How To: Apollo Forge Build

[@RedBeardOps]

Holy cow Brian... this is a phenomenal piece of work / engineering.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thanks James!

[@richyearle007]

The most informative build on ribbon burners i have seen.. Fantastic stuff..

[@Stillpoint23]

Love that Sawzall trick! Total hillbilly ingenuity

[@HouseMadeUS]

Always! 😂

[@OldHickoryForge]

Awesome kit man. You're doing so many great things for the blacksmith community. 💪🏻 keep up the great work!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thanks John!!

[@daviddroescher]

Good explanation of the "what's and why for" . Instead of the typical just do it this way I have my reasons.

[@gearscodeandfire]

You freakin rule 🤘 Not sure how the algorithm is only suggesting this now, but bravo

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@jasonvliet-odonataknifeworks]

Definitely has to be the most well thought out, versatile, functional forge on the planet. Not to mention, good looking. Well done sir! Bravo!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@georgeyoung613]

This is a brilliant kit. I have been looking into buying one. But now that I have seen this, I'm going to build one.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you George!

[@georgeyoung613]

@HouseMadeUS You are very welcome. I forgot to add that your video was put together extremely well. Very easy to follow with clear instructions. Your editing is 1st class also. I wish you great success brother.

[@jasonvliet-odonataknifeworks]

Just a thought, since you already have the solenoid in place, for about another $100 in parts, you can make it temperature controlled. I built a PID controller with a thermocouple that maintains the temperature in my forge within 10 to 15 degrees. It works great for heat treating. If you’re interested, I can send you some information on the build. It’s pretty straightforward.

[@benjiriko3645]

Well I'm definately interested in that info!!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Definitely interested. Can you email me some info? [e-mail]

[@tonywebb1403]

@@HouseMadeUS cool stuff man

[@VideoOddness]

I would also love to see your info, please!

[@psych-]

I'd love that into too

[@jamesball7322]

Definitely like the design,wild enough I use the same fan but for my coal forge

[@supermannyg3]

If I ever would need a forge, this is exactly what I’d buy.

[@Athooper1980]

Placed my preorder yesterday!! Cannot wait to have it. Been using a Mr. Volcano for the last 8 months. I’m ready to step up and am thrilled to not have to mess with a ton of refractory!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you!! 🙏🏼

[@JohnJohnningJohnson]

Myyyy man. That's a nice forge this is giving me some great ideas! Thanks for posting this video very educational.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Yeah man! Lots of new idea into this one. Enjoy the build! 🤘🏻

[@davidscadlock5569]

Thank you for your detailed presentation and all you are doing for the blacksmith & bladesmith community!! Great design!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you kindly!

[@davidscadlock5569]

Just rewatched!! Great design and run thru of the build!!!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@brettthompson5919]

And yet another excellent video, Brian! Thank you very much!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sudo_nym]

The Housemade Hotbox 🙏🏻

[@HouseMadeUS]

🔥🔥🔥

[@benjaminseigal5192]

Another great house product. We know I am a fanboy.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Yes you are! 😂

[@michaelmirabile7777]

Bought the last one! Can't wait to get it and set it up! Great work Brian!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@rodneylangstroth4577]

Excellent work Brian.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you kindly

[@GaryBoardwine]

The entire forge is a,great design Brian!! Love the kao sheet,and soft bricks, much more durable than ceramic blanket, the ribbon burner is on point, and the refractory is a great chioce also, the fabricator in me woukd prob tack the corners of the door to prevent distortion over a long period of time ,but im sure as is will be just fine, i have your revolution gen 2,im ready for a few upgrades like your surface grinder atachnent and newer gen flat platen, keep driving on bud, you have come a long way and are doing great things for us in the trade , thanks for all you do

[@Beaches_south_of_L.A.]

You're a great instructor. This was a excellently produced video and quite enjoyable to watch.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you so much. 🙏🏼

[@WesKerbs]

Thanks Brian, great video. I'll be purchasing that Apollo air funnel ASAP :-)

[@chouck0101]

Just found your channel, wow! Nice work! I’m going to build a forge that runs on a used oil burner. Would love to see you make one as well!

[@chewyakarieckenicholas6049]

I really like the whole setup it definitely looks good and it seems like a low maintenance and efficient forge I hope to be able to afford one soon

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you Chewy. 🙏🏼

[@joewhitney4097]

Great video, great project, design and build. Thanks for sharing.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thanks for watching!

