Subject: Re: Gas Forge design

From: [email-masked] (MikeWolfe)
Date: Sat, 27 Apr 96 06:34 WET DST

Gee I think you got it.
I would go with the 2nd  forge in a bet.
Now start working with the dia. of the hole in the gas feed, like
.050 to .090 so you do not get flash back, and get a red or 
high pressure regulator at a propane supplier.
If you close up both ends and have a sliding door or a counterweighted door
you can 1, run at 2lbs. for normal heating or run the pressure up to 14lbs
for forge weding.
For forge welding I recomend getting a hold of the people that supply the
potters in you area with the SLICK? thet use to coat the bricks in there pot
forge 
to fight the problem with the borax.

>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]
>
>

---

From: Steve Smith <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 96 11:54:19 MDT

Dear Mike,

> I would go with the 2nd  forge in a bet.
I think that the 2nd forge was being supercharged by wind. Red herring.

> .050 to .090 so you do not get flash back
I don't understand how you can use such a huge hole. I'm using a #68
drill, which is _way_ smaller than .050. 

Can you enlarge on your comment about flash back? What conditions do
you need to meet to avoid it (sounds like a good thing!). 

> forge to fight the problem with the borax.
Do you mean SLIP?

--
Steve Smith
[email-masked]