Thank you Glen! I'm wanting to build a new forge, and I like your minimalist approach. I find it fascinating that you are forging on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Taipei. You must have great neighbors.
Rick, Glad you like my videos. I've only owned one style gas forge in all the years I've been blacksmithing (used coal for many years before switching to gas) and this is obviously that forge (I bought two). Couldn't ask for much more from a forge... Thanks for watching. Glen
Thanks Glen - Like you, I've been using a coal forge since I started Blacksmithing, but decided it's time to build a box type propane forge measuring 4.5 x 6.5 x 18 inches with two burners. Can't wait to light it up - Booyah!
Very nice forge Glen, thanks for the detailed information. Here in Chiang Mai, charcoal is readily available and cheap, so as a "newbie", I've begun using that. Bottled cooking gas (LPG), is also easily available here and would be more convenient and less time consuming at start-up.
+dav snow Charcoal was the original blacksmithing fuel. I also started with charcoal, way back in the day. But in order to generate high heat, it's necessary to really pile on the charcoal. One purported benefit of charcoal is that it has the ability to enhance the carbon of the steel, hence you see a lot of traditional sword makers / blade makers using charcoal. Thanks. Glen
Cool forge, I will try to build one. To be honest, I am more amazed that you are able to run a gas forge on the 5th floor of an Apartment building! Greetings from Germany
This is Taiwan my friend. The line between residential and industrial neighborhoods is blurred in many instances - more than in the US and likely much more than Germany (though I don't know that for fact). And my balcony is actual more a rooftop. But I do admit it still is unusual and maybe unique. I look forward to the day when I have a shop on ground level again! Good luck in your forge building and thanks for watching and commenting. Glen
Glen, since your big on fuel economy, you should know Diamondback Ironworks sells an idler valve that allow you to quickly set your burner's gas pressure down to a minimum while your shaping your piece, then throw it back on full when heating. Hope this helps.
Keith, Hi, I do know about the idler valve but I typically remove and insert workpieces in my forge so quickly when forging that idling probably isn't necessary. If I will not forge for a decent period of time, I just shut it off. And if I take say five minutes in between, I dial the pressure down from the regulator. But an idler valve definitely has it's place depending on how someone works. Thanks for watching and sharing.
+jeffery biddix Yes, compared to other makers, I feel Diamondback Ironworks prices to be more reasonable for what you get - a simple yet professionally made forge. Not a sloppily made forge that may work but is nothing to look at and hard to maintain... Thanks. Glen
Hey bub. First like your channel. But can u let me know what size your hole is in the front of your forge? I'm making a Alex Steel style Forge. And the hole u got is what size I want mine to be. Thanks bub.
+Gail Boboige I get fairly even heat with this forge. Of course, right where the burner shoots the flame downward can tend to be hottest but that orifice is in the center and so the heat spreads very well. Also, the firebox is compact and seemingly sized just right for the burner size. The extreme sides as well as very front and back may not very as hot as the center, but not by much. Thanks. Glen
You have the quality perfected in your tongs. Have watched you for a while now. Question, would an indirect flame work better for a more even heat than a direct flame aimed onto the work piece? I'm building my 2nd forge and contemplating installing the burner horizontal rather than vertical as I have pitted my work at times with a direct flame. Thanks for your great videos.
I think this would depend on how hot you run your forge, how neutral your forge is running, the interior size of your forge and the forge shape. I'm not a gas forge expert by any means but I think most folks prefer the flame to be indirect. But I personally keep my workpieces close to where the flame is coming in. If you feel the temperature you're running at is reasonable, it may be that there isn't enough room between where the flame enters and your workpieces. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a more definitive answer - it may take some experimenting. Thanks for watching. Glen
I've looked online and am not having too much luck with this, but is there risk of back burn with propane? I saw you light the burner from right where the gas escape hole is.
