I love my coal forge, but it takes up a lot of space for the use it gets, and I find that I actively put off forging and applying heat because of the faff of wheeling it outside, getting it lit and maintaining the fire, especially with coke. I'm looking at building a gas forge which should be suitable for 80% of my forging, especially as I'm looking to do more knifemaking.
But I also do a lot of decorative ironwork, scrolls, brackets, large pieces that won't fit in a gas forge. It's always been a pain getting them in my coal forge anyway, so being able to heat sections with a torch while holding them in the vice would be amazing.
I don't really want another gas bottle in my very small shop. I have an air compressor, argon, and soon propane. I don't really want the space and expense that comes with oxygen tanks.
I've seen propane-air toches that run on propane and compressed air, I guess a bit like a forge gas burner. Has anyone ever used these? I've never used gas for anything but plumbing so I have no idea what kind of torch/fuel will be sufficient to heat steel for bending or twisting. I'll mostly be working with 1/2" square stock, but sometimes heavier stuff.
If I did go with oxy-propane, what is the oxygen consumption like? How many hours would a 20L bottle give me, very roughly?
Many thanks
But I also do a lot of decorative ironwork, scrolls, brackets, large pieces that won't fit in a gas forge. It's always been a pain getting them in my coal forge anyway, so being able to heat sections with a torch while holding them in the vice would be amazing.
I don't really want another gas bottle in my very small shop. I have an air compressor, argon, and soon propane. I don't really want the space and expense that comes with oxygen tanks.
I've seen propane-air toches that run on propane and compressed air, I guess a bit like a forge gas burner. Has anyone ever used these? I've never used gas for anything but plumbing so I have no idea what kind of torch/fuel will be sufficient to heat steel for bending or twisting. I'll mostly be working with 1/2" square stock, but sometimes heavier stuff.
If I did go with oxy-propane, what is the oxygen consumption like? How many hours would a 20L bottle give me, very roughly?
Many thanks