Editing Forge (section)

=== Gas forge ===
A gas forge typically uses [[propane]] or [[natural gas]] as the fuel. One common, efficient design uses a cylindrical forge chamber and a burner tube mounted at a right angle to the body. The chamber is typically lined with [[refractory]] materials such as a hard castable refractory [[ceramic]] or a soft ceramic thermal blanket (ex: [[Mineral wool|Kaowool]]). The burner mixes fuel and air which are ignited at the tip, which protrudes a short way into the chamber lining. The air pressure, and therefore heat, can be increased with a mechanical blower or by taking advantage of the [[Venturi effect]].

Gas forges vary in size and construction, from large forges using a big burner with a blower or several atmospheric burners to forges built out of a [[coffee]] can utilizing a cheap, simple [[propane torch]]. A small forge can even be carved out of a single soft [[firebrick]].

The primary advantage of a gas forge is the ease of use, particularly for a novice. A gas forge is simple to operate compared to coal forges, and the fire produced is clean and consistent. They are less versatile, as the fire cannot be reshaped to accommodate large or unusually shaped pieces. It is also difficult to heat a small section of a piece. A common misconception is that gas forges cannot produce enough heat to enable forge-[[welding]], but a well-designed gas forge is hot enough for any task.