I don't have tons of info. on this however I think a flashback arrestor is not needed when using just propane under pressure. Flashback occurs when there is a reverse flow of two pressurized gases (like propane and oxygen). In the case of a propane forge, only one gas (propane) is pressurized whereas the oxygen is at atmospheric pressure so there should be no danger of flashback (back burn). This is my understanding but please don't quote me on this. Perhaps someone else here has more info. Thanks for watching. Glen
Glen I am getting ready to purchase a diamondback forge like yours. My only question, more of a concern, is where the propane line attaches to the burner seems likely to get hot from escaping heat from the forge. Has this been an issue? Thanks for the great videos.
George, Although the black hose is close to forge, it never gets very hot. I can put my hand on it (the end closest to the forge) when my forge is running. I think the on/off valve gives it just enough clearance to not be an issue. But obviously you have to make sure the hose is not touching any hot metal. It should never be allowed to touch the side of the forge, etc. Thanks for watching and good luck in your work. Glen
man great video! that looks like a great rig. I have just built a new gas Forge recently myself, using a different style burner that I purchased. I made the shell out if an old muffler. I posted a build video of it a few weeks ago if you want to see it. I haven't tried to weld in it yet. looking forward to your next videos on the subject.
+OrionsAnvil I will definitely check out your video. There are all sorts of different styles of gas forges - different designs may suit different blacksmiths and their style of working. I just couldn't make a gas forge that worked well for me and honestly, didn't want to spend the time on getting it right - very similar to how many of my customers can make at least basic tongs but prefer to spend their time on other projects that interest them more. Thanks for watching. Glen
+Glen GS Tongs yes I know exactly what you mean. that's why I bought a pre made burner. I didn't have the desire to try it at the time, but the shell construction was something I could do. cheers👍
Sorry for the super slow reply. The burner tube gets too hot to touch but never so hot that it affects the burner's performance. The heat it absorbs is mainly conduction from metal on metal contact. Thanks.
Edward, Sorry for the super late reply. You would think Yingge with it's pottery businesses but no, it's in Guishan, near Taoyuan. Thanks for watching.
The forge didn't come with a safety valve and I've never felt the need to use one as I think the regulator I use has a safety feature built in. Sorry I couldn't be more clear but I'm certainly not a propane / gas expert. Thanks for watching.
Could you block off part of the front to keep even more heat in? not the whole thing of course, but maybe just leave a 2 inch opening with fire brick on either side?
Toby, It may be possible to enclose the forge more and maybe raise the temperature some or this may allow you to run at a lower psi but stay at forging temperature and so save fuel. But after a certain point, it becomes counterproductive. The forge needs to vent to operate ideally. I'm not an expert in this area so some research and experimenting may be necessary. Thanks for watching. Glen
Sam, I've done very limited forge welding in my small, single burner forge and one of the reasons for this is that is simple isn't very easy to get up to forge welding temp. That's not to say it isn't possible but it takes time and there are other variables to consider in a forge like mine. I've never made any Damascus billets and to be honest, probably never will in this forge. I think a forced air gas forge or, better still, a coal forge would be better for this task. Thanks for watching. Glen
+雨田 The burner tube is approximately 1 inch (outside diameter) and the bell reducer on top that connects to the tube is about 2.5 inches in diameter. The length of the burner tube is about 9 inches. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks. Glen
You should never be using thread sealant on a propane tank fitting! Those fittings are purely there to put pressure on the sealing cones. If you had a leak and you sealed up those threads the gas would just leak past the inside of that threaded ring. Maybe I'm misunderstanding why its there but I hope its not for sealing. Otherwise thanks for the video, I really like that size of forge.
Jacob, This is a good point. My forge came with teflon tape on all the threaded joints so, not knowing better, I figured I'd use some on the fitting that goes to the propane tank. I would attain a good seal so I just keep doing this. But since those threads are not for sealing (the cone needs to mate to form a seal), using pipe tape (or any sealant) might prevent getting a good seal - unlike the threaded connections along the hose and to the forge, in which the threads actually create the seal and so teflon tape (yellow preferable but white OK) can help. Thanks for watching and for the good advice. Glen
Jacob, I stopped using thread sealant (teflon tape) on the prone tank, cone style fitting for a few months now. I have to say that you were completely correct. I have noticed that the parts mate better and there is no indication of any leakage at that point. Very good advice - I appreciate it. Glen
Glen When assisting the burner to light, it's blow !! Do not inhale, right ? Thanks - good instructions for a well respected maker of forges. I was considering a two burner. After seeing yours, maybe only one is enough. Cheers.
