kscar33 Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Hey guys, I've been a long time lurker and decided it's about time I properly introduce myself. I work a traditional 8-5, but after work and weekends I love to go out in the garage and build/weld/smith anything as long as it's outside. My brother and I have been smithing for a bout a year and a half, and we're on our 3rd forge design; I've lost count the number of times I have changed our burner design. Currently I am running a ribbon burner we casted out of Mizzou castable refractory and I'm loving it! I'm around the Dallas area and would love to meet other Smith's in the area! The little bit of space I have to use for my shop and the little bit of knowledge I have on the subject I'm more than happy to share with anyone local to the area! I have a spare forge and burner I'd be happy to lend or give a new Smith just looking to get there feet wet. I look forward to being apart of this community and continuing to learn together! Unfortunately, work has me in Fresno, CA for a month away from my shop, so if there's any smiths or fellow hobbyists within a few hours of hear I am dying to swing a hammer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 Welcome aboard Kscar glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header a IFI member within visiting distance might speak up. Just saying where you are in one post isn't going to stick in anybody's memory after they open the next post. Honest it worn't. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 6, 2020 Share Posted August 6, 2020 And you can list two locations. My previous job had me working out of the El Paso office---actually in Mexico; but I lived on the US side of the wall. And I had that location and my permanent residence in Central NM listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscar33 Posted August 6, 2020 Author Share Posted August 6, 2020 Thanks for the heads guys, I didn't know you could do that... On a side note, when I first started making burners I quickly found your site. Between it and just a genuine curiosity I started to play with my burner assembly(s), and I have to say for about 6 months there did more piddling with my burner(s) than actual smithing! It's a hobby in it of itself. One thing I can't seem to figure out is using the needle valve for adjustment of the burner. So currently I have the typical setup for a forced air ribbon burner, with a ball valve for quick shut off and a needle valve for fine adjustment. I usually run my propane regulator at around 1psi and when I want to weld I'll run it up to maybe 2, all without ever adjusting the needle valve. It never seems to change the flame characteristics much when I open or close the needle valve. Any thoughts? Sorry for the long winded reply... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 7, 2020 Share Posted August 7, 2020 All the needle valve is adjust the amount of fuel to the burner, same as the regulator. The smaller the passage the less volume can pass at any given pressure. What problems are you having with your burners? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscar33 Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 Basically, I'm unsure how to throttle back my burner so that I'm not taking my forge to welding heat and holding it there every time I use it. I feel like my burner has only one setting and that's full bore... I guess I just need to play with the settings some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 What do you have to control the amount of air? If you're using air straight from the blower without a way to control it you only have ONE setting, full blast. A gun (blown) burner has to be tuned for any temperature change you make. To turn it down from your full blast setting, you need to close off some of the air and some of the propane. There are two main ways to adjust blower output to the burner. A valve between blower and the propane jet. Some folk do well with a plumbing type gate valve, others use a butter fly valve and some use a waste gate. Waste gates open an alternate path not leading to the burner so some of the forced air is wasted away from the burner. Make sense? Frosty The Lucky. 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.