Chuyn Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Hello! I'm trying to make my first forge out of a 40lb propane tank. I sort of have an idea of what I want to make. I'm currently reading Michael Porter book '"Gas burners for forge, furnaces, and kilns" to get a better idea in how to make it and how it all works. My question is what size burners I should use and how many? I was thinking of using two, 3/4inch. Also how far apart should I put them? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 have you reviewed the instructions on Wayne Coe's website (and both Michael and Wayne participate here!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Two burners in a forge are usually placed so that they divide the forge sections--of the shell--into thirds. I would use two 1" sized burners; they can always be run lower than maximum. If you are using such a large fuel cylinder simply because you have one that size, you would be far better off to cut the center section out of its length, and turn it into a much smaller volume oval forge. Also, after cutting out the center of the tank's length, you would have already done most of the work to make a clam shell forge out of it, so be sure to read Wayne's instructions on cutting forge shells on his site. Unless you're rolling in dough, or even if you are, K26 light insulating hard firebrick should be part of your forge design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuyn Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 Thank for replying! I would definitely read and redo a better plan for my forge. I honestly don't know too much about it and I want to get as much info as possible before beginning. Would you guys recommend reducing the size of the tank to a #20 instead? I thought having a bigger forge would be a better idea but now I see it might be a little extreme to use such a big tank. If I was to reduced my cylinder would it still be appropriate to use a 1'burner from Mr. Porter book? Or would the ribbon burner from Wayne's website be as efficient or better? Thank again I appreciate your help and any feedback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 I prefer "Mikey" to Mr. Porter. I'm only 72. Mr. Porter sends better suited to 102 I envisioned the five gallon forge in that book as being a BIG general purpose forge. It is a about as large as a well insulated properly built forge, with a top of the line burner can get without draining a guy's wallet to death. If built according to the book, with every trick in the book, that forge will empty a five gallon propane cylinder in a ten hour shift. When I wrote that book Ron Reil had already posted his mini-forge, which was then and still is an excellent first forge. The point of a first forge is to let a guy learn his craft without breaking his finances. If you start with a mini-forge from a non-refillable Freon or helium cylinder (or half a car muffler) and a good 1/2" Size burner, you will save money from the beginning. When you learn enough to occasionally have need the big forge, you while still do most of your work in the mini-forge. So, why did I start with the big one? The book was written to help artists who had big ambitions and no tools with which to work on them; it was my version of a forge for wrought iron work; a solid path to turn metal arts into money for poor young artists. I'm older and wiser now; smaller is better for a first forge for most people. Their are more people who need tools than just metal artists. Big forges also turn out big heat; the smaller the forge the smaller the heat. I mean heat in your shop; you don't need big heat transfer into your work unless you are running a pneumatic hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 I would definitely not go larger than a 20# Propane tank. While a Ribbon Burner is a little more involved to build you will have much better heat distribution throughout the forge, better control of the atmosphere inside the forge, better temperature control and get better efficiency. The Ribbon Burner shown on my web-site does require a blower and electricity. Frosty has designed an atmospheric Ribbon Burner but because it does not have the blower, and thus not have the air/fuel control, it may not have the advantages of a blown burner except that it will have better heat distribution and I suspect better efficiency than a typical atmospheric burner. Let me know if I can help you. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 By and large I agree with all that. There are limitations with ribbon burners, which still need to be worked out, but I think they are the most likely path to a first class forge for most first time builders. I also think that they will continue to evolve into ever better forges, as you guys work out flame configurations for smaller ribbon burners, and give up on naturally aspirated versions. I think this is an example of fan-blown burners giving better flame control. I don't think that the large fans being used thus far are needed, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuyn Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 Thank you for your feedback! I'm planning to reduce my cylinder to a #20 tank. I now see why making a smaller forge would be more efficient and more realistic for myself to make. I guess I was a bit ambitious trying to make such a big forge. Mikey thank you for explanation and as well for your amazing book! It has help tremendously understanding certain things. Unfortunately I'm not too experience in making things myself. I'm having a friend who work in a welding company help me make my forge. He's experience with metal work but has never made a forge before. I'm trying to do all the research so both and I can make it work. The hardest thing for me is understanding the process of making the burner. My knowledge with the terminology is very limited to none and it has been a bit stressful trying to understand how it all works. Wayne I'm very pleased in how well your instruction are in your website. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'm planning to replicate most of your design. I really like how your blue ribbon design works but I'm not sure ill be able to make it. Do you guys recommend any online video in how to make the forge and the burners? I seen several of them just to get an idea in how it all looks and how things should work. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneCoeArtistBlacksmith Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 chuyn, a forge and burner are quite simple and easy to build, you just need to study and follow the instructions. As Frosty has said to many times, " pick one design and stick to it. Do not look at a lot of different plans and then try to use parts from many. Let me know if I can help you. I prefer e-mail. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binesman Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 I havent seen a good video but the plans on waynes site are very easy to follow for the forge. And if you read the pinned tburner instructions frosty did a great job on them and you can easily follow them to have yor burner built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 6 hours ago, Chuyn said: The hardest thing for me is understanding the process of making the burner. My knowledge with the terminology is very limited to none and it has been a bit stressful trying to understand how it all works. To begin with, there is nothing easy to understand about my burners; that design was made to answer a problem found in available burners of the time nineteen years later there are plenty of good burners on the market at reasonable prices. The "T" burner, which I didn't know about at that time, is an excellent burner, which is easy to build. Don't stress; just ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuyn Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 Thank you all for your feedback. The "T" burner seem like a doable project for me. I will try and attempt over the weekend. I'll continue my research but I'll stick to my plan for my forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 The main thing about the Frosty T burner, as I understand it is to drill & tap the hole for the mig tip straight & plumb. Frosty has given instructions on how to do that with a drill press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey98118 Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 I agree; getting sloppy about the drilling and trying to get away with the wrong plumbing part are what go wrong with building this burner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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