Subject: Re: Gas Forge Building Results & Weekend CBA Class Report

From: [email-masked] (Mike Wolfe)
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 16:36:51 -0400

Did you close up both ends while it is heating ? 
Also the bricks do take a lot longer to heat up.
m wolfe

>Hi All,
>
>Last Friday I finally got around to building the gas forge I've been collecting
>parts for.  The besic design is a "rip-off" of the "Cuenca Forge" which is
>detailed at: 
>http://www.nets.com/bsmithplaza/mrocks.html
>
>Basically, I built an angle-iron frame work to hold some firebricks (the hard
>kind).  The burner assembly is all made from welded black pipe and plumbing
>fittings.  I made the gas jet froma 1/4" brass pipe plug drilled with a #68
>bit.  The forge works well although it doesn't seem to make enough heat to weld
>with.  
>
>I am wondering if bricks are a good choice for lining, do they reflect enough
>heat?  How do they compare with the soft kind?  With ceramic wool linings?
>
>They *do* get a very purty orange color after five or ten minutes :-)
>
>The forge was simple to build and even simpler to use.  You do need some basic
>fabricating equipment like a welder (and a weldor if you aren't one) a metal
>cutting saw, a hole saw and a brick chisel.  It took me about four hours to
>build it - including taking pictures along the way.
>
>==========
>
>Yesterday was my monthly CBA forge workshop.  Very cool, I made three simple
>projects from the COSIRA book which are part of the lesson plan for the CBA
>class and in the afternoon I made a set hammer from a 1.25" bar of 1085 steel. 
>I drilled a 1/4" pilot hole for the handle and drifted it out to the proper
>shape for a wooden handle.  The back side was drawn out slightly and the
>corners rounded off.  It was a blast to make something useful!
>
>Joe
>
>
>

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From: "[email-masked] 415.855.5707" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 06 May 1996 14:53:20 -0800 (PST)

>Also the bricks do take a lot longer to heat up.

I keep the back closed for most operations, only opening it to heat a long part
in the middle.  It takes a really nice heat over a 7 or 8 inch length of metal.

I had occasion to use a small gas forge last weekend from the NC Tool Company
which is a very similar design.  It doesn't make enough heat to weld in either.
 I did notice that mine draws a LOT more air through the funel at the top.  I
don't know what pressure I'm running at because the propane supply place was
out of pressure meters - I have one on order.  I may try opening the orofice up
one or two drill sizes to see what happens.  I'll report back if I discover
anything interesting.

Joe