[@Batti2323]

Your build videos are works of art! You do such a good job of explaining and showing everything! I have much admiration for the effort you put into design to make these kits the best. Love my Revolution grinder!!!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@nathanweese3812]

Another really well thought out build. I have to admit I stole his design for the tracking wheel system on my 2x72 grinder. Best part of the machine. Thank you House. I would have bought the kit if I could, most of my machine is made from found treadmills and scrap. His kits look really solid.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Nice work!

[@Stillpoint23]

Love that apron! And like the revolution build video, this is even better! Good job brotha!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Glad you like it!

[@TheMainlinehobo]

Just crazy beautiful. I need to order the kit right away. Already got the belt grinder but haven't built it yet. How much fun can one guy have going into retirement? This is just a design of genius for sure. Very simple and yet hot enough to do damascus welding. Thanks so much! Bob in Seattle

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you Bob!! 🙏🏼

[@mftmachining]

Excellent design...man thats top notch...love it.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@thefamily_ak1863]

Thats so Kool , good job

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you my bro! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@BLS_Forge]

Nice build mate. I add an air pressure sensor as well to the fan that shuts off the propane if the blower fan fails. There is also a flame failure sensor that shuts off the propane if the burner goes out and the forge temp falls below the gas ignition tmeperature.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Beautiful

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@urbanbasementoperator]

Nice work Brian, I'll be picking up one of these in a future drop this year.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you Ben! 🙏🏼

[@richardwaldhouse8067]

Sorry, this is a very cool video!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thanks!

[@addictchris2503]

You suggested using an “old sawzall” to settle the refractory in the doors. I just did it using a NEW sawzall and it worked just fine :)

[@HouseMadeUS]

Hahahaha! Hackerman!

[@ericmoore2236]

Brian as usual you and your work are amazing the only thing I don't like about this and your work is now I have to try and save more money 😂 again you are amazing 👏👍

[@sandison_steel]

Right on!!🔥

[@HouseMadeUS]

🚀🔥🚀🔥

[@42icee]

Okay purchased today as well as a few parts, the rest I have and the bricks I will get from local pottery store

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you!!

[@BrighamKindell]

Im so excited!!!!

[@Levnyan]

15:17 I'd call it a chisel as well. We used them sometimes to shear rivets when other methods failed on aircraft

[@HouseMadeUS]

Okay great, thank you.

[@steaminbeeman9]

Heck yeah can’t wait to try it House! Looks real good.

[@eduardodaquiljr9637]

I wish to copy the way you bend a plate,excellent work,

[@HouseMadeUS]

Go for it Eduardo! ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼

[@gatorcreekcustomknives321]

Good stuff Brian! It’s been awesome to watch the development and testing of this project!

[@Stillpoint23]

I stopped using the word 'inspire' and instead use 'motivate'.. So, thanks for your motivational videos :)

[@HouseMadeUS]

You are so welcome!

[@randymartin2396]

I love the forge just can not afford right now

[@longclong]

Bought the plans and have the file open in fusion 360. I have 36 by 36" 1/4 thick steel plate in the garage ready to go. My ribbon burner and all its extras are ready too. I'll do my best to document the process and share it with you. I'm so thankful you went through the process of designing, testing, etc to make this a reality! I'm curious to see if there's a change in the environment within the forge compared to my ventury burner forge. It seems like once dialed in there might be less oxygen down by the bottom of the forge. I want to test it out. I'll let you know what I find. Might take me some time, though. Day job consumes a lot of my time.

[@AerialLensVideo]

HOW do you manage the refractory heat treatment process once the molded part is dry BUT now part of a assembly of steel and refractory??? That is the only part that mystifies me, knowing the recommended heating of the newly cast refractory is so daggone complicated. Thanks for the video!

[@krrtlr]

Really cool project! How do you regulate your temperatures needed to harden a knife? Thank you

[@42icee]

Great design. Waiting to find a video of someone forge welding with this forge. Would like to see info on achieved time and Temps using this forge.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Look up pickle_kutterz on instagram. Also I have videos right here on KZbin making pattern welded steel with it. 'Fantasy knife build'

[@AAAAAAndrea]

Long time no see :)

[@addictchris2503]

I found a piece you might want to add to the resources page for the Apollo forge for the propane delivery section. The hose from the propane tank ends with a 3/8" female flare fitting, and I had no way to connect that to the quick disconnect, so I had to get a 3/8" male flare x 1/4" male NPT fitting to hook those up

[@HouseMadeUS]

You're right Chris. I'll do that. Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@williamsforge6263]

I'd recommend soft brick on bottom and 1in thick hard brick on top that. Make it slightly smaller on the inside but would be worth it.

