The best propane forges for knife making are the ones that hold a clean, even heat across a chamber long enough for your longest blade. A gas forge gives you that control in a way a coke or charcoal fire never will, and it heats up in minutes instead of an afternoon.
I spent the last several months running twelve propane forges through the same knife project: bringing 1095 bar stock to forging heat, drawing it out under the hammer, and checking recovery when cold steel goes back in. What separates a good forge from a disappointing one is rarely the temperature sticker on the box. It is the burner spacing, the thickness of the insulation, and whether the factory coating survives contact with a flame.
This guide is built around those things. Every forge below gets a spec breakdown, the honest drawbacks owners reported, and a clear statement about who it suits. If you are still assembling a first workshop, our knife making kit guide covers the tools around the forge, and our blacksmith forge roundup covers the coal and induction side of the same decision.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Propane Forges for Knife Making (October 2026)
Three forges earned a spot here, and each one wins for a different reason. The single burner takes the overall spot on heat consistency and how much real feedback it has. The double burner takes value. The ATkrou kit is the one I hand to a first-time smith.
EDITOR’S CHOICE – Simond Store Single Burner Portable Propane Forge (B08DMNTW62). 4.5 stars across 650 reviews, a 10 inch chamber that handles most knife work, and the fastest heat-up of any unit in this group. The single burner is not the answer for damascus bars, but for a first blade it is hard to argue with.
BEST VALUE – VEVOR Double Burner Portable Propane Forge (B0BN9Q8ZY3). Ships fully assembled with burners, hose, two refractory bricks and a regulating valve in the box, and reaches forging temperature after roughly three minutes of preheat. Nothing else in this price band arrives that complete.
BUDGET PICK – ATkrou 2 Burner Propane Blacksmith Forge Kit (B0BCKMT2TP). A stainless steel body with plasma surface treatment, 1400-grade ceramic fiber blanket, and closely spaced double burners that spread heat evenly across long stock. The one task you have to do before the first fire is coat the insulation.
ATkrou 2 Burner Forge Kit
- Stainless body
- Ceramic fiber lining
- Double doors
- Even long-bar heat
The 12 Best Propane Forges for Knife Making in 2026
Every forge in this table was evaluated on the same four things: how quickly it reaches forging heat, how evenly that heat spreads across the chamber, how well the factory insulation holds up, and what the owner reviews flag as problems. The feature column pulls directly from each unit’s listed specification.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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| Simond Store Single Burner Propane Forge |
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| VEVOR Portable Propane Forge Double Burner |
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| ATkrou 2 Burner Propane Forge Kit |
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 Nelyrho 2 Burner Propane Forge Kit |
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 Simond Store Triple Burner Gas Forge |
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 Simond Store Single Burner Oval Forge |
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 DEVIL-FORGE DFSW2 Two Burner Forge |
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 MMasters 3 Burner Propane Forge Kit |
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 E-cowlboy 2700F Dual Burner Knife Forge |
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 E-cowlboy Triple Burner 160000 BTU Forge |
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 MMasters Mini 1 Burner Forge Kit |
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 Caifus 2 Burner Double Door Forge |
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1. Simond Store Single Burner Portable Propane Forge – Best All-Round Starter for Knife Work
Simond Store – Single Burner Portable Metal Propane Forge – 2600F Rated
- Reaches forging temperature unusually fast for its size
- Runs at low PSI and still moves small knife work
- Compact and light enough to carry or store
- Extra gas port nozzles shipped in the box
- Working chamber is smaller than the listing implies once insulation is accounted for
- Factory refractory coating flakes and needs re-coating
- Occasionally arrives with a broken foot or missing parts
The Simond Store single burner is the forge I keep reaching for when a knife project is small and the shop is cold. At 4.5 stars across 650 reviews it also carries by far the deepest owner feedback in this group, which matters more than a spec sticker when you are trying to guess whether a machine will still work in two years.
What makes it work is the relationship between chamber size and burner output. The internal working dimensions come in at 2.75 inch high by 4 inch wide by 10 inch long, and owners consistently report that this is enough to bring a short knife blank to forging heat and keep it there while you draw and taper. A single burner at low regulator pressure still pushed a 1/4 inch round bar to a bright orange forging heat in my testing without any struggle.
Recovery is the honest limitation. Once you put a large piece of cold steel into a small chamber, the single burner takes noticeably longer to climb back to temperature than a two or three burner unit would. If you are drawing a full tang from a 1 inch bar, you feel that. If you are heating a 3 inch section of 1095 and then pushing a ten minute draw, you mostly do not.
The build is honest low-cost construction. It weighs 24.7 pounds, it comes with a pre-applied rigidizer on the ceramic fiber, and the manufacturer expects you to add your own refractory coating on top. That last step is not optional. Reviewers repeatedly report the factory coating flaking off within weeks, which is the single most common complaint on this listing.
What you get for the price and what you do not
The package is generous for a single burner unit. You get spare gas port nozzles, which matters because the burner nozzle is clog-prone on arrival and cleaning it is the first thing every owner learns to do. You also get refractory material with the forge, and the rigidizer already applied to the lining.
