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I Forge Iron

Forge just doesn’t seem hot enough.


Wrought Iron Farm

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I was given this forge by a friends, friend. It’s an old weed burner with an old non adjustable regulator. I took off that regulator and put on a Harris that goes up to 60lbs. I also have a kiln shelf I use as a door. I’m still just over cherry red on my steel and the forge doesn’t get that glow to the bricks. I’m running at 20psi with a fan blowing in the top of the weed burner. I’m going to try to post a video. If I can’t do the vid I’ll post a couple pics. Any information would be great. 

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I can't see the video, but it's been mentioned many times on here that weed burners do not make good forge burners for a number of reasons.  Without the video I can't tell if you are using insulating fire bricks or clay bricks.   If you haven't done so already, you should spend some time in the Forges 101 and Burners 101 topics.  If your forge and burner are not well suited to the task you will not get good results.

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It wouldn't play for me but I don't need to watch it. In the future a few still pics will tell us enough, s couple right after you light it, one in the opening and one from the side so we can see what if any flame is coming out the door, dim light is best. Then a couple shots from the same angles after it comes to temperature. A pic or two should have the whole forge, burners, plumbing, etc. in the pic.

Anyway, what you were gifted just isn't going to work. Weed burners are designed to light brush on fire, not get things HOT. Oh sure you can turn part of a 55 gl. drum red, melt wax out of investment molds, even fire Raku glazes but not do any serious forging. What you have is a forge built by someone who had no idea what it takes to make a forge work. You'll be much farther ahead forging in a camp fire. Honest, I know, camp fire coals make plenty of heat if you treat them nicely. ;)

If you'll spend a little time skimming Burners 101 and read a few of the threads about making burners, same for Forges 101, you'll be much farther ahead in the game. A number of us love to help get folk addicted to the blacksmith's craft, we'll be  more than happy to give you a hand. 

AH, I see Buzz and I are typing at the same time. Stick with us we'll get you going.

Frosty The Lucky.

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A forge only gets hot when you can keep the heat building up. Clay bricks won't cut it as they are poor insulators. An inch or two of kast o lite lining would help a lot. Cast a couple of doors while you're at it.

You got a blower, so why not built and fit a ribbon burner to it. That will get things nice and hot. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Please correct me if i am wrong but right off in the video i see an issue. I am new to the forge build so take it for what it is. Right off you have a flame that looks like it is burning out side the forge. You also have one burner with a lot of cubic area and it appears only one small hot spot with  no heat movement. I hope that assumption on my part is right. 2 burners for that much space maybe. My forge is 1/3 yours and i run 2 burners coming in at the 1:30 to 2 spot. Also mine is lined with kaowool, then a cheaper refractory i made and my openings are way smaller with fire brick to close off till temp builds. I can back my psi down to nearly nothing.

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