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spacedocumentation:usingthepropaneforge [2013/06/06 18:29] raster |
spacedocumentation:usingthepropaneforge [2014/04/22 23:45] dan_dude |
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- | ====== Using the Propane | + | ====== Using the Natural Gas Forge ====== |
- | Basic information for running the Propane | + | Basic information for running the [[Equipment/ |
===== Safety ===== | ===== Safety ===== | ||
- | Keep all gas valves tightly closed unless | + | Clothing should be only natural fabrics: Leather, Cotton, Wool, etc. Polyester, Acrylic, Nylon, Rayon, and other oil derived fabrics will burn when sparked, and fuse into your skin as they burn. They might have to cut you shirt out of you at the ER! |
- | This means both the valve on the forge manifold (yellow handle) | + | |
- | As well as the valve on the tank itself! | + | |
- | ===== Gas Pressures ===== | + | Gloves are very useful for keeping dirt off your hands, but can never be trusted to keep you from getting burnt! You can actually burn yourself worse grabbing a hot piece with a glove than without. Many people (myself included) recommend forging bare handed. Steel only starts to glow visibly at around 800 degrees F. 799 degree steel looks like room temperature steel. Use tongs if you are not absolutely sure something is cool enough to touch. |
- | Safe to use between: 4 and 12 PSI. | + | |
- | Good forging heat obtained at about 6-7 PSI after warming up. | + | Long pants and closed toed shoes are highly recommended. Hot scale will fall from the anvil and occasionally give you 1st degree burns when it hits bare skin if you happen |
+ | |||
+ | Keep the gas valve tightly closed unless you are using the forge! | ||
+ | This is the valve on the forge manifold (yellow handle). | ||
+ | If anything goes wrong and you are unable to reach this valve. There is a emergency shutoff valve on the wall, it has a blue handle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | You should be aware of what unburned natural gas smells like (rotten eggs is similar). | ||
+ | In the event that you smell it: | ||
+ | -Immediately stop working | ||
+ | -Extinguish any flames | ||
+ | -Open the garage door | ||
+ | -Find the source of the leak | ||
===== Blower speeds ===== | ===== Blower speeds ===== | ||
Use the minimum speed necessary to prevent a visible flame from shooting out the mouth of the forge. | Use the minimum speed necessary to prevent a visible flame from shooting out the mouth of the forge. | ||
- | Any additional | + | Any additional |
===== Starting the forge ===== | ===== Starting the forge ===== | ||
- | Make sure the yellow gas valve on the blower manifold is closed. | + | - Make sure the yellow gas valve on the blower manifold is closed. |
- | Set the gas pressure to approximately 5 PSI. | + | - Turn on the fan at a very low speed, about 3 on the controller knob. |
- | Leave the blower off. | + | |
- | Hold a lit handheld torch in the mouth of the forge, and open the yellow gas valve. You should here a low " | + | - For now keep the fan at about 3 on the controller knob. The forge needs to run at a lower pressure |
- | Increase the gas pressure to about 8 PSI. | + | - Slowly turn the gas valve closed to reduce the gas flow, you will see a marked change when the flame suddenly forms a cone under the burner and starts to sound like a rocket engine. Hold the gas flow at this level for now. |
- | Turn on the fan at a very low speed, | + | - Once you have a stable flame cone let the forge heat up to a red inside, it will be very temperamental until that happens. |
- | After about 60 seconds, you should be able to adjust the fan upward to achieve a blue flame in the center of the forge. | + | - After about 5 minutes, you should be able to adjust |
- | The forge will now build up retained heat over the next 30 minutes, you will need to adjust the fan speed up and down slightly as the heat inside the forge changes the natural draft of the blower. | + | |
===== Adjusting heat level of the forge ===== | ===== Adjusting heat level of the forge ===== | ||
- | Always change the gas pressure | + | - Always change the gas flow first to your desired level of heat output. |
- | Then adjust the fan speed to match the gas flow. You should run the minimum level of air necessary. | + | |
===== How do I know when I have the correct heat? ===== | ===== How do I know when I have the correct heat? ===== | ||
This is an acquired skill, you need to eyeball the temperature of the forge and your steel by using the color of its glow. | This is an acquired skill, you need to eyeball the temperature of the forge and your steel by using the color of its glow. | ||
- | In general you'll want to be working at what is referred to as " | + | In general you'll want to be working at what is referred to as " |
http:// | http:// | ||
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===== Shutdown ===== | ===== Shutdown ===== | ||
- | Turn off the gas at the tank, using the high pressure valve before the regulator. | + | - Turn off the gas at the tank, using the yellow valve on the gas line. |
- | Allow the gas line to purge itself by flaming out. | + | - Leave the blower fan running at 3 on the dial until the forge has cooled internally. Hot air can back up into the blower and melt the fan otherwise. |
- | Then close the yellow valve on the gas line. | + | - This will take several hours, it fine to go home and leave the blower running on low overnight. Do not turn it off prematurely. |
- | Keep the blower fan running at max speed for at least 30 minutes after stopping | + |