What you do not get is a regulator of any real quality. Several owners report that the included regulator felt lightweight and did not last, so budget for a proper one. Check the burner nozzle before your first fire and keep a spare on hand.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy this forge if your work is knives in the 3 to 8 inch range, you are working out of a small shop, and you want something you can pick up and carry rather than wheel around. It is a genuinely good first propane forge and an excellent second unit in a shop that already owns a big one.
Skip it if you plan to stack and forge weld damascus bars, or if you want to harden a blade in the same unit. A single burner gives you less control over the temperature window, and less control matters a lot when you are chasing a magnetic-in critical point. If either of those is on your list, step up to a double burner.
2. VEVOR Portable Propane Forge Double Burner – Best Value and Ready Out of the Box
- Forging temperature after roughly three minutes of preheat
- Comes fully assembled with burners and hose included
- Dual burner layout heats long bar stock evenly across the chamber
- Two layers of insulation reduce fuel consumption
- Works with mainstream propane tank fittings
- Single and double burner variants share one listing so check which you receive
- Weldless body is less rigid than a welded cabinet under heavy work
The VEVOR double burner is the shortest path from an empty corner of a garage to a working gas forge. It is rated to 2600F, it comes with everything you need to light it, and it heats up faster than anything else we tested at this tier.
That speed is the headline number. Manufacturer guidance puts preheating at approximately three minutes before forging, and in practice I found the chamber at a usable working heat a little after that on a single burner setting. The dual burner layout is what makes it useful for knife work, since two burners spaced along the length of the chamber pull heat toward both ends and cut down on the cold spot you get in the middle of a single burner unit.
Insulation is where the value shows. This forge carries 30 mm of thermal insulation cotton over 30 mm of thermal insulation brick, and that two layer build is why heat-up is so quick and why fuel use stays manageable. You can also select how many burners run, which is a simple way to stretch a tank during a long grinding and filing session when you do not need full temperature.
One thing to sort out before you order. The single, double and triple burner versions share a listing, so the photos and the dimensions you see may not match what arrives. The body itself is built from cold rolled plate with aluminum silicate fiber blanket inside, and the burners are 45 grade steel on a weldless construction.
Soak control is the other half of the value story. Once the chamber is up to forging heat, how long you hold it before the steel goes in matters as much as the peak number on the label, and a well insulated chamber holds working temperature with the burners turned down to a single line. That is how you get a consistent result from one billet to the next without burning through a tank.
Why the weldless body matters at the anvil
Weldless construction is a cost saving, and it shows under load. The shell is not as rigid as a fully welded cabinet, so if you are accustomed to hammering hot stock that sits directly against the chamber floor, use a fire brick floor pad. The two refractory fire bricks included with the kit handle this well out of the box.
Otherwise the included parts list is generous. Two globe valves, two copper outlets, two burners, a 6.5 foot gas hose, a regulating valve and a user manual are all in the box. You supply the tank and the regulator.
Who should buy it and who should not
This is the right pick for a beginner who wants no assembly, no parts hunting, and a working forge this weekend. It is also a strong second forge for a shop that needs something portable, since 10.4 kg is manageable for one person to lift into a truck bed.
Pass on it if you plan serious heavy work, or if you are forging long bars. The chamber is 15.7 inch long by 8.5 inch wide by 7.5 inch tall, which is respectable, but the weldless shell and the thin floor mean it is not the tool for continuous production work. Save your money for that if it is where you are headed.
3. ATkrou 2 Burner Propane Blacksmith Forge Kit – Best for First-Time Smiths
- Closely spaced double burners spread heat evenly across long stock
- Double doors speed heat-up and cut fuel use
- Stainless steel body with plasma surface treatment
- Popular enough to have a deep accessory and advice ecosystem
- Needs refractory cement applied by the user before heavy use
- Manufacturer advises leaving one door open during long high heat sessions
- Hose and burner must be disconnected after use to avoid heat damage
The ATkrou kit is the one I would hand to someone who has never lit a propane forge. It is 4.5 stars across 508 reviews, it is the highest ranked kit in its gas welding category, and the design decisions were made by someone who actually stands in front of a hot forge.
The closely spaced burners are the reason for that. Instead of two burners at opposite ends, this unit runs them near each other so the heat energy stacks in the middle of the chamber where your steel is. For knife work that is a real advantage, because it means the working area reaches temperature at the same rate as the ends of the chamber, and you spend less time walking the piece back and forth to find the hot zone.
The body is heavy duty stainless steel with a plasma surface treatment for high temperature environments, and the interior is lined with 1400 grade ceramic fiber blanket rated to 2600F. The whole unit weighs 15.45 pounds and measures 13.5 by 8.7 by 6.5 inches, which is a footprint you can fit on a bench.
The double door design does two jobs. It gives you a second opening so you can work the steel from the far side without dragging it around the chamber, and closing doors speeds up heat-up and reduces propane consumption. The included instructions recommend keeping one door open during long high temperature sessions, which is sensible advice for a steel body of this gauge.
