What is a list of precautions to take with gas forges?
Gas Forge Precautions
You are the proud owner of a new gas forge so how do you use it with out blowing yourself up?
1) Make sure the forge is set up on a stable surface well away from any combustible material.
2) The forge should be placed with the fresh air coming to you first then the forge. Remember the forgeproduces a lot of carbon monoxide, and produces a lot of carbon dioxide. It also use oxygen at a high rate.Carbon monoxide is poisonous.ALWAYS HAVE FRESH AIR ! If you feel light headed or nausea then shut the forge off and move to freshair immediately.
3) Place the burner in the forge as far down as it goes. Make sure it is secure.
4) Attach the hose and regulator. Attach the regulator to propane tank. Remember fuel threads are left handthreads. All attachment points should be secured with a wrench.
5) Check for leaks with dish soap and water. Also sniff the joints to detect any leaking propane.
6) Start the forge with pressure set to about 8 psi registering on the regulator.
7) Ball valve should be off. Place a lit piece of paper in the chamber and turn propane on. If you have anatmospheric burner (no blower) that should be it. If you have a blower right after you turn on the ball valve youneed to plug the blower in.
8) A flash back can occur if the propane velocity is lower than the air velocity. This can happen at lowpressures. The flame will go out in the chamber and start combusting inside the burner. The sound will changeand you will need to shut the ball valve IMMEDIATELY ! Increase you propane pressure and try again. Thisusually is not a problem with a blown system but could happen if the power went out.
9) Make sure your hose is out of the way of falling hot steel. Hot steel could melt the hose and ignite a fire.When the hose is connected make sure it is out of the way of direct heat from the forge as it could soften andmelt causing a fire.
10) When finished for the day shut ball valve off, turn off blower if any, shut main tank valve off. Always shutthe main tank valve so if there are any small leaks in the system you don't come into a pool of propane whenyou next start your forge. Propane will pool if there is a leak. This could ignite just by turning on a light switch.
11) General work usually about 8 to 10 psi. Forge welding 15 to 20 psi. If you are going to forge weld put apiece of sheet steel in the bottom of the forge to catch the drips of flux. Flux will eat the lining and the firebrick.These you will have to replace over time but why speed the process up. Fire brick on the front and back willeventually break and the support steel will sag. Replace when needed.
12) If you are working a long bar make a separate support that stands on the floor. This will help prevent theforge from tipping over.
13) Always wear safety glasses, and have a fire extinguisher nearby just incase.
