Page 5 v5.5 H2
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
STARTING THE FORGE
1
With soapy water check for leaks: the regulator connections and under the turn knob, hose connection, and flare fitting.
2
Make sure the choke is is not obstructing the burner’s air intake openings. Make sure the regulator is turned off, all the way to
the left (counterclockwise).
3
Light a long match or a flammable material (i.e., bbq fire starter, cardboard, paper) and set it inside the forge under the burner
tube opening
4
Open the valve in the propane tank slowly to fully open. Then open up the regulator by turning it clockwise. The burner should
fire up at this point. Adjust the regulator and the choke to achieve the desired flame. You’re looking for a blue flame.
CRITICAL – MUST READ:
.
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When running the forge with just one burner:
Always remove the second burner from the forge. Failure to do so
will
result in the heat entering the unused burner and damaging the ball valve and hose components.
❖
If the burner does not light up and you do not see a flame:
Immediately turn off the gas and wait for a few minutes for
the gas to dissipate before attempting to light again.
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Watch for blockages in the entry tube
– Even a small amount of refractory or ceramic blanket will throw off the flame and
run too rich or too lean. A blockage can also cause the base of the burner on the outside to glow red hot, if you see this,
turn the forge off, wait until it cools down, and clean the entry tube of ANY blockages.
❖
Propane expands 7x during combustion and must be vented. Completely closing both ends of the forge will quench the
flame. A small opening will trap gasses and reduce the efficiency of the burners. Allow for an adequate opening.
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After shutting down the forge:
Raise the chokes up to close the burner openings and remove any obstructions from the
ends of the forge, to allow the heat to dissipate through the sides and not go up the burners and cause damage to the hose.
TIPS / SAFETY MEASURES
-
Use this forge with propane fuel only. Do not forge galvanized steel - it creates toxic fumes that can cause death.
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Cracking of the satanite refractory is normal. The new and improved Superwool Xtra blanket is no longer a health concern if
some of the ceramic blanket is exposed. The main purpose of the satanite coating is to: create a hard forge interior, provide
some resistance to flux like borax and all around makes the forge more durable.
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Do not leave forge unattended. Put the propane tank as far as the hose will let you.
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Never light the flame from the air intake part of the burner, always light from inside of the forge.
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Keep your eyes, hands, and any flammable material far away from the flame to not inflict any damage or injury.
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Make sure the propane hose is away from the opening of the forge to not be damaged by the flame.
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Keep an eye out for a potential tipping hazard, especially when the forge is running. Take care not to bump into it or have
anything pulling down on the hose.
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You can use the burner choke to partially close off the burner openings, to run the forge ‘lean’ to reduce scale on your
workpiece, which is the result of oxidation.
TROUBLESHOOTING
My flame is sputtering..
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Allow for the forge to heat up. When the forge isn’t heated up it’s normal for it to sputter.
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Check for crosswind, if you are working outside, cold air or wind could cause the flame to sputter. Use a firebrick to block one end of the
forge.
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Check the burner nozzle, burner tube and entry tube for blockage, look for refractory or insulation blanket being the source of the
blockage. Clean the burner nozzle tip (where the propane comes out of) with a welding wire to make sure there is no blockage there
either.
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Make sure the tank is full and not low on pressure, a tank that is low and nearing empty will cause sputtering.
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Make sure the burner is recessed ¾” inch into the inlet tube of the forge. The burner should not be protruding through the inlet tube or
even flush with the inlet tube.
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If there is no firebrick inside the forge, put one inside to create a smaller area for combustion.
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Make sure the regulator is not in “safe mode”. To reset the regulator: With the tank regulator fully open, turn the red knob on the regulator
on the hose assembly all the way to off (counterclockwise). Wait a few seconds then slowly turn the regulator in the clockwise direction
turning the propane flow back on.
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Lower the chokes to allow more air intake.
My regulator or tank keeps freezing resulting in low pressure.
❖
While this is normal after operating the forge for an extended period of time, some things could be done to mitigate this. Start by turning
the valve and unhooking the regulator and hose. Wait for 10 minutes and then attach it all again. When firing the forge up again, make
sure you do so by slowly opening the hose regulator. This can also occur when liquid propane enters the regulator caused by the tank
being overfilled or is not standing upright. Most often, this happens when the propane is leaving the tank faster than it is designed for, a
simple solution is simply getting a larger tank. A 100lb tank is the tank of choice for enthusiasts. Some users have also reported putting
their propane tank in water to keep it from freezing.
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