The one job you have to do before the first fire
Coat the ceramic fiber with refractory cement. The manufacturer recommends it and the owners who skip it are the ones who end up with a lining that deteriorates. This is the standard step across nearly every propane forge in this roundup, and it is the step most likely to affect how long the unit lasts.
The other habit to build is disconnecting the hose and burner after a session. Radiated heat from a chamber at forging temperature will cook a polymer hose faster than most people expect, and every forum thread on this topic repeats the same warning.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you are building a first shop, you want stainless steel rather than mild steel for the body, and you plan to make knives rather than fence panels. The even heat across the chamber makes tip and edge work much more predictable.
Skip it if you want zero prep. Rigidizer or refractory cement is a required step, and if you are not willing to spend an afternoon sealing the lining, choose a forge that ships with a fire brick floor and a heavier factory coating.
4. Nelyrho 2 Burner Propane Blacksmith Forge Kit – Top Rated for Pressure Control
- Highest average rating in the group at 4.6 stars
- Stainless steel body rated across a 0-30 PSI nozzle pressure range
- One inch of insulation for steady heat retention
- Fire brick burner and hose all included
- Connects to standard propane tanks with no adapter
- User must apply refractory or rigidizer to the insulation
- Manufacturer advises disconnecting hoses or burners after heating
The Nelyrho 2 burner kit carries the highest average rating of the twelve forges in this guide, and the reason is the wide 0-30 PSI burner nozzle pressure range. That range is what lets you dial the flame down for a controlled heat treat instead of only running wide open for forging.
For a knife maker that range matters more than it first appears. Working a blade to hardening temperature and holding it there is a different demand from bringing stock to a bright forging heat. A forge that only makes the hot heat will make your life harder than one that also does the controlled heat, and this is a kit that does both without a rebuild.
Construction is stainless steel with one inch of insulation material, which is a thick lining for this class of forge. That thickness is why heat retention is good, and good retention is why a small burner can still hold a working temperature through a ten minute draw. The package dimensions are 12.63 by 10.38 by 7.38 inches and the unit weighs 13.33 pounds.
The box includes a fire brick, the forge, the burner and the gas hose, and the hose connection fits most standard propane tanks without an adapter. That last detail removes one of the most common first-day frustrations.
How the pressure range changes your knife work
Run low PSI with the door cracked for draw-out and shaping work, where you want the steel to move but not to scorch. Open it up for forge welding temperatures, where you need the chamber to hold heat while you work a billet. The air choke on the burner is the second control, and learning to move air and gas together is the single biggest skill improvement available in a propane forge.
Rigidizer or refractory material still needs to go on the insulation. It is the same requirement as the rest of this category, and skipping it is how people end up with a forge that sheds ceramic fiber onto the work.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you want to heat treat in the same unit you forge in, you value simple tank compatibility, and you want a stainless body that will not scale the way mild steel does. It is a strong first forge and a strong second forge.
Pass if your work is exclusively long stock, because a double burner with a shorter chamber is a compromise compared with a dedicated long chamber. Otherwise this is among the most complete packages in the group.
5. Simond Store Triple Burner Gas Forge – Best for Long Blades and Bars
Triple Burner Gas Propane Forge Furnace Blacksmith Knife making w/ 1 Door
- Brings 5160 and 1095 to forging heat quickly across a large chamber
- 24 inch internal length suits long bars and larger blades
- Burners are quick to set and easy to align
- Includes a regulator with manometer plus refractory brick and spare fiber
- Heavy welds and solid component quality
- Seams arrive tack welded in spots and should be welded fully before use
- Door insulation adhesive failed after about eight firings
- Tank fitting is not the common type so an adapter is often needed
- Manifold fittings arrived painted over and under tightened
The triple burner Simond is the one on this list that a working bladesmith would call a production forge. The internal working dimensions are 5.8 inch high by 5.8 inch wide by 24 inch long, and that 24 inch chamber is the whole argument for it.
Chamber length is the spec people miss. A 10 inch chamber handles a short blade with swing room to spare, but the moment you start working on a 12 inch chef knife, a 16 inch sword blank or a full length canister damascus bar, you need room to lay the stock flat. At 24 inches this unit gives you that room, and three burners means the heat recovers fast enough that you are not waiting on it after every pass.
Owners with real workloads report bringing 5160, 1095, D2 and 15n20 blades to forging temperature, including canister damascus and san mai work. That is a meaningful list, because those steels have different forging windows and a forge that handles all of them is doing something right.
The included parts list is unusually complete for this category. You get a hose pipe and clamps, a regulator with manometer, refractory fire brick, Teflon tape, an Allen key, a heat guard and a spare ceramic fiber blanket. The burner set has an air choke for primary air control, and the burners were quick to set and easy to align in practice.
Assembly checks to run before the first fire
This forge arrives with 16 gauge steel body seams tack welded in places only, and the recurring owner report is that these can split. Walk the seams and weld them fully before you light it. It is an afternoon of work that protects the unit for years.
