I was looking back through one of my old issues of Blade magazine(March '96), and came across an article by ABS Mastersmith Jerry Fisk about heat treating. In it there was a picture of a horizontal forge with the burner entering through the bottom of the front panel where the door is(see sketch[hopefully]). This is the only forge I remember seeing that uses this design. I was wondering what would be the advantages/disadvantages of this type of construction.


Kris

http://www.inu.net/modisette/forge_drawing.jpg

A lot will depend on the depth that the burner is inserted into the forge body. Also the ratio of the forge chamber size to the burner size would have much to do with performance.
I work on a forge of this design at a hammer in several years ago, and was not impressed. The one I used took 15 psi of gas, and would not reach anything near welding temp. Comparing this to a circular designed forge, with the burner coming in the side, at a tagent, and only requiring 5 psi to operate, the choice for me was pretty clear.
If some type of shelf was designed into the forge in your sketch, that would seperate the burner from the area where your work piece would be, say maybe for 1/2 to 3/4 of the forge length, it might be a good one for general forging. Otherwise my personal choice would be the circular forge with the side burner.

I guess thats why I haven't seen any others like it.

Thanks for the response.

Kris

Kris
I think That forge is Don Fogg. Check dons web site He has a lot good info. on gas forges you can how make the burnes. I use both up right and horz, Both are Don Fogg design they work great.



Troy Brown ABS Journeysmith

He-he, this is fun! Kris thinks it's Jerry Fisk's. Troy thinks it's Don Fogg's -- Hey Troy!

I'm not at home right now, so I can't verify it, but I believe that old article was actually by Rob Hudson, and was mistakenly credited to Jerry Fisk.

That's a long time ago, but I think I'm right. The forge and the blade shape look familiar, and they don't look like Jerry's. I know it doesn't matter one way or the other, but if you get a chance, look at that article again and see if there's any mention of Rob Hudson.

TERRY
Yoy are probabgly right on that being a Rob Huston
design. I saw one at a hammer in once that was A
Don Fogg design. I have never seen Jerry Fisk use one like
Troy Brown

You're right, Terry. The article was written by Rob Hudson. I just saw the picture and noticed the authors name. I lightly scanned the article, but missed all the references to Rob Hudson in it, or saw them but wasn't really interested in who wrote it, just the forge design, so I just didn't click to it. Oh well, maybe I'll do better next time. Oh, and sorry Mr. Hudson.

Kris M

I should apologize. I took the thread off in a another direction and messed up the tone.

Also, I wasn't trying to correct you, though now that I've reread my reply, it sort of looked like I was. Hope I didn't come off like some kind of wiseguy.

When you get to know me, you'll understand that I'm just a sort of information/trivia junkie.

Terry, there's no need to apologize. I didn't take your comments as being a wiseguy. I appreciate the heads up, and have been around here long enough to know you didn't mean anything by it. I would hope that anytime I make a mistake like that someone would point it out. I would rather have the correct person getting credit for their work, than have my feelings spared.

It is actually me that should apologize for my comments. After re-reading them, it looked like I was ticked about having an innaccuracy pointed out. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you find a mistake in the future, fire away, I can take it.

As far as taking the thread in another direction, I had already gotten a reply from Mr Caffrey stating the drawbacks of this design, so I don't see that it was a big deal at all.

apologetically

Kris M