Subject: Gas Forge design

From: Steve Smith <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 96 17:31:03 MDT

I'm building several gas forges. We just got some unusual results.

First forge:

The fire box is about 10x12" x6" high inside. Two burners, run with
propane at 10psi. Insulation is 1 1/2" fucial foam. The forge runs at
2100 F. 

Second forge:

Identical to the first, but we replaced the ceiling and front wall
fucial foam with 8 pound/cubic foot, 2" thick, durablanket.

Unexpected result:
After 30 minutes warmup, the second forge MELTED (and burned) steel.
All I can imagine is that the insulation is holding in the heat much
better than the fucial foam. Pressure must be reduced to 5psi for the
forge to be useable.

I would appreciate comments from the gallery.

--
Steve Smith
[email-masked]

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From: Steve Smith <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 96 7:17:23 MDT

I started this one; I'll finish it quickly.

The second forge is maybe a little hotter than the first. What
happened was steel melted and burned-yes, but it was a file. High
carbon steel=low melting/burning point. I suspect that the guy using
the forge (not me) overreacted in reducing the pressure 2x. 

False alarm; comments welcome anyway.

--
Steve Smith
[email-masked]