Trying to figure out appropriate forge size for burner- any help appreciated!
NewsGroups | Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?
 alt.crafts.blacksmithing    Post an article   get this group's latest topics as an RSS feed add this group's latest topics to your My MSN content add this group's latest topics to your My Yahoo content
Subject Author Date
Trying to figure out appropriate forge size for burner- any help appreciated! Prometheus 12-01-2006
Posted by Prometheus on December 1, 2006, 11:59 pm
Please log in for more thread options
Hello all,

I got myself a box of firebricks, and stacked them so that the area
inside my little forge was 81 cubic inches. The only burner I have
right now is a plumber's style propane torch- and that's not likely to
change until well after the holliday season, whether I'd like it to or
not.

I'm guessing that the volume of the interior is just way too big for
what I'm doing- it will heat a 1/2" bar to a dull red, but it's even
slower than just holding the torch on it in the open air.

The interior dimentions as I've got the bricks stacked are 2" wide,
4.5 " high, and 9" deep. I've got a hole drilled at a approx. 30
degree angle (pointing slightly upwards, so the tank can sit nearly
upright) in the center of one of the firebricks on the side. The
firebricks are cheap fireplace liners from Menard's, 4.5" x 9" x 1.5".

There are some cracks where air can get in due to the roughness of the
bricks, and after a little experimentation, I made an opening of about
1.5" x 2" on each end by laying a firebrick on each end. That seemed
to work about as well as it was going to work- which is not very well,
of course.

I'm sure there are some problems with the design that will be
immediately apparent to someone with more experience, so I'm hoping
one of you guys will have an idea of how I can tune this up a bit.

What I *can* do within my resources and budget is cut the firebrick to
whatever size is appropriate for a propane torch forge, and make a
metal box out of anything from 11-20 ga. 1018 or 301 stainless that
the firebrick can slide into- I think I could also manage to get a
second propane or mapp gas torch. hopefully, that's enough to get me
going!

Any suggestions, and particularly info related to volume and vent
opening sizes will be really appreciated. I'm sure I'll upgrade to
something better with a real burner and that ceramic insulation soon
enough, but I'm just messing around on a budget for now.

Posted by on December 2, 2006, 12:27 am
Please log in for more thread options
Ron Reil has some very good Rules of Thumb at
http://ronreil.abana.org/design1.shtml#rules
There also are a lot of ideas on how to build your own burner. A few
pipe fittings and such and you can make your own burner
I currently use a "pile o' brick" forge with a Zoeller side arm burner
and it works well
http://www.geocities.com/zoellerforge/sidearm.html
It's taken me over a year of use to figure out what configuration I
would like to have. I just keep moving the bricks around to suit me.


Posted by on December 2, 2006, 4:58 pm
Please log in for more thread options
mark@mtforge.com wrote:
> Ron Reil has some very good Rules of Thumb at
> http://ronreil.abana.org/design1.shtml#rules
> There also are a lot of ideas on how to build your own burner.
> A few pipe fittings and such and you can make your own burner

For sure the way to go nowdays, the internet wasn't going when I
made my pOOpane burner. :/

> I currently use a "pile o' brick" forge with a Zoeller side arm
> burner and it works well... It's taken me over a year of use to
> figure out what configuration I would like to have. I just keep
> moving the bricks around to suit me.

Not my words but exactly my experience! :)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/furnace.htm

My stuff ain't setup for forging just for heat treating knife blades
and springs. The lighter colored bricks are insulated firebricks
and are light-weight like styrofoam. No kidding, I've held one in
my barehand while one face of the brick was at-least-orange-hot and
turned that face toward my face and felt like it about singed my
eyebrows. :)

~$3 each as opposed to ~$.50 each for the other heavy firebricks.

The first time using the new insulated firebricks I just about
"melted;)" the O1 tool steel utility knife blank!

Ok, not metled but it sure as heck got all wiggly and jiggily and
droopy. :)

Way-past the arrest point that I was watching for anyway. :)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/burner.htm
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/burnerhead.jpg

The "screens" are screwed into the threads :) and they just happen
to be stainless steel... the material was picked up off the ground
at my favorite scrap yard (catylitic converter type exhaust screen).

Since that picture I've screwed-in 1/2" pipe reducer bushings (with
their own screens) right in on top of those 3/4" ones shown.

Slowed everything up and am getting better results in my heat
treating of thin knife blades.

Alvin in AZ

Posted by Steve Smith on December 2, 2006, 5:40 pm
Please log in for more thread options


alvinj@XX.com wrote:

>My stuff ain't setup for forging just for heat treating knife blades
>and springs. The lighter colored bricks are insulated firebricks
>and are light-weight like styrofoam. No kidding, I've held one in
>my barehand while one face of the brick was at-least-orange-hot and
>turned that face toward my face and felt like it about singed my
>eyebrows. :)
>
>~$3 each as opposed to ~$.50 each for the other heavy firebricks.
>
>The first time using the new insulated firebricks I just about
>"melted;)" the O1 tool steel utility knife blank!
>
>
>
At the Seattle ABANA conference this summer, Hank Knickmeyer's demo was
set up with insulated firebricks, but they bought too low a temperature
grade. The bricks he put over the opening of his forge (a very hot
forge) kept melting on him. Everyone was amused.

Steve

Posted by Martin H. Eastburn on December 2, 2006, 7:35 pm
Please log in for more thread options
Not much help now, but years ago - I suspect even now - they have bags of
Alumina mix that you mix up your own bricks or lay out a flay tray...

That stuff handles high temp - where the yellow bricks of air don't last.

Don't know a trade name but a kiln supplier or fire brick seller knows or
can order.

Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Life; NRA LOH & Endowment Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot"s Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/



Steve Smith wrote:
>
>
> alvinj@XX.com wrote:
>
>> My stuff ain't setup for forging just for heat treating knife blades
>> and springs. The lighter colored bricks are insulated firebricks and
>> are light-weight like styrofoam. No kidding, I've held one in my
>> barehand while one face of the brick was at-least-orange-hot and
>> turned that face toward my face and felt like it about singed my
>> eyebrows. :)
>>
>> ~$3 each as opposed to ~$.50 each for the other heavy firebricks.
>>
>> The first time using the new insulated firebricks I just about
>> "melted;)" the O1 tool steel utility knife blank!
>>
>>
> At the Seattle ABANA conference this summer, Hank Knickmeyer's demo was
> set up with insulated firebricks, but they bought too low a temperature
> grade. The bricks he put over the opening of his forge (a very hot
> forge) kept melting on him. Everyone was amused.
>
> Steve

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Similar ThreadsPosted
Building a Coal forge - input appreciated. January 27, 2008, 2:42 am
gas forge burner question August 22, 2006, 9:23 am
Coal Forge : "Best" size for coal pieces : is there one? January 24, 2006, 4:54 pm
Magnetic field effect on grain growth/size? September 27, 2006, 3:08 pm
Looking at anvils next week- some advice greatly appreciated January 14, 2007, 8:01 pm
Need some specific hardening / tempering information - any help appreciated! February 1, 2007, 7:12 am
people need my really appreciated movies - inrek efhu - (1/1) March 29, 2007, 1:43 pm
Burner adjustment June 3, 2007, 9:25 pm
Home built burner March 18, 2007, 5:37 am
Home built gas burner question July 2, 2007, 6:41 pm

The site map in XML format XML site map
 Contact Us | Privacy Policy