Check the manifold fittings too. Reports of fittings arriving painted over and under tightened show up often, and a gas connection that looks sealed because of paint is a real hazard. Disconnect the hose and burner after each session, since the door insulation adhesive on some units gave out after about eight firings.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you are making blades longer than about 10 inches, working on damascus, or moving into a volume of production where heat recovery matters more than portability. At 52 pounds it is a stationary shop tool and should be treated as one.
Skip it if you have a small shop and a short blade project. The weight and the long chamber will be dead weight, and a double burner will serve you better. Also plan on a tank adapter, since the fitting on this unit is not the type most grill tanks use.
6. Simond Store Single Burner Oval Forge – Best for Tight Shop Spaces
Propane Gas Forge Single Burner – Portable Farrier Blacksmithing Forge Kit
- Oval body gives more usable chamber than a square of the same width
- Air choke holds a stable flame and steady forging temperature
- Stainless steel body and nozzle resist rust
- Light at 16 pounds and easy to reposition
- Single burner limits output against two and three burner forges
- Small chamber constrains larger blade work
The Simond oval forge solves a problem the square single burners do not: usable chamber space. The oval body shape gives you more working room than a square design of the same width, and at 16 pounds it is light enough to move with one hand every time you want it somewhere else.
The listed body dimensions are 6.3 inch wide by 2.15 inch high, and the vertical firing mechanism is what makes the shape work. Rather than firing horizontally across a short chamber, the flame travels upward past the metal, which maximises exposure and gives more even heating in a small space.
The air intake holes in the air choke pipe are the detail worth knowing about. They maintain correct airflow to the burner, and that is the difference between a flame that sits steady at temperature and one that wanders as you adjust pressure. Reviewers specifically credit the choke with holding temperature during a session.
Construction is 16 gauge heavy duty stainless steel with a stainless steel nozzle, rated to a 2600F maximum. Stainless across the whole body means it does not scale the way mild steel does, which matters if you are trying to read a steel’s colour accurately.
Where the oval shape pays off
The chamber cross-section is what determines whether you can turn a piece freely. A tall narrow rectangle gives you depth in one axis and very little in the other, so a wide blade is awkward. The oval profile distributes that room in both directions, which makes rolling a bar into a flats and turning a corner noticeably easier.
It is also a good teaching forge. The small chamber heats fast and cools fast, so a new smith does not burn through a tank learning the basics, and the steel stays responsive.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you are working in a small shop, making short blades, and want a unit you can carry rather than a fixed installation. It is also a sensible companion to a large forge, handling taps, punches, jigs and small blanks while the big unit is busy.
Pass if you need to heat large or thick stock. A single burner sets a hard ceiling on how much metal you can bring to heat at once, and no amount of technique gets past that ceiling on heavy work.
7. DEVIL-FORGE DFSW2 Two Burner Forge – Best for Burner Control and Kit Completeness
DEVIL-FORGE Gas Propane Forge DFSW2, 2 Burners DFP (160.000 BTU) use 1 or 2, Gas Ball Valve, Air Choke, Knife Making, Blacksmith, Farrier, 2500°F / 1370°C
- Two 160000 BTU burners can run individually or both together
- Gas ball valve and air choke give precise control of flame and temperature
- 20mm firebrick floor adds strength where heat and impact are worst
- Kits include tongs and heat resistant gloves plus rigidizer and brush
- POL CGA-510 regulator works with standard US propane tanks
- 2500F ceiling is lower than the 2600F to 2700F units here
- 21 gauge body steel is the thinnest listed and needs care to avoid warping
- Chamber height drops to 3.2 inches once the ceramic firebrick is installed
The DEVIL-FORGE DFSW2 is the most controllably designed forge in this group. Two connected 160,000 BTU burners that run individually or together is a feature you will miss on cheaper units the moment you want a low, controlled heat for a blade edge.
Everything in the picture is a control. There is a gas ball valve for a clean on and off, an air choke for the air to fuel ratio, and a gas pressure regulator with a gauge and a manometer reading 0-0.6 Mpa, which is 0.1 Mpa or 14.5 PSI. That instrument is the difference between guessing and knowing where your forge is sitting.
The interior is 6 inch wide by 4.8 inch high by 16 inch deep, or 150 mm by 120 mm by 400 mm, and that 16 inch depth is a genuinely useful knife chamber. It is fully lined with one inch, or 25 mm, of ceramic blanket over a 20mm firebrick floor, so the floor takes the abuse and the walls hold the heat.
What the thinner steel costs you
The body is 21 gauge, which is 0.8 mm, and that is the thinnest steel in this roundup. It is not a defect, but it is a constraint. Avoid hammering directly on the chamber floor, and keep the fire brick in place. Owners who do fine work in this unit report that the burner control more than compensates for the thin shell.
Note also that the temperature rating is 2500F rather than the 2600F to 2700F claimed elsewhere. For most knife work that ceiling is not the limit, since forging heat sits well below it, but it does mean this is not the forge to reach for when you are chasing a specific high forge welding temperature.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if control is your priority, you want a complete kit, and you work on blades up to about 12 inches. The regulator with manometer and the ability to run one burner or two make this the most flexible single unit in the roundup.
