MR VOLCANO Hero - Portable Propane Forge (Complete Kit - Now with Superwool Xtra) Made in USA (Stainless Steel) Single Burner Professional Artists Hobby Knife Making Tool Making Farrier Blacksmith

This little single burner has proven to be a great bargain thus far. If you have experience in smithing, setting up this little single burner is a breeze. Everything you need is right there and there are detailed instructions. With that said, I can see this being a bit daunting to toss together for a 1st time forge. Just take your time and there shouldn't be any issues. I Would have liked to see more rigidizer and satanite in the kit, but there was plenty for the money spent.Operation:This forge is pretty simple to use. Just turn the gas on, light it and go. I have used it for 5-6 hours thus far and was pleased that it came to heat in around 10minutes. I have gotten it to forging temp with ease, but have not managed to bring it up to welding temperature yet. I don't believe it was designed to bring steel up to that heat, but I think with enough time it could. It runs smooth and problem free thus far, and in the time I have had it burning I am guessing I may have gone through 5 lbs of propane.

This is my very first forge, and I've gotta say, this is probably the best start to blacksmithing I could have asked for! Well, outside of getting free equipment, but that's unlikely to happen to most folks.The forge itself is pretty easy to assemble, just takes a couple days of going out to the workshop, completing each step, and letting it sit to dry. At first I had the air choke valve installed upside-down on the fuel jet, so for others' safety, make sure the bolt on your choke is at the UPPER end.Also make sure you use a brand new propane tank, even for your very first fire-ups: I pulled an old one out of my dad's old grill and didn't realize jusy how low it was on fuel. After a few minutes of really low-pressure flames (red dragon's breath instead of the desired blue jet), it sputtered and coughed, and the flames started coming out of the air choke and licking up to the rubber tubing. Kinda scary the first time that happens, so DON'T use a near-empty tank! Keep a hand on the fuel valves until you're comfortable with it.After that ordeal, checking to make sure everything works still (no damage from that little fire show, thank goodness), I got it set up and have started forging! It gets up to temp pretty quickly, and if you put some extra fire bricks at the back to close it off, it REALLY retains heat! You won't be able to work on any particularly large projects, and things like big hooks or bends may be a challenge, but this is a fantastic little forge to get started with. Plus it's pretty small and lightweigt (about a cubic foot when disconnected from the fuel jet), so you can take this thing just about anywhere!

To say i feel i got a hell of a deal is an understatement, if the individual responsible for this would have a way to pay him more, i would. and i mean that 100%.Having spent a long while trying to diy forge at home, ive watched idiot after idiot publish youtube video and other insane means to show how they managed to achieve a at home forge, having bought the book on burners and forges, i can say without a fraction of a doubt this is spot on. The instructions are even freaking laminated, the screws fit, the hose is perfect, the ball valve to rubber hose even has the rubber seal on it, (something you cant even get at lowes/home depot btw).The construction is superb the air holes are beveled in and allow perfect air flow, the welding tip is manufactured to fit perfectly without leakage, the adjustable regulator itself is $20 the ball valve is close to $10, the nozzle and set screws are easily $10 plus the drill bits to drill and tap a hole yourself is $20-30 all in all, this is 100% perfection.i doubt i will see this for sale again as he in no way made enough profit, but i consider myself 100% lucky to have one at home. THE ONLY adjustment i will be making myself is i will be buying ITC-100 or similiar reflective coating for the forge, as it is such an improvement , i say that in i work professionally for a vacuum heat treatment facility and have accesss to something similiar as the price is absurd for itc-100.DOnt waste your timedont waste your energy or frustration this is the absolute bees knnees, the prom queen for sale and shes affordable. everything about this product is what i know deep down American Made was once intended to be. Bravo mr volcano, bravo, for something so well put together even if it didnt make you a billionaire, you should know this is unreal. and for that i thank you from the bottom of my heart, for delivering a product i am so pleased to have purchased, a product miles ahead of any competition at any pricce point, for simply being manufactured with true heart and true care.

Short answer; This thing is awesome. It heats up steel very well, and the overall construction is not too shabby with the forge construct having lots of space for future upgrades. Assembly took a long while, as several steps required days to finish, but honestly was not that bad. I had to skip the rigidizer steps by force (since I did not receive it) but nonetheless it has turned out very well, and due to the short startup and heat time, it is a great upgrade to my homemade charcoal forge.

Used this to forge out railroad spike knives and heat treating, have recently made a canister damascus with it as well. Its not done yet but you can see the fusing of the different metals. I'd recomend getting a better regulator and hose so you know how much psi you are putting out. Other than the hose and regulator it's a great little buy and it has held up for around 2 years given i don't use it every week, usually every few and a few month gap between my many projects