Yep I came across several comments about venturi burners, that turned out to be false.
The one I found to be most annoying was "you can't forge weld with a venturi gas burner". The statement is absolute rubbish btw.
I make pattern welded knives, and I don't have a problem. You can even pattern weld in a one brick forge alla Wayne Goddard.
I use a modified whisper momma, the lining is rapidly deteriorating (due to the modification), so I will replace it soon, with better refractory blanket.
I experiment a bit and my main goals are to 1) make something simple and
2) from easily obtainable items. I also figure that if I can buy something already made that is better than something I can make I will buy it.If something is hideously expensive, I usually try to figure out how to make it, before I spend the cash.
However, before you start experimenting, you need to research the raw materials and what other people have done. Then experimenting doesn't become too expensive.
Another however, if you want to just forge (or cast metal), and that's all you want to do, don't want to experiment, then just buy what you need.
Regards Charles
R> This is an undeserved "reputation" based on lack of knowledge mostly. The