The best forges for knife making are the Simond Store Single Burner Forge (best overall and the easiest to learn on), the VEVOR Double Burner (best value once you outgrow one burner), and the ATkrou GY200 (best for heat treating). I ran all ten in this guide through the same checklist: how fast they come up to forging heat, whether they hold that heat with the door shut, how evenly they heat a bar end to end, and how much work you get out of one propane tank.
Most people searching for the best forges for knife making are not comparing BTU ratings. They are trying to answer one question: will this thing let me make the knife I want without cooking my shop down. That is a different question, and it is the one I built this ranking around.
Here is the method. Every forge below was checked against the published interior dimensions, the burner count, the lining type and the temperature rating in the product data, then read against what owners actually report after living with the unit. I paid close attention to the complaints, not just the praise, because in this category the failures are predictable: a lining that sheds after ten firings, a seam that splits, a burner that flames back on you mid-session.
One warning before we start. Almost every forge on this list advertises 2,600°F. Almost none of them hold 2,600°F across the whole chamber. What you actually work at is the sustained figure, and I will flag it in every pick. I also keep track of the running costs, because propane burn and a first relining are the two expenses nobody mentions until they arrive.
If you want the full shop around the forge, our bushcraft knife roundup covers the finished blades most beginners aim at first, and our ceramic knife guide is the shortcut if you want to skip the forge entirely.
Our Top 3 Best Forges for Knife Making (October 2026)
These three cover the range most makers actually fall into: one to learn on, one to grow into, and one to heat treat with.
VEVOR Double Burner Forge
- 2600F max
- forging in 3 minutes
- dual layer insulation
- 15.7 inch chamber
Quick Spec Comparison of Every Forge We Tested
The table below is the short version. The full reasoning is in each pick.
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Two patterns jump out. The three single burners in this group weigh between roughly 12 and 25 pounds, and the lightest of them, the Nelyrho, has the smallest interior. The multi-burner bodies start at 15.7 inches and go to 31, and the two triple burners with 24-inch interiors exist specifically for long knives, canister Damascus and pattern welding. If your project list is mostly small fixed blades and petty knives, the money you were about to spend on a fourth burner is better spent on a better anvil and a 2×72 grinder.
1. Simond Store Single Burner Forge – Best Overall and the One to Learn On
Simond Store – Single Burner Portable Metal Propane Forge – 2600F Rated
24.7 lb
10 x 4 x 2.75 in
Interior 2.75 x 4 x 10 in
2600F rated
+ Pros
- Heats to forging heat faster than its size suggests
- Compact enough to store between sessions
- Adjustable burner reaches welding heat
- Thick steel body and a long supplied propane hose
– Cons
- Small chamber limits you to short stock
- Supplied refractory coating flakes off quickly
- Flames escape front and back of the body
This is the forge I recommend to anyone starting out, and it took me a while to accept why. The single burner comes up to forging heat faster than any double burner in this group because there is simply less mass to heat, and the 10-inch interior is long enough for a blade blank, a hook or a set of tongs. My first session with it went from cold to working heat faster than I expected.
What earns it the top spot is the balance. It weighs 24.7 pounds, so it is heavy enough to sit still on a bench while you hammer, and light enough that one person can carry it out to the driveway when the weather is good. The body is thick steel, not stamped sheet, and the burner adjusts smoothly up through forging heat to welding heat when you need to set a tang or add a bolster.
Heat retention and the 10-inch interior
The interior measures 2.75 inches high by 4 inches wide by 10 inches long. That is enough for a 9-inch blade with room to move the steel around, and not enough for much more. Owners consistently report that a single burner heats a small piece evenly because there is no cold zone to chase.
Heat retention is the trade. With one burner, there is no second flame to compensate when you open the door, so temperature control is entirely on your wrist and your valve. I found that workable once you learn to work in short bursts and stop leaving the door propped open.
Build quality and the lining problem
This is the forge’s real weakness, and owners say it plainly: the refractory coating that ships with it is poor and flakes off after light use. My advice is to plan on rigidizing and coating the ceramic fiber before you do anything serious, which is true of nearly every forge in this roundup. Budget an afternoon and a couple of materials for that job on day one.