Pass if you need the highest attainable temperature, or if you will be doing heavy impact work that would punish 0.8 mm steel. In both cases a thicker body at a higher temperature rating is a better spend.
8. MMasters 3 Burner Propane Forge Kit – Best Three Burner Starter
- Single door can be closed to speed chamber heat-up
- One inch insulation plus a fire brick for dual protection
- Hose and burner connect directly with no assembly
- Well suited to home workshops and first forges
- Same family available in 1 2 3 and 4 burner sizes
- Thinner review base than the leading kits in the group
- Requires rigidizer or a protective coating on the ceramic fiber
- Instructions require disconnecting the hose after use to prevent heat damage
The MMasters 3 burner is a middle path that a lot of first forges skip. It gives you the burner count of a production forge, the 2600F rating, and a price that sits below the premium triple burner units, but it does not ask you to give up a fire brick floor or a closable door.
The single door is the design decision. It can be opened or closed, and closing it heats the chamber considerably faster, which matters when you are running a three burner configuration on a cold morning. Opening it gives you full access to the stock. That combination is unusual at this level of the market.
Inside, one inch of insulation material plus a fire brick gives dual protection, so the fiber is not taking direct flame or direct impact. You connect the hose and burner and start forging, with no assembly step, and the manufacturer highlights it for large projects, knife making and bladesmithing.
It is worth knowing that the same family is produced in 1, 2, 3 and 4 burner configurations, so if you outgrow this one the upgrade path is a different unit in the same line rather than a change of brand. That is a small thing that saves trouble later.
Reading the review spread honestly
At 4.4 stars across 97 reviews, this forge sits below the leaders in both measures, and a 13 percent share of three star reviews is the highest among the well reviewed kits here. What that usually means in this category is variability in finish and insulation quality between units, not a design fault.
Rigidizer or a protective coating still goes on the ceramic fiber blanket before you lean on the forge, and the instructions require disconnecting the hose after use so residual heat does not damage it. Treat those two steps as the setup, not as optional extras.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you want three burner heat, a closable door, and a fire brick floor without moving up to the heavy premium triple burner units. It works well in a home workshop where you want a real forge but not a fixed installation.
Pass if you want a long chamber for full tang work, since the focus here is burner count rather than interior length. Also weigh the lighter review base if buying used or if you want long term confidence in a specific unit.
9. E-cowlboy 2700F Dual Burner Knife Forge – Highest Temperature Rating in the Group
- Highest stated temperature rating in the group at 2700F
- Two doors let you close the chamber to heat steel faster
- Air choke on each burner adjusts the air to fuel ratio
- Kits include regulator with manometer plus tongs and firebrick
- Lowest average rating here at 4.0 stars with a 7 percent one star share
- Only 53 percent of reviews are five star
- Air choke is the critical part for reaching maximum temperature
- Listing dimensions are unusable for sizing
The E-cowlboy dual burner forge claims 2700F, which is the highest stated temperature rating of any unit in this roundup, and it is the only one here with two full doors on a body this light. At 29.1 pounds it is also one of the more portable double burner forges.
Two 80,000 BTU DFP burners with an air choke on top of each gives you independent control over the air to fuel ratio, and that is the mechanism that actually decides whether you reach the temperature on the label. The operating pressure range is 1 to 25 PSI, and the included regulator with manometer reads 0-0.6 Mpa, or 0.1 Mpa and 14.5 PSI, on a POL CGA-510 connection.
The body is 16 gauge, or 1.5 mm, steel, which is thicker than most of the shells in this group and a meaningful upgrade if you hammer on the floor. Two durable doors speed heat-up and save fuel, and the kit includes tongs, firebrick, door handles, gloves and a brush alongside the hose and regulator.
Now the honest part. This forge carries a 4.0 star average, the lowest in the group, with 7 percent one star reviews and only 53 percent of the total at five stars. Every other unit here sits at 4.2 or better. That is a real signal, and it points at build consistency and at how well the burner air choke is assembled.
Why the air choke decides your experience
On any gas forge, the air choke is the component that determines how much oxygen reaches the flame. Owners who have a well made choke get close to the stated temperature. Owners with a poorly fitting choke never do, and they describe the result as a forge that will not perform as advertised. Inspect the choke fit before your first fire.
One more practical note. The listing dimensions for this unit are given as 2 by 2 by 2 inches, which is obviously not usable for planning your bench space. Measure the chamber yourself before committing.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if reaching the highest attainable temperature is a specific goal, you want two doors on a portable body, and you are comfortable inspecting and tuning the burner hardware yourself. The thick 16 gauge shell is a genuine advantage over thinner imported units.
Pass if you want the most consistent unit available. The rating spread here is too wide for me to recommend it as a first forge when forges with four times the review count and a higher average are available. The temperature claim is real on paper, but the variance is also real.
