6 Best Propane Forges For Knife Making For First-Year Success

You’re out fixing a fence line and the cheap pry bar you bought finally gives up the ghost. Or maybe you realize the perfect garden knife for harvesting kale just doesn’t exist. There comes a point on any farm or homestead where you realize the best tool for the job is the one you make yourself. This is where knife making starts, and the heart of that craft is a propane forge. Choosing the right one is your first, most important step to turning stubborn steel into a useful tool, and a poor choice will lead to nothing but frustration and wasted fuel.

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Choosing Your First Forge: Key Considerations

The "best" forge is the one that fits your goals, not what someone on the internet claims is king. Think about what you realistically want to make in your first year. Are you aiming for small, precise paring knives or hefty camp choppers? The answer dictates whether you need one burner or two.

A single burner forge is like a nimble little tractor—fuel-efficient and perfect for small plots, or in this case, small blades. A double burner is the bigger machine; it uses more fuel but gets the big jobs done faster, bringing larger pieces of steel up to a bright orange forging heat. Don’t just look at the burners, though. Pay close attention to the insulation. A forge lined with quality ceramic fiber, coated with a rigidizer to prevent airborne fibers, and then sealed with refractory cement will hold heat far better, saving you a fortune in propane over time.

Also consider the forge’s shape and openings. A forge with doors on both ends is far more versatile, allowing you to heat the middle of a long bar for bends or twists. A simple, rectangular or oval body is a proven design that creates a good, even heat vortex. Ultimately, you’re buying a tool to make other tools, so look for sturdy steel construction, a reliable regulator, and quality fittings. A flimsy forge with a cheap regulator is a headache you don’t need when you’re trying to learn the delicate art of moving hot metal.

Mr. Volcano Hero: A Versatile Double Burner Start

If you want a dependable, do-it-all starting point, the Mr. Volcano Hero is hard to beat. It’s a double burner forge that strikes a great balance between affordability and capability. This forge gets hot, and it gets there fast, giving you the power you need to tackle everything from small knife blanks to larger pieces of stock for making hooks or other small farm tools.

What makes the Hero a solid choice for a beginner is its completeness. It typically comes as a full kit, including the refractory cement and rigidizer you need to properly line and seal the ceramic wool insulation. This saves you the guesswork of sourcing materials separately. The dual burner design is also a major plus; you can run just one burner for smaller projects to save on propane, then fire up the second one when you need maximum heat for forge welding or working with thicker steel.

This isn’t the heaviest-duty forge on the market, but it’s not meant to be. It’s a fantastic workhorse that provides the power and flexibility a new maker needs without a huge initial investment. It’s the perfect tool for figuring out if bladesmithing is a craft you’re going to stick with, and it’s capable enough to grow with you for a long time.

Hell’s Forge HF2: Durability for Long-Term Use

The Hell’s Forge models immediately stand out for their robust construction. Where some entry-level forges use thinner sheet metal, the HF2 is built from heavy-gauge steel that feels like it could survive being kicked by a mule. This durability matters. A forge takes a lot of abuse from intense heat cycles and the occasional stray hammer blow, and this one is built to last.

Performance-wise, the oval design of the Hell’s Forge is excellent for creating an even, rolling heat. This is crucial when you’re learning the ropes of heat treatment, where hot spots can ruin a blade in seconds. It holds its temperature consistently, allowing you to focus on the steel instead of constantly fiddling with the gas pressure. It’s a predictable and reliable tool, which is exactly what you want when you’re starting out.

This durability and performance come at a slightly higher price than some of the other entry-level double burners. Think of it as an investment. If you’re pretty sure this is a hobby you’re going to pursue seriously, spending a little extra on a Hell’s Forge means you won’t be looking to upgrade in a year or two. It’s a solid foundation to build your skills on for the long haul.

Simond Store Single Burner: Compact and Efficient

Not everyone has the space for a big, roaring double burner forge. If your workshop is a small corner of the barn or garage, the Simond Store Single Burner is an excellent, space-saving option. Its small footprint makes it easy to set up and store, and its single burner design is incredibly fuel-efficient. It sips propane from a standard 20lb tank, making it an economical choice for getting started.

This forge is a specialist. It’s designed for making small knives—think paring knives, bird-and-trout knives, or small utility blades. It gets plenty hot for forging and heat-treating blades of that size, offering a surprising amount of performance in a compact package. For someone focused exclusively on smaller, detailed work, it’s all the forge you really need.

The tradeoff, of course, is size. You will quickly find its limits if you get an urge to forge a larger chopping knife, a small hatchet, or any tool from thick stock. It simply doesn’t have the power or internal volume to heat large pieces of steel evenly. This is a great choice if you know your limits and your goals are specific, but be honest with yourself; if you think you might want to "go bigger" later, you will outgrow this forge quickly.

