Jonas Liebel Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Hi there,I wanted to use my propane tank gas forge for the first time and started to slowly heat it up, but apparently I didn't let the cement dry long enough, resulting in a loud "bang", a huge flame and a hole in my cement walling. First of all, do you think the big flame that shot out of both ends of the forge was caused by the cement coming off or the other way round?Second, how do I fix the holes? Should I just put some new cement into them and hope that everything bonds together nicely? I'm a little bit lost, so any help would be greatly appreciated Jonas >>> Check out my Youtube channel <<< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 You're fine. Lightly dampen the surface and patch it with more cement. Sometimes you can then light the forge immediately using the minimal amount of heat, but since you already had one steam explosion I'd let it cure for at least a week, or even better, if you have a low-power incandescent light bulb or other source of gentle heat, put that bulb in the forge and turn it on, and leave it on for 24 hours or so. The flames coming out may or may not be an issue. Some flame is normal, and if you've never used gas before it can be scary. A LOT of flame coming out means you have too much fuel or too little air. What kind of burner are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Having once tried to light one of my forges without checking to make sure that I had the blower hose attached to it rather than my other forge I would go with Alan and say that it was the fuel air mixture that caused the gas to ignite with a bang and a ball of fire. 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...
Vern Wimmer Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Looking at the position of the damage, being directly opposite the burner opening I'm going to hazard a guess that two seperate things happened. Trapped steam caused the liningto crack and pop off and the first-time lighting experience created the "Whooompf" effect. Seperate issues. Patch as per Alan's post and roll on. No harm, no foul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Yup, a good pop from spalling will definitely make fer a bung pucker moment, and as Al pointed out patching is easy enough...... If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Camper Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 (edited) Fun fact: the Romans used to mine for gold in a similar fashion. They would make the slaves light a fire at the base of a rock wall. When the rock got hot, they'd pitch water onto it and BOOM! This is why wet river rocks will explode if heated too quickly. In other words, get the clay dry before you heat it too quickly. Edited February 6, 2018 by Zeb Camper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrod Miller Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Actually, it is a thermal expansion and contraction issue that the Romans used and why river rock explodes. The forge lining is a steam build up issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Camper Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 1 hour ago, Jerrod Miller said: Actually, it is a thermal expansion and contraction issue that the Romans used and why river rock explodes. The forge lining is a steam build up issue. Oops . I figured the trapped moisture in wet river rocks would be the thing that causes them to blow up, just because dry rocks won't explode. I wasn't sure about the Roman thing though, thermal expansion/contraction does make more sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrod Miller Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 There might be some moisture in the river rock too, but dry rock can explode as well. My understanding is that it is all just the thermal expansion though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeroen Zuiderwijk Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Are you using a refractory cement, or a normal cement? Normal cement is not suitable for forges. Jeroen Zuiderwijk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barbarianmetalworking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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