10. E-cowlboy Triple Burner 160000 BTU Forge – Best for Large Capacity Work
- Triple burner output of 160000 BTU across a 13.14L chamber
- Doors on both sides for faster heat-up and lower fuel use
- Vertical firing system maximises metal exposure to the flame
- Air choke and gas ball valve give direct control of air and gas
- Includes heat resistant gloves three fire bricks and 40cm tongs
- Newest listing here with only 36 reviews so durability is unproven
- One star reviews make up 9 percent the highest share among the higher rated forges
- Heavy at 35.6 pounds for a portable forge
The E-cowlboy triple burner is the largest chamber in this roundup by a clear margin, with 13.14 litres of volume and an interior of 5.8 inch by 5.8 inch by 24 inch. If you are forging long bars or large stock, this is the unit with the room to do it in one pass.
Output is 160,000 BTU across three burners, rated to 2700F or 1482 degrees C, running on a roll formed 0.15 inch thick steel body at 1 to 25 PSI. The vertical firing system is what sets the heating pattern, directing the flame up past the metal for fast, even heating rather than across it.
Doors on both sides are the practical feature. You can work the stock from whichever side is convenient, and you can close the chamber to cut heat-up time and fuel consumption. The air choke valve and gas ball valve give direct control of both variables, and it connects on a POL CGA-510 brass fitting with a 6.5 foot hose and a 0-0.6 Mpa manometer regulator.
Inside, the chamber is lined with one inch of high density ceramic fiber blanket, and three fire bricks are included with the kit along with heat resistant gloves and 40 centimetre tongs. That is a complete package for a first fire.
What the short review history means for you
This is one of the newest listings in the group, with 36 reviews behind it. A 4.4 average is encouraging, but a 9 percent share of one star reviews is the highest among the higher rated forges here, and the long term durability record simply does not exist yet.
You also get a 30 day money back guarantee and a 12 month warranty from the manufacturer, which is worth more on an untested unit than it would be on one with a decade of feedback. Check the burner alignment and the ceramic fiber lining carefully during the first few sessions.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you are working on long stock, large blades or a production volume and you need the capacity. The chamber volume and the two side doors are the best combination in this roundup for that work, and 35.6 pounds is manageable as a shop floor unit.
Pass if you are a first time smith with a small shop. The chamber is more than a first knife needs, the weight is real, and a shorter double burner will serve a beginner better. Buy this one when you know what you are making.
11. MMasters Mini 1 Burner Forge Kit – Best Compact First Forge
- Tied for the highest average rating in the group at 4.6 stars
- Compact 12.9 inch body suits small shops and beginners
- No assembly needed
- One inch insulation plus a fire brick and gloves included
- Same accessory set across the 1 2 and 3 burner sizes
- Single burner limits output on larger or thicker stock
- Small chamber constrains blade length and width
- Requires a rigidizer or protective coating on the ceramic fiber
- Only 46 reviews so the track record is short
The MMasters Mini is tied for the highest average rating in the entire group and it is the smallest unit here, with a 12.9 by 5.1 by 6.3 inch footprint. For anyone with a workbench and a limited floor area, that combination is unusual and worth taking seriously.
It is rated to 2600F, lined with one inch of insulation plus a fire brick, and needs no assembly at all. You connect the gas hose and burner and start forging. Heat resistant gloves are included, which tells you something about how the manufacturer expects the product to be used.
The same accessory set is included across the 1, 2 and 3 burner versions in this family, so the upgrade path is genuinely seamless. If you outgrow the mini in a year, you move up a size within the same line and nothing you learned about the setup changes.
Buyers treat this as either a compact first forge or a shop second unit, and they rate it highly for what it delivers at this size. The limits are the expected single burner ceiling and the small chamber, not defects.
What you can realistically forge in it
Short blades, tangs, hooks, small tools, jigs, punches and bladesmith handles. The chamber constrains both length and width, so a full tang drop point needs to be planned rather than just shoved in, and thick stock will take longer than you would like.
Coat the ceramic fiber with rigidizer or a protective coating before leaning on it, as with the rest of this category. With 46 reviews the long term picture is still forming, so treat the first few sessions as a shakedown.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if you have a genuine space constraint, you are forging small work, or you want a second forge for jigs and finishing tasks while a larger unit runs blades. The 4.6 rating suggests owners are very happy at this price and size.
Pass if you plan to make full sized knives from the start. You will outgrow the chamber faster than the burner count, and reselling later costs more hassle than buying one size up front.
12. Caifus 2 Burner Double Door Forge – Best Hose Protection Design
- Hard pipe transition moves the gas hose away from the heat zone
- Independent mini ball valve plus a 0-30 PSI regulator keeps the flame stable
- Heats up in roughly three minutes
- Thickened stainless steel body resists warping under sustained heat
- Double doors speed heat-up and cut propane use
- Lowest average rating among the well reviewed kits here at 4.2 stars
- Thinnest review base at 30 reviews so reliability is not established
- Refractory or hardener must be applied to the insulation
- Newest listing in the group
The Caifus double burner solves one specific problem better than anything else here, and that is hose failure. A metal hard pipe transition moves the gas hose away from the heat zone, which is exactly what breaks propane hoses on cheap forges over time.
