Propane Venturi Torch For A Forge

Found this on Youtube. While his methods might not be the most brilliant (like using a cordless drill to tap holes... that made me cringe) the end result looks to be effective.

 

did you see this site:
http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=hobbyfoundry;id=25;url=http://metalcast.boorman.us/

 

Nope. Can't say that I have. Looking at it now though...

 

Hey, I sometimes tap with a cordless drill. Set the clutch, hold 'er true and use some fluid. ;-)

The Riel burner construction in John's link is all that you need to get started. The problem will be in finding the 1-1/2 to 3/4" bell reducer. AFAIK Ward is the only common maker of that particular fitting. I ordered mine from McMaster-Carr in the USA. $$

Dan

 

It's basically two slightly different paths to the same result.

Finding that reducer coupling is actually easier than you might think, especially if you know where to look. I'll admit I'm at a bit of an unfair advantage because a good friend of mine is a plumber/gas fitter and would probably get me whatever I want/need in exchange for a hug from Missy (I know it makes me sound like I'm pimping her out, but really, I'm not!) Slightly smaller reducers for a scaled-down version (I'd probably make a scaled down one to sit a small forge on top of a sidewalk block at the end of a workbench at the "Farm"... More beef than a blowtorch, less cumbersome than a tiger torch) are readily available at Lowe's, Home Depot and Home Hardware, and I think $6.50 was one of the more expensive ones.

In terms of simplicity, I'm not sure which one is easier to make, because it really boils down to what tools you have on hand or access to. Drills, taps, dies are easy-mode for me. Heating metal with fire on hand... The little-bitty butane torch I use for small-batch brass case annealing ain't gonna cut it.

BLASPHEMER! But you're not the guy who got smacked by his machinist father for attempting that once. I am.

 

Call it a symmetrical pipe reducer leave out the word Bell and it is available everywhere. Even Princess Auto carries them I believe.

 

Princess, Home Depot and Canadian Tire and EMCO all carry 3/4" to 1-1/4" I spent a lot of time sourcing the 1-1/2" version. If you build Reil's original deigns the 1-1/4" is good. The modified Reil version uses an section of nipple threaded into the large end and reduces the airflow, thus the need to enlarge to 1-1/2". Mine is manufactured by Ward.

Sorry Grizz, my Dad was a cabinet maker. LOL

Dan

P.S. If you search through Grant Thompson's channel you will find his carbon rod arc furnace.

 

I've been subscribed to Grant's Channel for a while. He has some pretty good projects.

 

Yeah, I dig a lot of Grant Thompson stuff. Saw that burner guide. As much as some of it is a little cringey, I think that's probably a better burner design than some people with better knowledge of the subject have come up with. Maybe not in terms of maximum efficiency, but in terms of something John Q. Hackjob can make without the sum of minor errors making it run poorly.

As far as the 3/4" to 1 1/2" bell reducer, I would think if you had the time and gumption you could start with a 3/4 to 1 1/4 and grind out all the threads and a bit of the wall to fudge it a bit.

 

You could get it running with the 1 1/4x3/4" fairly easily, but you'd need to run the diaphragm open wider.

 

if you search "propane burner design" you will see several options. Personally I would get a reducer that was available and just remove the internal threads on the large end.

 

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong. I've done more research on forge burners the last couple months than I have on my full time college load. I just mean it's pleasantly simple and easier to bodge together with common tools than some aspects of the Reil burner.

If any does happen to be looking for 3/4" to 1-1/2" bells in the Calgary area, I found them at benner, guy gave me a bit of a deal because he thought the idea of the project was cool. $15

 

All I ever got was raised eyebrows and no discount, guess I have to try smiling once in a while.

 

Haha, I started talking about how I love plumbing parts because there really isn't any limit to what you can do if you're willing to experiment and get your hands dirty. I guess they got a kick out of that.

 

You can steampunk just about anything together with black iron fittings. Love it!

 

PVC too, really. Back in the day I made a pneumatic golf ball cannon that fired them out 400 feet per second. Homemade QEV and everything!

 

Their Edmonton location should have them too if that's the case.

I had to go out to Beaumont yesterday to do some banking (easier to drive the half hour and do it in person than waiting three days for the deposit to clear) and stopped in at the Home Hardware that's out there. Didn't look too close at plumbing fittings to see if they had the big reducers that would be best suited for this project. Not that it's a high priority project for me right now. I'd be setting up a forge at the "farm" anyways, and I'd have to build a shack to serve as a workshop first.

I did manage to score some 4 hour epoxy (they had no 60 minute, and I figured 5 minute would be too short a working time) for when I get brave enough to actually glue scales in place, since my first few knives are going to be bolt-on, because I like the idea.

 

Hobby shops typically carry 12 hour epoxy by devcon and it is decent and an assortment of alloy sheets.

Home Depot sells brass rod both plain and threaded

 

Lee Valley sells West Systems epoxy resin and their 205 (60 min), 206 (90-100 min) and 207 (110-130 min) hardener. It's great stuff, I used to use the 207 back when I made longboards because it dries super clear when laminating fiberglass or carbon fibre.

It's not cheap, but it comes in huge quantities so if you use a lot it becomes economical.

 

I so need to make one of these.... getting the itch to use lpg