Out of Business...Forge Help!

tippit · November 07, 2009, 07:38:00 AM

My son came home for a visit and is interested in blacksmithing now...so I sent him back to Crested Butte with some of my stuff including my old one burner venturi forge. Now either I gotta make one or pick up one of Darren Ellis's forges.

Question: What is your take on venturi vs forced air gas forges? Thanks...Doc

robtattoo · November 07, 2009, 08:17:00 AM

Well, to be 100% honest I don't have a huge aount of experience with venturi burners. All I will say is that I was disappointed enough in mine to put a blower on the back. I just couldn't seem to get the mixture right & get it hot enough without. It was giving me 2 hot spots & varied temperature gradients throughout it's length. I rigged a hairdryer onto the back of the thing (OOOOOOH!!! Look how hi-tech I am! :D ) & turned my gas reg. all the way up. Working back from there, with the 'blower' on LOW, I found that I could get a much more even heat.

Steve O · November 07, 2009, 08:45:00 PM

NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!

tippit · November 07, 2009, 11:01:00 PM

Steve, Don't worry I have a bunch of knives made up just waiting handles

kbaknife · November 08, 2009, 08:48:00 AM

Vertical forge, forced air.
You need any help, I'll send you pictures.
There is no need to buy one. Just make it and you'll not only learn a LOT about how/why they work, but you'll be far more able to tweak them as necessary.
Rob, where have you been!!??!!

imskippy · November 08, 2009, 02:33:00 PM

Is there any advantages to the vertical versus horizontal? Obviously vertical must be better if thats what is most commonly seen but why?

Ragnarok Forge · November 09, 2009, 02:17:00 AM

I have a horizontal two burner with venturi burners from Zoeller Forge. They work great and I have no problem getting up to forge welding heats with 2 inches of wool and 1/4 inch of satantite to seal the wool.

I agree that making your own is a great idea and will give you a much better understanding of how they work and what it takes to tune the burner system you create.

Lamey · November 12, 2009, 08:38:00 AM

unless you are making steel there is no need for a forced air burner. Ive forged out of a 3 burner venturi for over 10 years, made hundreds of knives, mostly big knives out of thick stock, no problems.