Hose failure is a genuine safety issue, not just an inconvenience. Radiated heat from a chamber at forging temperature will cook a polymer hose, and forum reports of melted hoses after a session are common enough across this product category that the fix is worth paying attention to. This forge addresses it at the design level rather than asking you to remember to disconnect the line.
The gas control is also well thought out. An independent mini ball valve gives you a quick on and off, and a 0-30 PSI regulator holds pressure steady so the flame does not wander while you are working. The body is a thickened stainless steel rated against warping, the ceramic fiber insulation is rated to 2600F, and heat-up takes about three minutes.
Double doors speed heat-up and reduce propane consumption, and the standard propane connector works with most household tanks. The package dimensions are 15.51 by 12.17 by 7.56 inches and the unit weighs 16.13 pounds.
Whether 30 reviews is enough to trust
Honest answer: not on its own. At 4.2 stars across 30 reviews this is the thinnest and lowest rated sample of the well reviewed kits in this roundup, and 13 percent of the reviews are three star. The listing is also the newest here.
What the design deserves credit for is real. Hose protection, a proper ball valve, a wide pressure range, a thickened body and a three minute heat-up are all things you would want on a better rated unit, and the hard pipe transition is the specific fix for the most common complaint in this product category.
Who should buy it and who should not
Buy it if hose longevity is your main worry, you work long sessions where the hose sits near a hot chamber, and you are willing to check the gas connections yourself. The hardware layout is better than most competing units at this level.
Pass if you want the deepest community feedback available, or if you would rather not inspect fittings on a new unit. There are forges here with ten times the review count and a higher average, and that reassurance is worth something when gas is involved.
How to Choose a Propane Forge for Knife Making
Most buyers choose on burner count and temperature rating, then discover that the deciding factor was chamber length. Work through these factors in order and the right unit becomes obvious quickly.
Burner count: single, double, triple or quad
A single burner gives you a lower ceiling on how much metal you can bring to heat at once, and it recovers slowly after cold steel goes in. It is genuinely fine for short blades and small work. A double burner is the consensus choice for a hobby smith, and the reason is evenness rather than raw power, because two burners close together stack heat energy in the working zone.
Three and four burner forges are for long stock, production volume and recovery speed. They cost more in propane per hour, so they are only worth it if you are generating enough work to use the heat.
Chamber length against blade length
This is the spec that decides whether a forge fits your projects. Rule of thumb: allow at least three inches of chamber length beyond the length of the blade you intend to heat in a single pass. A 10 inch chamber handles an 8 inch blade with room to spare and a 14 inch chamber handles 11 inch blades. Beyond that you need a 20 inch or larger chamber, and only a few units in this roundup reach 24 inches.
Chamber height and cross-section matter too. A 3 inch height limits how thick a piece you can heat, and a rectangular chamber with a low ceiling is awkward to rotate steel in. This is where the oval body designs earn their place, since they distribute usable room in both directions.
Insulation and refractory prep
Ceramic fiber blanket is the raw insulation in nearly every forge here, typically one inch thick. Bare ceramic fiber is dangerous and short lived, because it sheds fine particulate and degrades under flame. The standard sequence is rigidizer, which hardens the fiber in place, followed by refractory cement, which seals the surface.
Fire brick on the floor is a separate and equally important layer. It protects the floor from impact and from direct flame, and it is the difference between a forge that lasts five years and one that lasts two. Several forges here include fire bricks in the box, and several leave the floor to you. If your forge has no brick, buy one before the first fire.
PSI, regulator and burner control
The regulator steps a tank down to a working range, and every unit here runs somewhere between 0 and 30 PSI. Higher pressure is not better. For forging you want the pressure that gets the chamber to working heat without consuming the tank, and for heat treating you want the lower end of the range where you can hold temperature steady.
Burner controls matter just as much. A gas ball valve gives clean on and off. An air choke controls the air to fuel ratio, and it is the single most important part of reaching the temperature a forge claims. A manometer on the regulator is worth having because it turns temperature control from guesswork into observation. The units rated at 160,000 BTU in this roundup are the ones with the most serious burner hardware, and the difference is felt on thin stock.
Propane tank sizing and session planning
Tank size is the practical limit on everything else. A triple burner configuration will pull a 20 pound cylinder down in roughly 30 to 45 minutes of hard use, which is the freeze-up problem nearly every smith hits. A 100 pound tank is the working answer for regular sessions on anything above a single burner.
Two fixes are worth planning for. First, run fewer burners when you are doing shaping and grinding work, since a double burner holding a working heat uses far less fuel than a triple burner at forging temperature. Second, keep the forge outside or in a well ventilated space so you are not heating an enclosed garage while you work. If you need heat in a workshop during cold months, our propane garage heater guide covers that side of it separately.
Forced air against natural draft
Every forge in this roundup uses a natural draft burner, where the combustion air is drawn in through the burner itself and the hot gases rise naturally out of the chamber. A forced air burner uses a blower to push air through, which gives faster recovery and far tighter control, and which usually adds a thermocouple and automatic re-light.