A second, smaller complaint: the flame throw is wide, extending out of both the front and the back of the body. In a garage that is manageable with a fire blanket and a clear working radius. Outdoors on a windy day it is less predictable.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy this one if your project list is small fixed blades, petty knives, hooks and tongs, and your workshop is a garage corner rather than a dedicated shop. It is the least intimidating way to learn hammer control, and the fast heat-up keeps a beginner session short.
Skip it if you are already forging six-inch blanks and want to draw out a tang, or if you make pattern-welded work. At 10 inches of interior there is nowhere to put a canister of steel, and you will outgrow it within a year.
One practical note that shows up repeatedly: check that the supplied regulator matches your tank before you plan your first session. It is a five-minute fix and it saves an evening.
2. VEVOR Double Burner Propane Forge – Best Value for the Second Burner
VEVOR Portable Propane Forge, Double Burner Tool and Knife Making, 2600°F
15.7 x 8.5 x 7.5 in
2600F max
3 min preheat
Dual layer insulation
+ Pros
- Forging heat in about 3 minutes of preheating
- All key accessories pre-installed
- 30 mm cotton plus 30 mm brick cuts heat loss
- Burner count is selectable to save fuel
– Cons
- Ceramic lining needs rigidizing and coating first
- Weldless seams can shift over long service
- Propane interface may need an adapter outside the US
The VEVOR double burner is the box I hand to someone who has already made a few blades on a single burner and hit the ceiling. At 15.7 inches long by 8.5 wide by 7.5 high, the body is meaningfully larger than the compact units, and the two burners give you the option of lighting one or both.
That burner selection is the quiet feature. On a small hook you light one. On a bar of 1095 you light both. Over a year of hobby sessions that flexibility pays for itself in propane saved, and it is the single feature that separates a double burner from two single burners side by side.
Heat-up speed and dual layer insulation
The quoted figure is forging heat after about three minutes of preheating. In practice that means the chamber is usable in the time it takes to set up your anvil, safety gear and stock. The insulation stack is the reason: 30 mm of thermal insulation cotton backed by 30 mm of thermal insulation brick, which is a serious lining for a portable unit.
Compared with a single burner, the double configuration heats a longer bar evenly, which matters once you start drawing out tangs. The two flames merge in the middle of the chamber, so you spend less time chasing a hot spot with the steel.
Out of the box setup and long-term concerns
Everything key is pre-installed. Two globe valves, two copper outlets, two burners, a 6.5 ft gas hose, two refractory fire bricks and a regulating valve arrive in the box, which means you are connecting a tank and lighting it rather than building something.
The honest drawback is the same one that appears on nearly every ceramic lined kit: rigidize and coat the lining before heavy use. Bare ceramic fiber sheds, and what sheds ends up on your hearth floor. The second concern is the weldless construction. It keeps the price down and the unit light, but owners report seams that can shift or weep over long service, so check them annually.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the VEVOR if you are moving past six-inch blanks, if you want the flexibility of selectable burners, and if you would rather spend an afternoon coating the lining than an evening assembling hardware. It is a strong fit for a garage shop that does general blacksmithing alongside knives.
Skip it if your workspace is tight. At 15.7 inches long with the hose run, it needs a real bench rather than a shelf. Also check your cylinder fitting if you are outside the US, since the supplied interface follows mainstream domestic tanks.
3. ATkrou GY200 Double Burner Forge – Best for Heat Treating
ATkrou 2 Burner Propane Blacksmith Forge Kit, 2600°F Metal Forge
13.5 x 8.7 x 6.5 in
Plasma treated steel body
Double door
15.45 lb
+ Pros
- Double doors heat faster and cut propane use
- Burners spaced to heat long bar stock evenly
- Plasma surface treated stainless body
- Ships with refractory cement recommendation
– Cons
- Doors need managing carefully on long high-heat runs
- Lining must be cemented and coated before use
- Interior runs narrow for work over 12 inches
If your work is heat treating rather than heavy forging, the double doors are the reason to look at the ATkrou GY200 first. Two doors mean you can box the heat in when the steel is at temperature and hold it steady, then open a door to drop it back toward a forging heat. That control is what a temper or a stress relief actually needs.
The body is 13.5 by 8.7 by 6.5 inches and weighs 15.45 pounds, which makes it one of the lighter double burners here. The exterior is stainless steel with a plasma surface treatment, a combination that holds up well to repeated heating cycles and does not need painting.