+Stephen Smith Inhaling might work well for a circus performer, probably not so well for a blacksmith... I think some two burner forges have the option to use either one or two. But I've made four plus pound hammers in this small one burner forge, no problem. I think a lot of it might also depend on the length of the sections needing to be heated. If someone is needing to heat very long sections, multiple burners might give them the even heat they need. Thanks. Glen
I purchased the refractory materials from a local company here in Taiwan that specializes in manufacturing these high heat materials. Thanks for watching. Glen
The outside dimensions are approximately: Width = 7.5" x Depth = 9.5" x Height = 8" And the inside dimensions are: Width = 5" x Depth = 9" Height = 3.5" This is definitely a small forge but it suits my needs very well. Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching. Glen
I'm originally from Staten Island. I visited Taiwan after college and decided to come back here to live for a year and learn Chinese. One year became two, became three, etc. and eventually married a Taiwanese gal. We lived for many years in States but decided to move back here some years ago. Time flies... Thanks for watching. Glen
Edward, I'm not sure of current prices for this style forge but I think I paid about $300. But the shipping to Taiwan was pretty expensive and cost me almost $150. Thanks for watching and have a Happy New Year.
The only thing I carry up and down (maybe once a week) is my propane tank. I don't own many tools but if I had to carry each one up and down every day, I doubt I'd had the energy to hammer. Thanks for watching. Glen
Lon, The openings, front and back, are about 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall. The way I have my forge lined now makes these measurements somewhat smaller, especially the width. Thanks for watching. Glen
Yes, this is my main job. Initially, it was a part time thing but slowly became my primary source of income. However, I do other things to supplement my income... Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching. Glen
I dont think that would work well with this style gas forge (though I never tired it). There are basically two styles of gas forge, forced air and atmospheric. The dynamics of an atmospheric forge might not make it suitable to using a blower. Thanks. Glen
+Hot Iron Art It's my pleasure to make videos for guys who appreciate the effort needed by someone like myself, who is not video savvy, to make simple videos. Thanks. Glen
Levi, Diamondback ironworks makes simple, quality forges. I have used this one for years and rarely have any issue. Maybe other forges are better (and more expensive) but the reliability is top notch with this brand. Glen
Don't quote me on this, but I believe a flashback arrestor is unnecessary with a propane forge. I think this sort of device is mainly for when gases are being mixed under pressure, like with oxy fuel cutting/welding. With a gas forge, the oxygen is is drawn / forced in but not under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Thanks for watching. Glen
Thank you Glen! I'm wanting to build a new forge, and I like your minimalist approach. I find it fascinating that you are forging on the 5th floor of an apartment building in Taipei. You must have great neighbors.
Hi Glen always enjoy your videos - thanks for sharing your gas forge - looks like a nice set-up!
Rick, Glad you like my videos. I've only owned one style gas forge in all the years I've been blacksmithing (used coal for many years before switching to gas) and this is obviously that forge (I bought two). Couldn't ask for much more from a forge... Thanks for watching. Glen
Thanks Glen - Like you, I've been using a coal forge since I started Blacksmithing, but decided it's time to build a box type propane forge measuring 4.5 x 6.5 x 18 inches with two burners. Can't wait to light it up - Booyah!
Very nice forge Glen, thanks for the detailed information. Here in Chiang Mai, charcoal is readily available and cheap, so as a "newbie", I've begun using that. Bottled cooking gas (LPG), is also easily available here and would be more convenient and less time consuming at start-up.