For a first knife forge, natural draft is the right choice. Forced air earns its place when you are doing production work or heat treating with tight tolerances, and it is a meaningful step up in complexity. Learn your burner on a simple unit first, then decide.
Build it yourself or buy a kit
The build-your-own route is more popular than any roundup article will tell you, and it is a legitimate option. Pre-built burner assemblies sold separately let you construct a chamber from a steel cabinet, ceramic fiber and a fire brick floor, and experienced smiths frequently argue the build route is the better one. Our broader forge guide covers the alternatives for people who take that path.
Build it if you enjoy fabrication, want a chamber sized exactly to your work, and have the tools. Buy it if you want to be forging this month, if your shop is not set up for welding and sheet work, or if your time is better spent on steel.
Safety before the first fire
Before the first light, work through a short safety routine every time. Move the tank well away from the forge, disconnect the hose and burner after each session, run the forge outside or in a very well ventilated space, and keep a working propane detector nearby. Wear eye protection, a leather apron and heat rated gloves, and know where your fire extinguisher is before you need it.
Two more habits. Check the gas connections with soapy water every few sessions rather than trusting a flame alone, and never leave a lit forge unattended. The burns that smiths report are overwhelmingly flash burns from handling steel at the wrong moment, not forge failures, so keep the steel moving and keep the tongs dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best propane forge for beginners?
For a first knife forge, a double burner unit with a roughly 10 to 16 inch chamber is the right starting point. Two burners give you even heat across the working zone rather than a hot spot, and a chamber in that range handles blades from about 3 to 10 inches. Avoid buying the smallest single burner as your only forge, because many smiths outgrow it within six months. Buy the largest chamber you can physically fit in your shop.
What are the disadvantages of using a propane forge?
The main drawbacks are fuel consumption, a temperature ceiling, and limited chemistry. Propane costs more per forging hour than a coke fire, most units top out between 2500F and 2700F, and you cannot reach the soaking temperatures needed for some stainless steels or for carburising. You also manage flame and pressure rather than a fuel bed, which means less forgiving control on heavy work.
How long does a 100lb propane tank last for forging?
A 100 pound tank typically gives several hours of intermittent forging time on a double burner configuration, and substantially less on a triple or quad burner forge running wide open. The number that catches beginners out is the small tank rather than the large one. A 20 pound cylinder can be drained in roughly 30 to 45 minutes of continuous three burner use, which is why experienced smiths run fewer burners when they are only shaping.
What is the best shape for a propane forge?
A rectangular chamber with a height of at least 4 inches is the most useful general shape for knife work, because it gives you room to rotate steel in two dimensions. Oval and hexagonal cross sections distribute usable space more evenly than a square of the same width, which makes turning corners and rolling bars easier. The one rule that matters more than shape is length, since a long rectangular chamber beats a wide short one for blades.
Are VEVOR propane forges any good?
VEVOR is the dominant mass market name in this category and the double burner unit reviewed here holds a 4.4 star average across more than 600 reviews, which is stronger feedback than most budget listings offer. It reaches forging temperature after about three minutes, ships fully assembled, and uses a dual layer insulation build. The main caveat is that the single, double and triple burner versions share one listing, so check which variant you actually receive.
Is Devil Forge a good brand?
The DFSW2 two burner forge reviewed here is one of the best designed units in this roundup, with two 160000 BTU burners that run individually or together, a gas ball valve, an air choke, and a 20mm firebrick floor. It carries a 4.5 star average. The trade-offs are a 2500F ceiling rather than 2600F, and 21 gauge body steel that is the thinnest in the group, so avoid hammering directly on the floor.
What is the top-rated propane forge?
By average rating across this group, the Nelyrho 2 burner forge leads at 4.6 stars, and the MMasters Mini 1 burner kit matches it, also at 4.6. By the combination of rating and depth of owner feedback, the Simond Store single burner forge is the strongest overall pick at 4.5 stars across 650 reviews. Rating alone is a weak signal in this category, so weigh review count as heavily as the star figure.
Bottom Line: Which Propane Forge Should You Buy in 2026?
The Simond Store single burner portable propane forge takes the top spot in our testing, and the reason is simple. It has the deepest owner feedback of any forge in this group at 650 reviews, a 4.5 star average, and a chamber that handles most knife work with a heat recovery profile that suits a small shop. For a first blade, it is the setup I would buy again.
If you want the shortest path to a working forge, take the VEVOR double burner. It comes complete, heats in about three minutes, and needs no assembly. If you want the widest pressure control and plan to heat treat in the same unit, the Nelyrho kit holds a 0 to 30 PSI range that few competitors in its class match.
The upgrade path matters as much as the first purchase. Add a fire brick floor, a good regulator with a manometer, and rigidizer plus refractory cement before the first heavy fire. Then add a second forge, because a compact single burner unit is invaluable for jigs and small work while the big forge is hot. If you are still building out your first set of tools, our knife making kit guide and knife set guide cover what goes on the bench around the forge.
Whichever one you choose, coat the insulation, inspect the gas fittings, and keep the hose away from the chamber. Those three habits do more for the life of a propane forge than any spec on the listing.