Diagnosing inconsistent heat in a propane forge

[Emberstone]

I’m struggling with my propane forge’s heat consistency. One moment it’s super hot, and the next it’s barely glowing orange, and I can’t figure out what’s going on. It could be a regulator problem, some crud in the burner orifice, the air mix might be off, or maybe there are gremlins involved.

What’s your troubleshooting approach for nailing down this inconsistent heat before I waste more propane chasing after nothing and ruining perfectly good steel?

 

[Anvilenvy]

I've been in that situation. Mine acted up when the regulator started failing. I checked the pressure, cleaned the burner, and reset the air mixture. Just a couple of minor adjustments, and it was back to running smoothly like nothing happened.

 

[crucibleking]

It sounds like a classic case of gas starvation. I’d check the tank first, then move on to the regulator and the orifice.
Sometimes even a tiny bit of debris can cause big problems.
Start by cleaning, then adjust, and only think about replacing parts if needed.

 

[blistersmith]

I had the same issue last winter. It turned out the hose was collapsing when it got warm. I replaced it, cleaned the burner, and voilà, steady heat all day without any hassle.

 

[Thepunsmith]

Those forge gremlins are definitely a thing. I’d remove the burner, clean the orifice, recheck the regulator, and adjust the air gate. Make one change at a time so you can pinpoint what actually solved the issue.