+dav snow Charcoal was the original blacksmithing fuel. I also started with charcoal, way back in the day. But in order to generate high heat, it's necessary to really pile on the charcoal. One purported benefit of charcoal is that it has the ability to enhance the carbon of the steel, hence you see a lot of traditional sword makers / blade makers using charcoal. Thanks. Glen
Cool forge, I will try to build one. To be honest, I am more amazed that you are able to run a gas forge on the 5th floor of an Apartment building! Greetings from Germany
This is Taiwan my friend. The line between residential and industrial neighborhoods is blurred in many instances - more than in the US and likely much more than Germany (though I don't know that for fact). And my balcony is actual more a rooftop. But I do admit it still is unusual and maybe unique. I look forward to the day when I have a shop on ground level again! Good luck in your forge building and thanks for watching and commenting. Glen
Glen, since your big on fuel economy, you should know Diamondback Ironworks sells an idler valve that allow you to quickly set your burner's gas pressure down to a minimum while your shaping your piece, then throw it back on full when heating. Hope this helps.
Keith, Hi, I do know about the idler valve but I typically remove and insert workpieces in my forge so quickly when forging that idling probably isn't necessary. If I will not forge for a decent period of time, I just shut it off. And if I take say five minutes in between, I dial the pressure down from the regulator. But an idler valve definitely has it's place depending on how someone works. Thanks for watching and sharing.
Just got the 3 burner. Looking forward to it.
appreciate the video I went on line and checked them out. Prices are not bad found a couple I like, gotta save up.
+jeffery biddix Yes, compared to other makers, I feel Diamondback Ironworks prices to be more reasonable for what you get - a simple yet professionally made forge. Not a sloppily made forge that may work but is nothing to look at and hard to maintain... Thanks. Glen
Very descriptive thank you very much!
Nicholas, I'm glad you found this video to your liking. Thanks for taking the time to watch. Glen
Hey bub. First like your channel. But can u let me know what size your hole is in the front of your forge? I'm making a Alex Steel style Forge. And the hole u got is what size I want mine to be. Thanks bub.
Billy, Very sorry for late reply. The forge openings (front and back) are about 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall. Thanks for watching.
Hello Glen, thanks for the info.Does this forge get hot spots in the center. Or does the heat seem to disperse evenly throughout the forge.
+Gail Boboige I get fairly even heat with this forge. Of course, right where the burner shoots the flame downward can tend to be hottest but that orifice is in the center and so the heat spreads very well. Also, the firebox is compact and seemingly sized just right for the burner size. The extreme sides as well as very front and back may not very as hot as the center, but not by much. Thanks. Glen
You have the quality perfected in your tongs. Have watched you for a while now. Question, would an indirect flame work better for a more even heat than a direct flame aimed onto the work piece? I'm building my 2nd forge and contemplating installing the burner horizontal rather than vertical as I have pitted my work at times with a direct flame. Thanks for your great videos.
I think this would depend on how hot you run your forge, how neutral your forge is running, the interior size of your forge and the forge shape. I'm not a gas forge expert by any means but I think most folks prefer the flame to be indirect. But I personally keep my workpieces close to where the flame is coming in. If you feel the temperature you're running at is reasonable, it may be that there isn't enough room between where the flame enters and your workpieces. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a more definitive answer - it may take some experimenting. Thanks for watching. Glen
Hello, very simple and practical burner, combustion gas is propane? Household liquefied petroleum gas used? Thank you
+雨田 Hi, yes the gas is propane (LP). Thanks for watching. Glen
I've looked online and am not having too much luck with this, but is there risk of back burn with propane? I saw you light the burner from right where the gas escape hole is.
I don't have tons of info. on this however I think a flashback arrestor is not needed when using just propane under pressure. Flashback occurs when there is a reverse flow of two pressurized gases (like propane and oxygen). In the case of a propane forge, only one gas (propane) is pressurized whereas the oxygen is at atmospheric pressure so there should be no danger of flashback (back burn). This is my understanding but please don't quote me on this. Perhaps someone else here has more info. Thanks for watching. Glen
Glen
I am getting ready to purchase a diamondback forge like yours. My only question, more of a concern, is where the propane line attaches to the burner seems likely to get hot from escaping heat from the forge. Has this been an issue?
Thanks for the great videos.
