Propane gas forge

[kelvinjouhar]

I have started the build of a small propane gas forge so that I can have a go at whacking pieces of red-hot metal on an anvil. The first stage is complete. I have used the hard bricks for the floor , so that they will withstand being scraped by the metal as it goes in, and out.....and I have used the softer bricks, which are better insulators, for the walls and ceiling.

I have a removable piece of brick at the back of the forge, and the idea is that I could heat the middle of a longer piece , if needed.

The gas burner has been ordered from a guy who is familiar with this type of activity. I need to build a stand for the anvil which I bought (its a 50kg Attwood of Stourbridge anvil) I will post another picture when the burner has been fitted. It will go down through the centre of the middle brick in the top of the forge. Internal dimensions are approx 4 x 4.5 x 9 inches.

 

[kelvinjouhar]

Ok , after a long delay while I was busy on other projects, I have finished the forge and it is assembled with the burner. I just need to get some propane and then fire it up.
(I will obviously not be firing it up in its current location !)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have finished the forge

A very professional looking job there

 

[stuvy]

What are you going to be making with it? I really want it a forge but haven’t got the space for one

 

[kelvinjouhar]

A very professional looking job there

Thanks !

What are you going to be making with it? I really want it a forge but haven’t got the space for one

I don’t know yet - I just thought I would make one and whack a few bits of hot metal, try to learn a few techniques, and see where I go with it.

 

[bigegg]

looks good.

ive just got myself a flypress (as soon as i collect it) after being without for 5 years:
they make *excellent* power hammers.

propane forge/furnace is on the list for the early summer.

 

[Kent]

I have made a few. Drop us a pm if you get issues

 

[Kent]

Another

 

[Kent]

First usage in earnest onnthe new three burner forge this week. Big advantage in length of heats.. Also versatile in the fact you can just burn one (i needed to heat treat a little cold chisel i made for a job just yesterday using the first only lit)
Can pass stuff clean through and i think mostly i will just put a special door size fire brick i cut to seal the other door if it doesn't need that.
Only downside is ot uses three times the gas obviously but is three times as fast and at shy of £40 per 19kg its only pence an hour more
30-40lbs on the reg for all three burners

If anyone is inyersted theres a video on my Instagram page of it working Bowland fabrications

 

[Kent]

As it is too big to load here btw

 

[stuvy]

Will I be able to see it as I’m not on instagram

 

[Kent]

Will I be able to see it as I’m not on instagram

Even a short video wont load here.. The thing with Instagram is if you only look and font like or follow you dont get notifications

 

[Seadog]

Upload it to YouTube. You can then post the link.

 

[Kent]

Upload it to YouTube. You can then post the link.

Not a member no burning desire to be presently..

 

[kelvinjouhar]

This weekend I finally got the forge running. It seems to get the metal up to temperature fairly quickly. I started off using about 10psi for the gas but quickly dropped that to around 6-7 . I am using the soft firebricks for the body of the forge and the hard ones for the base. Some of the soft ones cracked, which is not good. At first I wondered whether I had tightened up the frame of the forge too tightly, and the bricks expanded, but the same thing happened the second day I ran it, even after loosening all of the nuts, so I don’t think that is the issue.

I am wondering whether to re-design it and use hard bricks for the whole forge, and then line the inside with some insulating wool - it will get rather expensive if I have to keep replacing soft bricks. The other issue was the burner pipe got very hot the first time, but after doing some more research I realised that I had the burner a bit low, so I raised that up and the second time I used the forge it was better. What I have realised is that you can do a lot of research and reading but until you actually do these things for yourself, you don’t really get the full picture. Any suggestions/input will be welcome.

 

[Kent]

View attachment 176382 View attachment 176381 This weekend I finally got the forge running. It seems to get the metal up to temperature fairly quickly. I started off using about 10psi for the gas but quickly dropped that to around 6-7 . I am using the soft firebricks for the body of the forge and the hard ones for the base. Some of the soft ones cracked, which is not good. At first I wondered whether I had tightened up the frame of the forge too tightly, and the bricks expanded, but the same thing happened the second day I ran it, even after loosening all of the nuts, so I don’t think that is the issue.

I am wondering whether to re-design it and use hard bricks for the whole forge, and then line the inside with some insulating wool - it will get rather expensive if I have to keep replacing soft bricks. The other issue was the burner pipe got very hot the first time, but after doing some more research I realised that I had the burner a bit low, so I raised that up and the second time I used the forge it was better. What I have realised is that you can do a lot of research and reading but until you actually do these things for yourself, you don’t really get the full picture. Any suggestions/input will be welcome.

Been on hard firebrick a few years now and mostly every week one of the forges is on.

 

[Screwdriver]

Can pass stuff clean through and i think mostly i will just put a special door size fire brick i cut to seal the other door if it doesn't need that.

That's what I did with mine.

Coated in high temp paste because these are soft bricks. It's lasting longer than I could have hoped too.

 

[Screwdriver]

Come to think of it, I put a little shelf at the front so I can baffle there too if required.

 

[kelvinjouhar]

Been on hard firebrick a few years now and mostly every week one of the forges is on.

Kent - I have looked at the photo of your forge - so that forge is completely made of hard firebricks ? - I used the soft because I understood that they were much better insulators than the hard, so the forge would get up to temperature quicker and retain heat better.... what’s your opinion on that ? Thanks.

 

[Kent]

Kent - I have looked at the photo of your forge - so that forge is completely made of hard firebricks ? - I used the soft because I understood that they were much better insulators than the hard, so the forge would get up to temperature quicker and retain heat better.... what’s your opinion on that ? Thanks.

Opinion? I phoned the manufacturer it's percentage alumina? These are rated above Welding temperature and have been using them for purpose a number of years now so my opinion ? They work and last and don't listen to all you read on the net because source is the most important bit . They are proper hard to boot takes an age to çore drill