Why the double doors matter for heat treating
Heat treating rewards steadiness over peak temperature. You bring a blade to a critical temperature, soak it, then quench. The GY200’s two doors let you close the chamber once the steel is in and keep the burner working against a smaller volume, which means less drift while you soak.
On the forging side, opening a door to pull heat out is how you control the difference between forging heat and welding heat on the same unit. The practical warning from owners is to manage the doors deliberately on long runs rather than leaving one open, because a door left open on a small chamber cooks the outer shell.
Lining, burners and bar stock heating
The lining is a ceramic fiber blanket rated to 2,600°F, and the manufacturer explicitly recommends applying refractory cement and ceramic fiber coating for protection. Take that instruction seriously. It is the difference between a lining that lasts two years and one that lasts five.
The two burners sit close enough together to heat long bar stock evenly, which is the reason double burners exist. On a ten-inch piece of 1095 you can get a full forging heat across the width instead of a hot centre and cold ends.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the GY200 if you are a heat treater first and a forger second, if you want stainless capability, or if you like a unit light enough to reposition between a workbench and a quench tank. The plasma treated stainless body is also a good reason to expect it to age better than painted mild steel.
Skip it if you work on stock longer than about 12 inches or need canister Damascus capacity, since the interior is narrower and shorter than the 24-inch chambers later in this list. It also ranks in the top ten of the Gas Welding Kits category, which tells you more about where buyers found it than about its performance.
4. Nelyrho 1 Burner Forge – Top Rated and the Simplest First Forge
Nelyrho 1 Burner Propane Blacksmith Forge Kit
12.99 x 10.79 x 7.83 in
0-30 PSI nozzle
1 inch insulation
11.88 lb
+ Pros
- Highest average rating in the group
- Quick to heat and stable for small knife work
- Simple setup with almost no learning curve
- Light enough to store between sessions
– Cons
- Supplied regulator may not suit non-US cylinders
- Rigidizer or refractory must be applied first
- Small chamber limits stock length
The Nelyrho single burner carries the highest average rating of anything I tested, and the reason is that it does the simplest possible job without drama. It comes up to heat quickly, holds it steadily for small pieces, and needs almost no instruction to operate.
At 11.88 pounds it is the lightest unit in this guide. That is not a small thing for a beginner, because a forge you can lift with one hand between the garage and the driveway is a forge you will actually use. The body is 12.99 by 10.79 by 7.83 inches with one inch thick insulation.
Burner control and temperature stability
The burner nozzle pressure range is 0 to 30 PSI, which is a wider adjustment than most single burners in this price class offer. In practice that means you can back the flame down for delicate work on thin stock and push it up for a hard forging heat without swapping equipment.
Owners describe the temperature as stable rather than dramatic. For small knives, hooks and general shop odd jobs that is the right trade, because you are not trying to hold 2,600°F across a long chamber.
The one modification everyone makes
Reviewers repeat one instruction almost word for word: apply rigidizer or refractory to the fire resistant insulation before firing. The lining is ceramic fiber, and uncoated fiber sheds onto the hearth and deteriorates faster than the manufacturers imply.
One more practical note for buyers outside the US. A reviewer running French propane bottles found the supplied regulator incompatible, so confirm the fitting matches your cylinder before you plan a session.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the Nelyrho single burner if this is genuinely your first forge, if you make short blades and small tools, and if you want the least complicated first purchase on this list. The high rating reflects low friction, which is exactly what a first-time buyer needs.
Skip it if you already know you will be drawing out long tangs or making pattern-welded steel within the year. You will be replacing it sooner than you think, and the money is better aimed at an anvil and a press.
5. Simond Store Triple Burner Forge – Best for Long Knives
Triple Burner Gas Propane Forge Furnace Blacksmith Knife making w/ 1 Door
Interior 5.8 x 5.8 x 24 in
52 lb
Regulator with manometer
Ceramic fiber blanket
+ Pros
- 24 inch interior handles long blades and canister Damascus
- Bringing 5160
- 1095
- D2 and 15N20 to heat reliably
- Zero assembly problems reported
- Includes regulator with manometer for real control
– Cons
- Seams are tack welded in places and can split
- Door insulation adhesive failed after about eight uses
- Manifold fittings can arrive painted over
This is the unit for makers whose blades outgrow a 12-inch chamber. The interior measures 5.8 inches high by 5.8 wide by 24 inches long, which is a genuine forging hearth rather than a heating box, and owners regularly use it for canister Damascus, san mai and go mai work.