George, Although the black hose is close to forge, it never gets very hot. I can put my hand on it (the end closest to the forge) when my forge is running. I think the on/off valve gives it just enough clearance to not be an issue. But obviously you have to make sure the hose is not touching any hot metal. It should never be allowed to touch the side of the forge, etc. Thanks for watching and good luck in your work. Glen
just curious what pressures you operate at? I've heard people using 3-30 but no definite psi. Thanks!
I usually forge at 5 psi or slightly less. Thanks for watching and sorry of the slow reply. Glen
man great video! that looks like a great rig. I have just built a new gas Forge recently myself, using a different style burner that I purchased. I made the shell out if an old muffler. I posted a build video of it a few weeks ago if you want to see it. I haven't tried to weld in it yet. looking forward to your next videos on the subject.
+OrionsAnvil I will definitely check out your video. There are all sorts of different styles of gas forges - different designs may suit different blacksmiths and their style of working. I just couldn't make a gas forge that worked well for me and honestly, didn't want to spend the time on getting it right - very similar to how many of my customers can make at least basic tongs but prefer to spend their time on other projects that interest them more. Thanks for watching. Glen
+Glen GS Tongs yes I know exactly what you mean. that's why I bought a pre made burner. I didn't have the desire to try it at the time, but the shell construction was something I could do. cheers👍
Glen do you get problems with heat coming up the burner tube???
Sorry for the super slow reply. The burner tube gets too hot to touch but never so hot that it affects the burner's performance. The heat it absorbs is mainly conduction from metal on metal contact. Thanks.
Would that town you mention that manufactures refractory material be Yingge?
Edward, Sorry for the super late reply. You would think Yingge with it's pottery businesses but no, it's in Guishan, near Taoyuan. Thanks for watching.
thanks for doing the vid I asked for mate.
+jigjig10jigjig My pleasure and thanks for the suggestion - it was a good idea. I will follow this up for more videos on forges... Thanks. Glen
I didn't notice you using any safety check valve on your propane tank regulator. Any reason why?
The forge didn't come with a safety valve and I've never felt the need to use one as I think the regulator I use has a safety feature built in. Sorry I couldn't be more clear but I'm certainly not a propane / gas expert. Thanks for watching.
@@gstongs I'd get a flash back value
Could you block off part of the front to keep even more heat in? not the whole thing of course, but maybe just leave a 2 inch opening with fire brick on either side?
Toby, It may be possible to enclose the forge more and maybe raise the temperature some or this may allow you to run at a lower psi but stay at forging temperature and so save fuel. But after a certain point, it becomes counterproductive. The forge needs to vent to operate ideally. I'm not an expert in this area so some research and experimenting may be necessary. Thanks for watching. Glen
is it hot enough to forge damascus?
Sam, I've done very limited forge welding in my small, single burner forge and one of the reasons for this is that is simple isn't very easy to get up to forge welding temp. That's not to say it isn't possible but it takes time and there are other variables to consider in a forge like mine. I've never made any Damascus billets and to be honest, probably never will in this forge. I think a forced air gas forge or, better still, a coal forge would be better for this task. Thanks for watching. Glen
Glen GS Tongs thanks for that
I ask you: What is the size of the burner tube? 3/4 inch?
+雨田 The burner tube is approximately 1 inch (outside diameter) and the bell reducer on top that connects to the tube is about 2.5 inches in diameter. The length of the burner tube is about 9 inches. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks. Glen
You should never be using thread sealant on a propane tank fitting! Those fittings are purely there to put pressure on the sealing cones. If you had a leak and you sealed up those threads the gas would just leak past the inside of that threaded ring.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding why its there but I hope its not for sealing.
Otherwise thanks for the video, I really like that size of forge.
Jacob, This is a good point. My forge came with teflon tape on all the threaded joints so, not knowing better, I figured I'd use some on the fitting that goes to the propane tank. I would attain a good seal so I just keep doing this. But since those threads are not for sealing (the cone needs to mate to form a seal), using pipe tape (or any sealant) might prevent getting a good seal - unlike the threaded connections along the hose and to the forge, in which the threads actually create the seal and so teflon tape (yellow preferable but white OK) can help. Thanks for watching and for the good advice. Glen
Jacob, I stopped using thread sealant (teflon tape) on the prone tank, cone style fitting for a few months now. I have to say that you were completely correct. I have noticed that the parts mate better and there is no indication of any leakage at that point. Very good advice - I appreciate it. Glen
Glen When assisting the burner to light, it's blow !! Do not inhale, right ? Thanks - good instructions for a well respected maker of forges. I was considering a two burner. After seeing yours, maybe only one is enough. Cheers.
