ZebDeming Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'm fixing to build a new gas forge, the one I use right now is a cobbled up mess that's set up on one of those little folding workbench's. The new one will have an integral stand and be a little more user friendly. But after finally getting a new anvil and setting it at a proper height, I got to wondering, is there an optimum height for the forge as well? As mine sits, if I'm welding, I have to lean over quite a bit to look into it to check for welding temp, I was thinking on making it higher up, but would like some opinions on it before I build the new one. Thanks Zeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanwrath Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 i just built myself a new gas forge ... i went eye height, or actually a lil below it, since i was eyeballing the cieling and the amount of heat, flame i know comes off it for a safety factor,.....but i sure didnt want to be bent over watching my peices come up to heat....... just my 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLenaghan Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I have mine about the same height as my anvil, never put much thought into it but seems like the natrual choice for me anyways... as far as being able to see the into the forge, I dont mind bending over plus its almost the perfect height to sit in a chair and watch with a beer -Michael Lenaghan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragoncutlery Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 shoulder high for me not to far to bend and when holding stock its comfy also i have my press close to the same hight so when steel comes up to welding its out over in squish not a lot of lifting or bending Brandon Sawisch bladesmith eagles may soar but weasels don't get sucked in to jet engines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I have mine at about waist hight, maybe a little above. I don't want mine where I'm looking into the fire box all the time. That can be hard on the eyes. My heat treating forge has a larger opening than my smaller forging forge which makes it pretty easy to see into if I lean over a bit. I really have to lean over to see into the smaller one. Usually I just pull the steel out. Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I have mine at about waist hight, maybe a little above. I don't want mine where I'm looking into the fire box all the time. That can be hard on the eyes. My heat treating forge has a larger opening than my smaller forging forge which makes it pretty easy to see into if I lean over a bit. I really have to lean over to see into the smaller one. Usually I just pull the steel out. Doug I second you on that, waist to elbow height is good, there's no good reason to be looking into the fire for more than a moment and if you really want to you can always have a chair handy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Johnston Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Mine is a home made vertical forge with the opening about half way between waist and shoulder height. It's easy to get the work into and out of the forge and onto the anvil. I love the vertical design and get virtually no scale forming while forging. Watch out for looking into the forge without some UV protection such as a brazing mask. It's weird, but there is supposed to be a lot of UV from a forge. FORGE LOTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Mine is a home made vertical forge with the opening about half way between waist and shoulder height. It's easy to get the work into and out of the forge and onto the anvil. I love the vertical design and get virtually no scale forming while forging. Watch out for looking into the forge without some UV protection such as a brazing mask. It's weird, but there is supposed to be a lot of UV from a forge. FORGE LOTS Actually, I think the real danger from forges to the eyes is Infrared (IR), not ultraviolet (UV). There's a recent thread on what safety glasses members use to filter IR while forging. I think the consensus was IR3 level glasses were the preferred strength, but I'd have to double check to make sure. I always have mine on when the forge is running. --Dave -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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