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Switched from a coal forge to propane last year and I'm still figuring out the heat control.
I used to just pile on the coal and wait, but with propane I have to actually watch the regulator and adjust the air mix, anyone else struggle with getting a consistent flame for forge welding?
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paulw531mo ago
Man you ain't kidding about the flame dance! Have you tried tuning the air mix with the forge almost glowing first? I do that like run the regulator wide open for a minute to heat up the chamber then dial back the air till you get that tight blue cone no feathering. Forge welding is real touchy I usually run a bit rich with a soft flame and back the pressure down to like 3-4 psi once the steel is up to temp. Also check your burner tips for carbon buildup that'll throw everything off real quick.
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fiona_kim1mo ago
Oh whoa, hold up there, I gotta pipe in on that pressure bit. Running 3-4 psi for forge welding is actually on the low side for most setups, especially if you're using a blown burner or a venturi with a bigger tip. I've found that dropping that low can make the flame too lazy and cause more scale than weld, you know? For forge welding, I usually keep it around 5-6 psi and just nudge the air back a tad so the flame has that soft, slightly feathery look - it lets the heat soak in without blasting the steel. But hey, it might depend on your forge size or burner design, so no hate, just my experience with a blown ribbon burner.
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