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spacedocumentation:usingthepropaneforge [2013/11/13 18:29]
dan_dude
spacedocumentation:usingthepropaneforge [2020/02/25 17:15]
dan_dude
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-====== Using the Propane Forge ======+====== Using the Natural Gas Forge ======
  
-Basic information for running the [[Equipment/Forge|Propane Forge]] safely and efficiently:+Basic information for running the [[Equipment/Forge|Natural Gas Forge]] safely and efficiently:
  
 ===== Safety ===== ===== Safety =====
 +
 +==== Attire ====
 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! 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.+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. 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. 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! +Eye protection. Things can go flying, and they hurt if they hit you in the eye, hot or cold. But especially hot, i mean, do you want a burn on your eye/lid? 
-This means both the valve on the forge manifold (yellow handle) + 
-As well as the valve on the tank itself!+==== Natural Gas ==== 
 +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 to the left of the forge, along side the hot work table, it has a blue handle. 
 + 
 +If you cannot reach that shutoff, there is another shutoff valve that controls all tools in the forge area. It is further east, along the south wall of the room. Also with a blue handle, it is labeled with a sign that says "Main Gas Shutoff"
 + 
 +You should be aware of what leaking natural gas smells like (rotten eggs is similar).
  
-You should be aware of what unburned propane smells like (rotten eggs is similar). 
 In the event that you smell it: In the event that you smell it:
   -Immediately stop working   -Immediately stop working
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   -Open the garage door   -Open the garage door
   -Find the source of the leak   -Find the source of the leak
-===== Gas Pressures ===== +  -Put a stop tag on the forge 
-Safe to use between: 4 and 12 PSI. +  -Contact me (Dan Jonke), do not let anyone use the forge again until I give it the all clear.
-Good forging heat obtained at about 7 PSI after warming up.+
  
-===== Blower speeds ===== +==== Fire Extinguishers ==== 
-Use the minimum speed necessary to prevent a visible flame from shooting out the mouth of the forge. +There is a red fire extinguisher mounted between the garage door and the forge.
-Any additional air supply will reduce the heating efficiency of the forge and greatly increase scale formation on your piece. Ideally you want a perfect ratio of oxygen to propane in the burner so that there is no remaining oxygen left after combustion. +
-===== Starting the forge ===== +
-Make sure the yellow gas valve on the blower manifold is closed. +
-Turn on the fan at 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+
-You can increase the gas pressure to about 10 PSI if you want to warm up faster. +
-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.+
  
-===== Adjusting heat level of the forge ===== +There is a second, red fire extinguisher mounted behind the blue curtain in the welding area.
-Always change the gas pressure 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? =====+There are third and fourth, silver fire extinguishers on the floor in the center of the forge area, next to the Slip Roller. Use whichever one is closest to put the fire out. Make sure you are familiar with their locations BEFORE you light the forge. 
 + 
 +==== Gas Alarm ==== 
 +There are 2, redundant gas safety alarms in the forge area. The primary meter is located in the bottom left hand corner of the chalkboard. It is a small yellow box. It will monitor 2 things we care about: 
 + 
 +#1: Carbon Monoxide: 
 +If too much of this builds up, it kills people. It is produced when the forge is not running right. 
 + 
 +If the meter starts going off because of CO: 
 +  -Immediately stop working 
 +  -Extinguish any flames 
 +  -Open the garage door 
 +  -Put a stop tag on the forge 
 +  -Contact me (Dan Jonke), do not let anyone use the forge again until I give it the all clear. 
 + 
 +#2: Explosive Gas: 
 +If too much of this builds up, the building blows up. 
 +  -Immediately stop working 
 +  -Extinguish any flames 
 +  -Open the garage door 
 +  -Find the source of the leak 
 +  -Put a stop tag on the forge 
 +  -Contact me (Dan Jonke), do not let anyone use the forge again until I give it the all clear. 
 + 
 +If you either smell gas, or if the meter is going off, and you still cannot find the source of the leak, go to the "Who to Call" sheet and contact the We Energies emergency gas leak number. 
 + 
 +===== Normal Operation ===== 
 + 
 +==== Starting the forge ==== 
 +  - There are 2 knobs on the front of the forge to control it. They are both located under the shelf in front. 
 +  - There is toggle switch on the left to control the fan, and a ball valve on the right to control the gas. They are labeled. 
 +  - First turn on the blower fan to supply air to the burner. (Move switch down) 
 +  - Then light a handheld torch and stick it in the mouth of the forge. 
 +  - Open the yellow gas valve. You should here a low "woosh" sound and a blue flame will appear inside the forge. 
 +  - The forge will now build up retained heat over the next ~20 minutes. 
 +  - Wait until the color is to your liking, and get to work. 
 + 
 +==== 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 "yellow-orange" heat. You can get a rough guide by looking at this chart.+In general you'll want to be working at what is referred to as "yellow" to "orange" heat. You can get a rough guide by looking at this chart.
  
 http://warehamforgeblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-fires-colours-and-fuels.html http://warehamforgeblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/on-fires-colours-and-fuels.html
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 Keep in mind that ambient light will dramatically change your observed color. This reference was intended to be used in a much darker room than the makerspace. Keep in mind that ambient light will dramatically change your observed color. This reference was intended to be used in a much darker room than the makerspace.
  
-===== Shutdown ===== +==== Shutdown ==== 
-Turn off the gas at the tank, using the high pressure valve before the regulator.  +  Turn off the gas, using the yellow valve. 
-Allow the gas line to purge itself by flaming out. +  - Turn off the blower, using the switchYou do not need to leave it running
-Then close the yellow valve on the gas line+  - Cooldown will take several hoursit fine to go home. 
-Keep the blower fan running at max speed for at least 30 minutes* after stopping the forgeHot air can back up into the blower and melt the fan otherwise+  - Don'leave anything flammable near the forge before, during, or after use.
- +
-*If you are going to be leaving immediately after shutting downyou can turn down the fan to 6, and leave it there until the next person uses the forge.+
spacedocumentation/usingthepropaneforge.txt · Last modified: 2020/02/25 17:15 by dan_dude