MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Ed Caffrey's Workshop

Ed Caffrey's Workshop Talk to Ed Caffrey ... The Montana Bladesmith! Tips, tricks and more from an ABS Mastersmith.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-31-2008, 04:46 PM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
temp control for forge?

Hi Ed!

It's been too long since I was last at your place and I cannot recall how you have you
forges controlled for temperature (time for another class ).

Anyhow, do you use a thermocouple + controller to manipulate the temps or do you
just use your themocouple/thermometer reading to adjust the flow/mixture of the propane?

I know your salt tank is setup with the thermocuple/controlller/solenoid gas valve and was
wondering if this would be feasible/doable for a forge?

Thanks Ed!
Dana
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-31-2008, 05:24 PM
Ed Caffrey's Avatar
Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA
Posts: 4,393
Send a message via AIM to Ed Caffrey Send a message via Yahoo to Ed Caffrey
Hi Dana!

Some folks do have their forges set up like I do the salt tanks. However, I found it to be annoying, and possibly even dangerous, so I adjust the forge with the fuel/air that goes in, and use the pyrometer to "monitor" the forge temp. On my smaller forge (the one you learned on) I can dial it in from about 1400F to 2100F. My welding forge is designed more for high temps, so its adjustability ranges from about 1700F to 2500F+ at wide open. Most of the time I keep the temp in the welding forge around 2350F. Some might think thats too high, but if you have the fuel/air mixture running right its fine.

Anyway, back to the pyrometer....

I think the best ratio of cost to performance I've found so far is purchasing a PID controller from Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-Digita...QQcmdZViewItem

I've purchase a few from this seller and have had good luck with them.

Next is a thermocouple. I get mine from Omega.com:

http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=JTIN

If you go down the page, near the bottom, you can build your own thermocouple and order it.
I have the manuals for the PID controllers, and if you decide to get one, let me know if they don't include one.

Another option, that is more spendy, is to purchase a pyrometer and thermocouple from a ceramics type outfit. I own one from Bailey ceramics, but for the pyrometer and thermocouple your looking at about $200.


__________________
WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET

Caffreyknives@gmail.com

"Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES."

Last edited by Ed Caffrey; 01-31-2008 at 05:27 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-01-2008, 08:15 AM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
Thanks Ed!

That setup sounds like an easier approach, especially for the bone-head electrically challenged .

I am assuming (again, I cannot remember) that your welding forge is a forced air burner instead of
a venturi type, correct?

Thanks, again, Ed for the help.

Dana
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-01-2008, 08:44 PM
Ed Caffrey's Avatar
Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA
Posts: 4,393
Send a message via AIM to Ed Caffrey Send a message via Yahoo to Ed Caffrey
Hi Dana!

Yes, the welding forge has blower on it, and my other two are just venturi. On the venturi forges you just adjust the propane needle valve, and on the welding forge you have to adjust both the propane needle valve AND the blower.

The PID/thermocuple works the same no matter what forge you apply it to.


__________________
WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET

Caffreyknives@gmail.com

"Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-02-2008, 09:29 AM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
Thumbs up got it

Thanks for the help, Ed!

Dana
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-03-2008, 09:04 AM
Ed Caffrey's Avatar
Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA
Posts: 4,393
Send a message via AIM to Ed Caffrey Send a message via Yahoo to Ed Caffrey
Dana...

Here's an inexpensive analog pyrometer on ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com/OMEGA-ANALOG-THE...QQcmdZViewItem


__________________
WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET

Caffreyknives@gmail.com

"Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES."
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-04-2008, 08:45 AM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bonners Ferry, ID
Posts: 537
Perfect!

Thanks for the heads-up, Ed! It's even located in Colorado. Maybe I'll use this as an excuse to
pay a visit to the mountains . It's probably only a 3-4 hour drive

Thanks again!
Dana
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
forge


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:15 PM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved