I'm up for a new forge. Can I gather the forumite's experiences on these two forges.... which would you buy? Furthermore, with the Whisper Momma, back door, or side ports?
I've always had Whisper Mamma with side ports. Better because you can run a long piece of iron in if necessary. Heats fast, works great, liner easy to replace.
I'm heading back home to Oz next week and as it happens, the Forgemaster Blacksmith is available there. I've put up with my O'Dwyer POS for so long now I really want to make a good decision... I'd punt a fair wad that any of the three mentioned would be better than the O'Dwyer.... ...actually I want one of those 3,ooo,000,000,000 BTU jobs that Bloomer made. Where do I get one of those?
I could build you one, but it would cost two or 3 times as much as a production unit. I have a lot of different designs that I thought about building and selling. I don't think the tooling and start up costs are justified.
I have a whisper momma with the port in the front door and back of the forge. If I could change one thing about it, I'd put the ports in the sides. In fact, I've been thinking about doing it to the one I have. David
For what it's worth, I have had both a ProForge and the WM two...... while both provided more than adequate heat to get the job done, I couldn't keep the liner in the ProForge from cracking after being hauled a few thousand miles... the Whisper Momma's liners seem to hold up to transport a lot better, at least in my experience. The port on mine is in the back and the front door, and I think I would prefer them on the sides as David mentioned above.. Dave.....
Anthony. for what it's worth, in the shop I have a Forgemaster which I like fine, but I have to replace the door liner every year. The fabric tears away from the two "teeth" that hold it in, unless you're extremely gentle on opening and closing the door. In the truck, I have a NC Whisper Low Boy ( 3 burner ), which throws a ton of heat. I've had it for 20 years, and the only thing I've had to replace was the regulator once, 'cause I broke it, and replaced the liner once. Both forges have 2 side ports, which I like fine. Regards
The liners in my Forgemaster last several years with a little maintenance. When the top and the sides start to wear against each other, I'll loosen the top an put some of the 'wool' from an old door liner in the gap and tighten it back up. Good for a couple more years. For the door liner, I put a couple of 2" stainless #10 sheet metal screws in the top and bottom, a third of the way in from the inside edge of the door, each a third of the way from the sides. The door liner outlasts the inner liner like that, though when I first got one, I had the same problem you describe. I'm thinking they last 4-5 years
I'm guessing that Maine Winter roads are a touch rougher on liners than California's???? I hit a frost heave on a corner the other day that bounced the truck halfway into the other lane and knocked a dozen shoes off my racks.... and that was one they didn't feel worthy of marking! If you see a posted "frost heave" sign you about have to slow to a stop to keep from tipping over...... Dave
Thanks Bill. I had considered doing something like that, but I wasn't sure the screws would take the heat. Now that I know it works for you, I'll give it a try. Regards
Ayuh! The Westmanland road is fully paved, but in the spring top speed is about 20 MPH, unless you want some serious air time. A lot of the dirt roads are better, but a lot of them don't open up until mid May. Regards
.035 Stainless steel mig wire will work for sewing that soft refractory in place and works well as a rebar for castable; it might crack but it will stay in place