[@HouseMadeUS]

I had that same thought. Ill recommend that in the next video.

[@nikuso]

Super excited to put our new kit together! Does the ceramic fiber cloth need rigidizer like kaowool would?

[@HouseMadeUS]

No rigidizer needed.

[@randygray8273]

Does the kit include the blower and all the plumbing required or do i need to buy that separately?

[@tropifiori]

Nice Video. Need a tool make a tool

[@HouseMadeUS]

Definitely! Thank you!

[@zorinho20]

You have beautiful hammer .

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thank you. I have many. I feel blessed when I use them. 🙏🏼

[@VideoOddness]

If you showed the stand you mounted it on, I missed it. Can you show what you made the stand out of and how? It looks like the pedestal is square tube, but what is the base plate?

[@HouseMadeUS]

It's just .25 plate with some casters.

[@marcussmith348]

Awesome. Does the fan come with the kit,

[@HouseMadeUS]

No it does not.

[@wirebenderbob]

An easy way to bend the burner tabs: grind a 'v' half way through the bridges, bend tab to 90 degrees with a vise grip, then tack weld. No heat or brute force required.

[@GlennInLaguna]

5:48 you used magnets to hold the Inswool paper in place.

[@SeanDonahue-r6o]

Do you not feel the need to seal the jnswool with rigidizer and refractory?

[@ki4klz]

Im building my own forge as well, and I have the same hose you mention. What did you use to connect all the 1/4in fittings to the fitting on the end of the hose? It says it is 3/8in, but none of the 3/8in fitting or reducer that I got will thread into the hose fitting.

[@Joe_Bandit]

Amazing project Brian! I wonder if other grinder companies will start selling forge kits now as well? ;)

[@HouseMadeUS]

😂😂😂

[@jeremyfatfab]

In the into you mention a separt video on how to build the ribbon burner, Is that video out? Killer vids, thanks for all the info!

[@tek9102]

I’m getting ready to build my Apollo. Do you have any sketches or plans on a stand for it?

[@HouseMadeUS]

I have a stand that I really like. I need to take some time and draw up the plans for it.

[@tek9102]

@@HouseMadeUS I just need some basic sizes but would really like your input. Thanks - Tom

[@larrydbrazil]

I bought the kit and all of the additional parts needed to complete the build. However, apparently the funnel had a crack at the base of the 2" section and completely broke off as I attempted to connect it to the 2" pipe. I ordered a replacement. After examining the broken connection, I believe that this part is a weak connection to the fan which weighs 5 lbs or so and probably will break very easily in the same place that mine did with the least little bump. Just a learning experience that costs $55. I am thinking about having a local machine shop, or sheetmetal shop fabricate one from metal. More to come...

[@flacodoc]

Does the metal base/floor of the forge get hot because the bottom is hard/non-insulating brick?

[@HouseMadeUS]

No not too bad actually.

[@johnnybotz]

Wow only $55. for the bundle on the plans. How generous thanks.

[@HouseMadeUS]

You're very welcome. 🙏🏼

[@AninoffsMagister]

Fun fact, CO can kill by asphyxiation even in an O2 rich environment. This is because the hemoglobin in your blood has more affinity to CO than O2. So it’s kinda like walking a long hike. Would you rather have a 5lb pack or a 50lb pack? The CO is like the 5lb pack. Just an interesting bit of CO trivia I remember from Biology class back in the DAY!

[@HouseMadeUS]

Good info

[@GryphonArmorer]

Two cents.?.? 🤪 You could reduce your cutting time if you make all your cuts like the refractory tabs and smaller corner reliefs. Really awesome design though. I’d love to have one. I want to get started forging. And good on you for all the different options to purchase. WOW 👍👍

[@HouseMadeUS]

Thanks for the tips!

[@nmcc.2601]

When is the first drop planning on being shipped??

[@David-bc3kx]

Is there a way to adapt the burner to natural gas? Been looking to upgrade my current forge.

[@espjason]

The fan whistles are you able to do anything to stop this

[@HouseMadeUS]

Run it for a bit and it will stop. Just needs to heat up a few times.

