Anyone ever converted a propane BBQ to a small forge/heat treat source ? Mainly working with O1 & 1095 ( have a few in ATS34 that I need to send out for HT too though ).
Tired of sitting there with just a bottle of Mapp gas.

This will be used just to heat treat.

thanks.

I don't know about the BBQ grill but there is a very good link/tutorial on page 2 of tool time forum under heading "Home Built HT Furnace". I'm making my version a little longer(27") than the one shown but i'll still be under $300 total cost and i had a metal shop build the box. Might be worth a try for you.

$300?????
Geeeez, I doubt I've spent half that much collectively on the last six forges I've made! Get on that "Search" button and do some reading. It is a science but it's not hard. Just pay attention and definitely study up a little before you start.

Crex
I thought $300 was a pretty good price for a heat treat oven but you a point. Building a forge is cheaper but if Vegas is needing precise temps/soak times then an oven would be better.

You are right Sleepy. It's just that I only work with high carbon steels and forge all my blades now. Anything I forge I can heat treat in my forge and temper in my little $5 modified toaster oven. I didn't mean to imply you were wrong, a good HT oven is a thing of beauty. Especially if you're working with the high alloy steels.
I was mostly responding to the Henchman's statement about using 1095 and O-1. Both of these are easy to do right out of the forge (as long as one pays attention to details).