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--- spacedocumentation:usingthepropaneforge [2013/07/17 16:34]
dan_dude [Starting the forge]
+++ spacedocumentation:usingthepropaneforge [2013/11/13 18:29]
dan_dude
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Using the Propane Forge ======
-Basic information for running the Propane Forge safely and efficiently:
+Basic information for running the [[Equipment/Forge|Propane Forge]] safely and efficiently:
 ===== Safety =====
+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!
+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.
+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 to have a really large flake come off.
 Keep all gas valves tightly closed unless you are using the forge!
 This means both the valve on the forge manifold (yellow handle)
@@ Line 16: / Line 22: @@
 ===== Gas Pressures =====
 Safe to use between: 4 and 12 PSI.
-Good forging heat obtained at about 6-7 PSI after warming up.
+Good forging heat obtained at about 7 PSI after warming up.
 ===== Blower speeds =====
@@ Line 23: / Line 29: @@
 ===== Starting the forge =====
 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 6 on the controller knob.
+Set the gas pressure to approximately 8 PSI.
 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 "woosh" sound and a yellow flame will appear in the mouth of the forge.
-Increase the gas pressure to about 8 PSI.
+You can increase the gas pressure to about 10 PSI if you want to warm up faster.
-Turn on the fan at a very low speed, about 6 on the controller knob. The forge needs to run slightly rich (yellow flame) as it warms up, or the flame will blow itself out.
+For now keep the fan at about 6 on the controller knob. The forge needs to run slightly rich (yellow flame) as it warms up, or the flame will blow itself out.
 After about 60 seconds, you should be able to adjust the fan upward to achieve a blue flame in the center of the forge.
 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.
@@ Line 47: / Line 54: @@
 Allow the gas line to purge itself by flaming out.
 Then close the yellow valve on the gas line.
-Keep the blower fan running at max speed for at least 30 minutes after stopping the forge. Hot air can back up into the blower and melt the fan otherwise.
+Keep the blower fan running at max speed for at least 30 minutes* after stopping the forge. Hot air can back up into the blower and melt the fan otherwise.
+*If you are going to be leaving immediately after shutting down, you can turn down the fan to 6, and leave it there until the next person uses the forge.

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