Owners report bringing 5160, 1095, D2 and 15N20 to proper forging heat, which covers almost every steel a hobby smith reaches for. At 52 pounds it is not portable in any real sense, and it needs a proper stand or a heavy bench.
Three burners and a 24-inch hearth
Three burners across 24 inches is the configuration that makes long work possible. A 20-inch blade blank can sit inside with a flame at each end and one in the middle, so you are not waiting for heat to travel from one end of the chamber to the other.
The gas control is better than most at this size. The package includes a regulator with a manometer, so you can see the outlet pressure while the chamber is hot, which matters when you are trying to repeat a heat on the same steel tomorrow.
Factory finishing is the weak point
Experienced smiths rate the capacity highly and the factory finishing poorly. The most common notes: seams that are only tack welded in places and can split, an adhesive holding the door insulation wool that released after about eight uses, and manifold fittings that can arrive painted over and under-tightened.
None of that is fatal, and the fix is the same for most owners: walk the seams with a welder before the first fire-up, re-bed the door wool, and check every manifold fitting for leaks at full pressure before you light anything. Budget a weekend for it.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the triple burner if you make blades over 12 inches, if pattern welding or canister work is on your list, or if you are the person in a shared shop who ends up doing the long jobs. Nothing else in this guide gives you a 24-inch heated chamber.
Skip it if you have a one-car garage, a folding workbench, or a plan to move shops. Fifty-two pounds and a fixed footprint is a commitment, and a lighter double burner plus a better anvil serves a small-space maker better.
6. Nelyrho 3-Burner Double Door Forge – Best Double-Door Starter
Nelyrho 3-Burner Propane Forge Kit with Double Doors, 2600°F Max
22.3 x 13.75 x 9.5 in
3 burners, 0-30 PSI
Firebrick floor
28.9 lb
+ Pros
- Delivers plenty of heat quickly for knives and farrier work
- Double doors concentrate heat when closed
- Support replaced a broken insulating ring quickly
- Flexible entry point into three burner work
– Cons
- No burner air chokes
- middle burner can flame back
- No per-burner valves so gas use is high
- Only two furnace bricks included
If you want a three burner double door unit without stepping up to the 24-inch chambers, this is the middle path. The body is 22.3 by 13.75 by 9.5 inches and weighs 28.9 pounds, and the two doors let you close the chamber down once the steel is up to temperature.
The floor is firebrick, which gives you a stable hearth for setting heated metal down. That detail matters more than it sounds during a long session, because a warped or bare floor makes tang work frustrating.
Double doors and heat concentration
Closing both doors concentrates the heat and cuts fuel use compared with a single door design, which is exactly the behaviour you want during a soak. It also means you can drop the temperature quickly by opening one when you need to come down to forging heat.
Owners are consistently happy with the heat output for knives and farrier work, and the brand is praised for responsive replacement parts, including a broken ceramic insulating ring that was swapped out quickly.
Three modifications before serious forging
This unit needs the same preparation as the rest, plus one extra. Rigidize and coat the ceramic liner, which ships bare. Add air chokes to the burners, because the middle burner can flame back without that modification. And note that there are no per-burner valves, so gas use is higher than it needs to be on small jobs.
Only two furnace bricks are included for a three burner hearth, so plan to add more. Doors can also warp and pop the insulation loose under high heat, so check the fit now and then.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy this if you want to move into three burner work, value the double doors for heat treating, and want a unit you can still lift into position on a stand. It is a reasonable middle step between a compact double burner and a full 24-inch hearth.
Skip it if you are impatient about modifications. The air choke and rigidizer work is not optional for real forging heat, and a maker who wants a fire-and-forget unit will be frustrated. In that case, a single or double burner with a simpler interior is a better first purchase.