[@djburnard]

I have some ITC-100 left over from a previous forge build, any reason not to put a thin coat on the inside facing surfaces of the bricks and doors?

[@HouseMadeUS]

I did this on the prototype and it worked great. Definitely worth doing.

[@goodravensforge]

Hey Brian, Why don't the 2" threaded connections after the gas mix require PTFE Tape as well?

[@HouseMadeUS]

Once the mix hits that larger pipe the pressure is so low it isn't necessary

[@benjiriko3645]

What's the distance from the bottom of the forge to the floor?? Trying to decide how big to make my stand

[@nikuso]

what do you use to connect the quick connect to the gas line?

[@nikuso]

Ah never mind I just found the answer below!

[@tek9102]

At what height did you set your forge? I’m 6’ tall. Tom

[@kennethcrane5079]

I purchased the plans and I want to cast the ribbon burner. How many holes and what size of straws should I use!

[@HouseMadeUS]

38 straws (links are all on the resources page) for the straws etc.

[@loyallimb]

FYI, Teflon is a popular brand name of PTFE.

[@KennyOLoughlin-t1y]

Does the door totally clear the opening?

[@HouseMadeUS]

It does if you use the hinge system, if you use the slider it does not. About 3/4 of an inch of the opening is covered.

[@engjds]

I'd weld all those gaps to try and prevent that 'singing' of the metal we hear at 42 mins, also why not make the door long enough to cover the brick? the mixing of gas and air seems fairly basic, some use a swirl chambre to mix the two before injection into the combustion chambre. I like the ability to replace firebrick, good thinking!

[@HouseMadeUS]

The sound you're hearing is from the air flowing into the pipe not the chamber. It goes away after the first couple firings. Thanks for watching.

[@JohnDHarvey]

Question ... Why not use the heavy, higher-temperature fire brick for the entire forge build?

[@johnkelly7264]

Do you ship the forge kit and the grinder kit, and other stuff from your shop to Australia. Looked on the site, but couldn't find that info. Thanks

[@HouseMadeUS]

We can yes. Working on adding that functionality

[@spaknives]

What type of blower is this, and where do you get it?

[@HouseMadeUS]

We have a forge resources page with links to all of the gear we use to build these: housemade.us/pages/forge-resources

[@shannoncharlton46]

hey mate when you cut the fire bricks make sure to wear a respirator due to the bricks having silica in them and its quite dangerous to your health

[@HouseMadeUS]

Always do. Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@longclong]

I don’t remember hearing or reading anywhere the size of the threaded rods. What size are they?

[@leoresch8709]

Hey what is the gas consumption by welding?

[@HouseMadeUS]

Forge welding temps I use 4-5psi. Standard forging I set to 1-2 psi

[@tomhoyt5970]

How much more will you charge ( if willing ) to put this together for me ? Thanks

[@ThompsonGrant]

I don't understand how the gate valve works. When you start to close the valve wouldn't that just cause the air to speed up not produce less air flow. I know your system somehow works but if you could explain it that would be great.

[@HouseMadeUS]

Air works like water, so the gate valve slows the flow, just like water. In fact air can be measured using water column.

[@jeremytaylor9706]

Could you get away with using a 2" pvc sch. 80 ball valve in place of the gate valve, or does the pipe get too hot?

[@HouseMadeUS]

The pipe doesn't get too hot, but I don't think I would use plastic in this application. One small spark and you could melt it.

[@janikumlander1822]

No ptfe tape on the bigger joints?

[@HouseMadeUS]

No need for that since it's so low pressure.

[@AninoffsMagister]

Why don’t you just send the door rods with both ends threaded?

[@nmcc.2601]

Can you use 2" pvc instead of metal pipe??

[@HouseMadeUS]

No it will get soft from the heat.

[@rotironwerks]

When I bought my 40 pound tank, the propane distributer told me the orfice in the valve was larger than a bar-b-que tank making the larger tank able to produce more BTU's.

[@HouseMadeUS]

I'm not sure that is true. I don't see any difference between the two sizes of tanks.

[@leoresch8709]

how big is the gas nozzle?

[@HouseMadeUS]

1/4 inch.

[@amunderdog]

I would think the solenoid is manditiry with this configuration. Propane is heavier than air. Would not want gas to fill the electric fan.

[@lucaskeeley8200]

Can I get one without that insane whistling noise bc there's not a chance in hell i could deal with that whistling noise