Blacksmith: Poor Boy Propane Gas Forge - Double Insul.

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Note: This is the exact same forge as below except t will be a double layer of ceramic blanket material in the end and on the sides (but not in front). Extra cost is for the extra blanket material and that I have to modify the vent tubes to go deeper into the forge body. Reduces size of inside chamber by 2" and depth by 1". The day I set up a propane gas forge in my shop was pretty well the last day I used my coal forge. Sooooo much cleaner. Fuel is readily available. Doesn't burn metal if left in the heat too long. And, perhaps best of all, I can usually be done with a job before a coal fire would be ready to use. However, professionally-build propane forges tend to be more than a wee bit on the expensive side. (And, if you are going to do blacksmithing in a residental area, a propane forge and anvil which doesn't ring will go a long way towards being a good neighbor.) This Poor Boy Model atmospheric (or Venture) propane gas forge is intended for the beginner or hobby blacksmith or bladesmith who does not have even a semi-permanent shop set up and has just the occasional need for heating short lengths of stock. It is quite portable and may be a good option for use at an arts & craft fair w a coal forge would not be permitted. As with the Hobby Boy model, in order to hold down the cost, construction requirements were all parts had to be readily obtained and off-the-shelf without any special machining required. When assembled it takes up an area of about 12" x 12" x 24". The chamber is a 30 pound Freon bottle. The front opening is about 4" x 5". Stock support slides back and forth under bottom forge supports. It does not have a back opening . Bottom brick is an ordinary fireplace masonry brick. These are readily available at building supply outlets if it should need to be replaced. Shut off value and quick gas line coupler provided with forge. Inside insulation is 1" thick, eight-pound density Insuwool (ceramic wool blanket). The air & gas injection is off-the-shelf piping with the forge having a double flame system for additional efficiency. It is basically the same as my Hobby Boy model. As the gas is injected into the forge, it creates a vacuum and draws in the amount of air required - meaning no electricity is required to operate this forge. It is designed to work at 10-15 pounds of pressure, but the range varies from forge to forge a bit. It is reversed engineered from the one I use on pretty well a daily basis. It will heat a railroad spike from cold to forging (high orange to low yellow) temperature in about four minutes. I have never run a bottle from start to finish, but my SWAG is you should get 8-12 hours of operation out of a 20-pound bottle if operated at 15 pounds of pressure or higher. To use it, buyer needs to separately obtain a propane tank (20-pound trailer- or BBQ-type tank should be fine, but I recommend a 30- or 40-pound one), a propane regulator which will achieve at least 20 pounds of pressure (e.g., 5-20, 5-35 [recommended] or 0-60), pressure gauge (such as used on a well pump), a propane-rate hose and the bushings/nipples needed to connect the propane line to a standard 1/2" gas valve. These should be available at businesses which have brass fittings, such as auto parts stores. You can also order everything you need except a propane tank and bushings/nipples from Zoeller Forge (just do a Google search on Zoeller Forge and look for his parts link). They are also available from . I will include instructions on how to assemble, start, adjust and use this forge. PLEASE NOTE: While this forge should fairly quickly reach a temperature to heat metal to a high orange to low yellow color, i t is not designed to achieve forge welding temperatures. If you want to forge weld, such as Damascus-pattern blades, I recommend buying a professionally made model guaranteed to do so at your location. (See below.) Also, this is not intended as a production forge. spen... read more

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