+Stephen Smith Inhaling might work well for a circus performer, probably not so well for a blacksmith... I think some two burner forges have the option to use either one or two. But I've made four plus pound hammers in this small one burner forge, no problem. I think a lot of it might also depend on the length of the sections needing to be heated. If someone is needing to heat very long sections, multiple burners might give them the even heat they need. Thanks. Glen
where do you get the fire cloths for your forge?
I purchased the refractory materials from a local company here in Taiwan that specializes in manufacturing these high heat materials. Thanks for watching. Glen
Hi glen! What are the inner and outer dimensions of the forge?
The outside dimensions are approximately: Width = 7.5" x Depth = 9.5" x Height = 8" And the inside dimensions are: Width = 5" x Depth = 9" Height = 3.5" This is definitely a small forge but it suits my needs very well. Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching. Glen
+Glen GS Tongs thank you
Where are you originally from, Brooklyn or Boston? How did you end up in Taiwan?
I'm originally from Staten Island. I visited Taiwan after college and decided to come back here to live for a year and learn Chinese. One year became two, became three, etc. and eventually married a Taiwanese gal. We lived for many years in States but decided to move back here some years ago. Time flies... Thanks for watching. Glen
Thats quite awesome! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
How much did the forge cost and do they deliver to Taiwan?
Edward, I'm not sure of current prices for this style forge but I think I paid about $300. But the shipping to Taiwan was pretty expensive and cost me almost $150. Thanks for watching and have a Happy New Year.
Great stuff mate. Cheers.
Glad you like this. Thanks for watching.
Do you lug all of your stuff up and down everyday??? If so that's insane aye?
The only thing I carry up and down (maybe once a week) is my propane tank. I don't own many tools but if I had to carry each one up and down every day, I doubt I'd had the energy to hammer. Thanks for watching. Glen
What is the opening width and height Pls. Great video.
Got the info I needed. Thanks
Lon, The openings, front and back, are about 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall. The way I have my forge lined now makes these measurements somewhat smaller, especially the width. Thanks for watching. Glen
Great video !
You must make a lot of stuff in that forge to be going through 70 lbs of gas in a week !
Is this your main source of income ?
Yes, this is my main job. Initially, it was a part time thing but slowly became my primary source of income. However, I do other things to supplement my income... Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching. Glen
if you forced air into the burner that should burn with less fuel and the same fire power no?
I dont think that would work well with this style gas forge (though I never tired it). There are basically two styles of gas forge, forced air and atmospheric. The dynamics of an atmospheric forge might not make it suitable to using a blower. Thanks. Glen
great video!!
+Hot Iron Art It's my pleasure to make videos for guys who appreciate the effort needed by someone like myself, who is not video savvy, to make simple videos. Thanks. Glen
definitely getting one :D
Levi, Diamondback ironworks makes simple, quality forges. I have used this one for years and rarely have any issue. Maybe other forges are better (and more expensive) but the reliability is top notch with this brand. Glen
Would be a good video to watch you refurbish your forge brick
+Brent Bogy I am planning to do just such a video. Hopefully, I get it done soon. Thanks. Glen
what about adding a flashback arrestor
Don't quote me on this, but I believe a flashback arrestor is unnecessary with a propane forge. I think this sort of device is mainly for when gases are being mixed under pressure, like with oxy fuel cutting/welding. With a gas forge, the oxygen is is drawn / forced in but not under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Thanks for watching. Glen
when i think about it i think you are right. thx
you kinda sound like christofor walken
+Bryce Claxon Really? Interesting... Thanks for watching. Glen
Taiwan gas!!
damn bro u need to move ...