2 inch Frosty T burner and I have forge welded 1095/15N20 in it. I close off the pass through opening in the rear and leave only enough room to move the billet in and out at the front when forge welding, but I have been successful. It takes longer to come up to temperature than it did with the 3/4 burner I had in there before, but I'm not burning nearly as much fuel this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Having gone from a 3/4" burner down to a single 1/2" burner, do you feel like 2 1/2" burners would be useful or a significant amount of over kill and over complication? Thank you, Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Again, it depends on what you want to do at the time. My opinion is that two half inch burners could be almost ideal for that size forge. Use them both when bringing the forge up to temp or forge welding, but shut one off or turn them both way down when only forging temperatures are needed. When welding I run nearly twice the psi that I do when forging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Good deal. Thank you for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Welcome aboard M, glad to have you. Buzzkill said about all there really is to say. Well answered Buzz I can go back to being a lazy guy. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 15, 2017 Author Share Posted September 15, 2017 Thanks Frosty I appreciate the wealth of knowledge that this site has. It has become my past time, drink in one hand tablet in the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 If the burner is up to stuff, one 3/4" or two 1/2" would be correct for a much larger five gallon propane cylinder forge. One 1/2" burner or two 3/8" burners would be the correct size for the forge you are speaking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 16, 2017 Author Share Posted September 16, 2017 I assume that with you designs, 3/8" burners means that I am into capillary tubes instead of mig tips? Or is there a better way to get a correctly sized fuel nozzle for a 3/8" burner? Thank you, Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 After trying other ways, capillary tubes IN contact tips turned out best. But nothing prevents you from using two 1/2" burners turned way down. Also, mounting your burners in steel burner portals, allows you to change one or both burners for smaller burners later. Furthermore, if you look at what high prices junk burners are fetching on eBay, it is easy to sell any GOOD burner, which you simply don't want anymore. for good ,pmru. Narrow definitions on how well your tasks are done is good; but loosen up about what you can do with the equipment, and how much you can change it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 Now you have me thinking hard about 3/8" burners. I may have to give that one a shot just to see if I can do it and end up with a keeper. Thanks, Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Leave yourself room to change, you WILL be changing them out later on. Honest. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 I am a perpetual tinkerer, so you are spot on. I am sure I will end up with several options in the pursuit of knowledge and serviceable burners. Thank you, Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Heh, heh, heh. Oh you are sooooo underestimating how these things work Jeff. I believe everybody who's been doing this a while has a number of forges gathering dust around the shop and all those needed burners too. Oh and blacksmiths tend to be more clangorers than tinkerers. Bigger hammers don't you know. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Except those of us who are smart enough to turn them into cash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Here, here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Usually, no matter how good the burner is, the desire to change them out is strong--in tinkerers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 That is true, so many burners so little time. Out of curiosity, how is the book update going these days? Thanks, Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 20, 2017 Share Posted September 20, 2017 Well; since I no longer even have a publisher, and now have more exciting burners in mind, I am in no hurry. This is kind of a case of technology moving on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 21, 2017 Author Share Posted September 21, 2017 Darn shame if you ask me. I was looking forward to getting my hands on a physical copy instead of digital. My kids call me cranky because I hate ready a book on a tablet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Sometimes getting our druthers leaves us wandering around on the highway of progress; a likely way to be run over. Digital allows all the color that is too expensive in paper books; interactive charts; no limit on book sizes Much lower book prices; free shipping worldwide; and an end-run around crooked publishers. Paper books are buggy whips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcholla Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 I understand, does that mean you're going to distribute your knowledge through other means? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Sometimes getting our druthers leaves us wandering around on the highway of progress; a likely way to be run over. Even if you are on the right track, if you sit there you will get run over...Will Rogers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Even if you are on the right track, if you sit there you will get run over...Will Rogers May we get what we need, not what we deserve? I'd quote the song if could remember it clearly enough. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 "...does that mean you're going to distribute your knowledge through other means?" I have been doing so for the last two years on this forum. What to do about the book is still being decided; maybe I will go with Amazon for my next publisher... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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