Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Ribbon Forge

Sorry if this has been covered at some point. The blacksmith that owns the shop where I play around making some knives has been putting one together.
What are your thoughts on these? Do you have any success getting enough heat to forge weld with one? Pros cons would be appreciated.

Byron

Never heard of it. Is that a brand?

Used the googler. Looks like it gets hot enough.

Go to Iforgeiron site.

There is a big thread on burners, another on forges.

Most ribbons are blown.
A dude going by "Frosty" (Jerry Frost) developed one powered by a naturally
asperated T-burner.


Ribbons are the best/most efficient forge burners.
But, they are the most bother/expensive to build.

Been doing a bit of research into this, I want to build a forge.
Probably will just use a T-burner.

Yeah that's what I took away watching some video's, but the old guy building it seems doubtful.
He seems to like a coal forge over anything gas.

Thanks for the info, Dillonbuck. Yes he has a blower on it, and not liking how it's not getting hot enough to suit him, he's now talking about mixing oxygen with the propane.

Go to iforgeiron.

If he isn't getting hot enough, its his personal design problem.
The size of the forge, the size of the burner, the size and number of
tubes in the burner, the volume and pressure of blown air,
the volume/pressure/jetting of the gas...all could keep it from
getting hot enough.


You mention propane, is it for sure?
Natural gas doesn't have near as much pressure.
My understanding is it's hard to get enough of it to
run a forge up to welding temp.

Coal vs gas.
That's a can of worms, that I again have no experience with,
But have just learned about in studying forges.

One could easily have preferences, and of course coal
is the one to brag about. It's the old way, the much more
difficult way. If you want to puff up and brag, coal is your huckleberry.

It can be very hot. The forge design is open, so you can fit big/odd shapes.

It's also filthy, and smokes and stinks.
You have to source good coal, usually bought in bags, shipped.
Tending a coal forge is a major skill and a job within the job.
The temps tend to change over time and space. You pretty much
have to bury your work in the coal. So you can't see it, and can
easily burn it.

Gas is easier. Cleaner, not smelly.
Once you get it dialed in, it's going to be fairly stable unless
wind is an issue. Or, your bottle starts getting empty.

I'm planning a gas forge.
Just trying to figure how to source some materials without
paying $150 plus in shipping. Unbelievable that it costs as much
to get it as buy it. Need to do a road trip.

Coal intrigues me of course.
If I had a place to set it up, I would give it a whirl.
Just a learning thing. Once I could get it working
and prove it. I don't think I would ever mess with it again.

Definitely propane (100# cylinder)

I hope he can get everything to come together and make it work. Looks like in the end it will make a nice unit.

I agree with you about coal having its challenges, and personally I don't think I will ever mess with it. My friend
however seems to have used it a lot and likes it for some of the stuff he does. He doesn't seem to have trouble
with supply as he picks up what he needs when he visits back in your neck of the woods. His Amish friends maybe?

Anyway, I'm a newbie at this, and my friend not being the type to spend any time on a computer, I'm hoping to help
get this thing lined out.

Yeah the prices are a real killer. I've been ordering some of my stuff from some of the supply houses, and man I don't
see how some of these guys do it. My hats off to anyone that can make a living at it.

Thanks for the responses!

Hope y'all have great day

Byron

DO NOT get into it for the money.

IF you are into it and breaking even (including equipment depreciation) you are doing well.

IF you are doing extremely well, you might be embellishing the facts, but good for you.

IF you are having a good time, outstanding.

I retired about 16 months ago, and had always wanted to do some knives along with a little forging.
I am so lucky I have a friend that has a really cool shop with a lot of toys to play with, and so far does not
charge me anything. I help them when they need a hand and they give me pretty much free reign to play.
Just making a few knives for friends and family, and learning something in the process.

Byron

There is some very good metallurgical bitumenous dug near here.
Anthracite comes from the Eastern part of the state.

Coal,😁!


If you ever saw our strip cuts and veins compared to the seams
near you. You wouldnt believe it.

I have never understood how they cut 100 foot of overburden to access
3 to 5 foot of coal. Profit?

Much is going back to deep mining, EPA is one reason.
I wonder if it might be cheaper with today's economics.

Seems to be preference and what one is used to using. Like folks that use charcoal grills vs. gas.

It’s not rocket science to weld in propane forge, but the design of ribbon might require higher pressure than a 2 burner NC whisper forge.

Actually, the ribbons use pretty low pressure, at least the forced air ones.
They are much more efficient than the naturally asperated venturi types.
Having a blower, there is enough oxygen to cleanly burn the fuel.
The flames are right at the ribbon. No dragons breath, no big flame
pushing the heat through the forge. It's like flames vs hot coals
in a cooking fire. One is show, the other is controlled work.

My forge plans are stalled.
Not happy using oxy/acetylene torch for quenching knives,
I'm going to try a charcoal forge setup.

Well, it will be a special kind of rigging. But, I'm pretty good at
that.