Vevor Double Burner Forge: An Accessible Option

Vevor has a reputation for making tools accessible, and their propane forges are no exception. If your primary goal is to get a double burner’s heating capacity on the tightest possible budget, this is often the most direct route. It puts the ability to heat larger stock and even attempt forge welding within reach without a significant financial outlay.

However, that low price point comes with important considerations. The build quality can be less consistent than more expensive brands, and the included components, like the gas regulator and hose, might not be the highest quality. The instructions can sometimes feel more like suggestions, so a bit of mechanical intuition is helpful during setup. You might find yourself needing to tweak the burner alignment or upgrade the regulator down the road to get it running perfectly.

This forge is for the tinkerer. If you’re the kind of person who is comfortable tuning up a chainsaw or rebuilding a carburetor, you’ll have no problem getting a Vevor forge to perform well. It’s a functional tool that can be made great with a little effort. But if you want a tool that works perfectly right out of the box with zero fuss, you may want to invest in a different option.

Majestic Knifemaker Forge: Robust USA-Made Entry

When you see a forge from a company like Majestic, you’re often looking at a product made by smiths, for smiths. These forges, frequently made in the USA, are a step up in both build quality and design philosophy. They are built from thick steel with clean welds, and the components feel substantial and reliable from the moment you unbox them.

The design often includes small but significant features that are born from experience. The burner placement might be optimized for a neutral heating environment, or the chamber shape might be perfected for the dimensions of a knife blank. This isn’t just a generic box for getting metal hot; it’s a purpose-built tool for the specific craft of knifemaking. Customer support is also typically excellent, as you’re often dealing directly with the small company that built it.

You will pay a premium for this level of quality and thoughtful design. But what you get in return is a forge that removes variables. When your tool is this consistent, you can be sure that any problems you encounter are with your technique, not your equipment. For the beginner who is serious about the craft and wants to invest in a quality, American-made tool from day one, this is an outstanding choice.

Atlas Forge Mini: Precision for Dedicated Knifework

The Atlas Forge Mini represents a different approach to a beginner’s forge. It’s not about raw, brute-force heat; it’s about control and efficiency. This is a small, exceptionally well-insulated forge designed to get to temperature quickly and hold it with pinpoint accuracy, all while using a fraction of the propane a larger forge would consume.

This forge is the perfect tool for someone who is already fascinated by the metallurgy of knifemaking. Its small chamber and precise burner allow for incredible control during the critical heat-treating process, which is where a good knife is truly made. If your goal is to create high-performance blades with complex heat-treat protocols, the Atlas gives you a level of control that is difficult to achieve in a larger, less-insulated forge.

The clear tradeoffs are its size and its cost. This is a premium tool with a price tag to match, and its small chamber limits you to forging smaller blades. You won’t be making big choppers or swords in this. The Atlas Forge Mini is for the dedicated, detail-oriented beginner who sees bladesmithing as a craft of precision first and foremost. It’s a scalpel in a world of axes.

Final Checks: Fuel, Safety, and Workspace Setup

Once you’ve chosen your forge, you’re not quite ready to light it. You’ll need at least one standard 20lb propane tank, the same kind you use for a gas grill. I highly recommend getting a second one. Nothing is more frustrating than running out of fuel in the middle of a critical heat, and you will be surprised how quickly a double burner can empty a tank.

Safety is not optional. This isn’t like forgetting your gardening gloves; mistakes here have serious consequences. At a minimum, you need:

• Full-seal safety goggles to protect from flying scale and sparks.
• Natural fiber clothing, like cotton jeans and a leather apron. Synthetic fabrics can melt onto your skin.
• A quality ABC-rated fire extinguisher within arm’s reach.
• Leather gloves for handling materials, but never wear them while hammering at the anvil, as they can reduce your grip and control.

Finally, your workspace must be properly prepared. You need excellent ventilation. Never run a forge in a closed garage; the carbon monoxide it produces is odorless and deadly. Open all the doors and use a large fan to ensure constant air circulation. Your forge should sit on a sturdy, non-flammable surface, and your anvil should be secured nearby. Clear the area of any flammable materials—sawdust, oily rags, paper—before you ever strike that igniter.

Your first forge isn’t just a purchase; it’s the foundation for a new skill. Choosing a reliable, well-built model that matches your ambitions will make the steep learning curve of bladesmithing feel more like a challenging climb and less like an uphill battle in the mud. The deep satisfaction of using a tool you hammered out of raw steel with your own two hands is worth every bit of the effort.