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Frequently asked questions about gas forges |
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Will these forges reach forge-welding heat?
Yes! 2300 degrees Fahrenheit is accepted as forge-welding
temperature. Both forges run several hundred degrees hotter.
How much propane will these forges use?
That depends on the pressure that the burners are being run at.
The burners can run efficiently across a pressure range of 3- 20 PSI.
Will a blower make these forges hotter?
No. These are atmospheric forges which do not require a blower.
The burners for these forges are naturally aspirated and will not work
properly with a blower.
Ive seen blower forges that run at much a lower psi than yours do.
Does that mean that they are more efficient?
No. In order to make a direct comparison of the two types of forges;
a measure of fuel consumption is more accurate. A blower forge running
at a lower psi than an atmospheric forge like ours may actually be using
more propane per hour.
How long does the forge take to heat up?
The forge will reach its maximum temperature for the chosen psi in 20 minutes.
However, you dont need to wait 20 minutes before forging. For example,
a Habanero - two burner forge running at 7psi will reach 2100 degrees
in less than 5 minutes.
If I add doors to the forge will it get hotter?
No. Adding doors to these forges is dangerous. Closing the openings
can introduce unburned propane into the forge chamber, which under
certain conditions may explode. The forge openings give the spent exhaust
gasses, which expand 7x during combustion, an escape path.
Why not just use a poured refractory instead of fiber blanket?
Poured refractory, while durable, is inefficient. It is much heavier than fiber
and takes much longer to reach the point where it gives heat back to the forge.
What does the choke do?
The choke regulates the amount of air that is mixed with the propane during combustion.
When the forge is shut down after use, the choke closes off the burner opening preventing
a chimney effect, which could pull debris back up the burner.
Im just starting out, which forge do you suggest?
If you are doing blacksmithing, the Tabasco one burner forge
will work well for forging and forge-welding.
If you are doing bladesmithing, the Habanero two burner forge
is a better choice for doing pattern-welding (Damascus).
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