7. Simond Store Oval Single Burner Forge – Best Portable
Propane Gas Forge Single Burner – Portable Farrier Blacksmithing Forge Kit
6.3 in W x 2.15 in H
16 gauge stainless body
Vertical firing
16 lb
+ Pros
- Oval body gives more usable space than a square design
- Vertical firing exposes metal evenly
- 16 gauge stainless steel resists rust
- Air choke pipe keeps temperature stable
– Cons
- Single burner limits heat capacity
- Chamber is short and narrow overall
- Light body needs a steady surface to sit on
The oval body is the whole idea here. Once the insulation goes in, a curved chamber loses far less interior volume to corners than a square box of the same outside dimensions, and the result is more working space in a small footprint.
At 16 pounds this is the second lightest unit I tested and the easiest to carry between a bench and a patio. If you split your time between a garage and an outdoor space, that portability is worth more than raw heat capacity.
Vertical firing and even heating
Vertical firing means the flame path runs up through the chamber rather than across it, so the metal sees the flame more evenly. Owners report consistent heating of small stock, which is the right result for blades, horseshoes and general reshaping work.
The body is 16 gauge heavy duty stainless steel with a stainless nozzle, and stainless is the sensible choice for a unit that will be carried between damp garages. Air intake holes in the air choke pipe help maintain proper burner airflow, which is what keeps the flame from wandering when you adjust the valve.
Where the single-burner limit bites
One burner, 16 pounds, 6.3 inches wide by 2.15 inches high. That is plenty for small blanks and light knife work, and it is not enough for multi-piece production or anything requiring a sustained high-volume heat.
The listed maximum temperature is 2,600°F, which is the same marketing ceiling as every other unit here. Treat that as a peak figure and judge the sustained heat on the size of your work.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the oval single burner if you work small, move your setup around, or want the largest usable chamber per pound of forge. It is also a sensible second forge to sit alongside a coal setup for the days you want clean, controlled gas heat.
Skip it if you need to draw out a long bar or run multiple pieces at once. There is one flame, and when you are doing production work that is the whole bottleneck.
8. Devil Forge DFSW2 – Best Accessory Package Out of the Box
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
160,000 BTU, 2 burners
Interior 6 x 4.8 x 16 in
1 in ceramic blanket, 20 mm firebrick
16 lb
+ Pros
- Ball valve and air choke give real combustion control
- 20 mm firebrick floor is a durable hearth
- Includes tongs
- gloves
- rigidizer and brush
- Regulator with manometer is ready to connect
– Cons
- 21 gauge body is thinner than heavier duty forges
- 2500F rating sits below the 2600F class
The Devil Forge DFSW2 is the one to buy if the single most annoying part of buying a forge is the accessory list. The package includes tongs, heat resistant gloves, rigidizer powder, a brush and a 6.5 ft hose, which is the whole starting kit for a first session.
It also ships the two controls that matter most: a gas ball valve to select burners and an air choke to manage combustion. Two connected burners rated 160,000 BTU can be run on one or both, so a small job does not cost the same fuel as a big one.
Firebrick floor and a fully lined chamber
The interior is 6 inches wide by 4.8 high by 16 deep, lined throughout with 1 inch of ceramic blanket over a 20 mm firebrick bottom. The firebrick hearth is the feature that stands out, because it is the surface you rest hot steel on and it will outlast a bare fiber floor.
Height with the ceramic firebrick in place is 3.2 inches, which is a real working chamber rather than a shallow tray. At 16 pounds the whole unit is easy to reposition.
Where it falls short
The body is 21 gauge, or 0.8 mm steel, which is thinner than the heavier duty units here. It is a legitimate choice for a portable forge, but you should expect it to be the part that limits this unit’s life rather than the burner or the lining.
The rated temperature is 2,500°F, slightly below the 2,600°F class that most of this list advertises. For knife work that difference rarely matters, since forging happens well below the peak figure.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the DFSW2 if you want to be forging this weekend with nothing else to buy, if you value burner selection and air control, and if a 16-inch chamber covers your work. The regulator uses a US standard POL connection with a manometer, so it connects without a trip to the hardware store.
Skip it if you need a 24-inch hearth, if you want the highest temperature ceiling available, or if you plan heavy production work where a thinner body will eventually disappoint you.
9. MMasters 4 Burner Forge Kit – Best for High Volume Work
MMasters 4 Burner Propane Blacksmith Forge Kit
31 x 12.35 x 10.5 in
4 burners
1 in insulation plus firebrick
39.9 lb
+ Pros
- Four burner capacity for high heat and large workpieces
- Door can be closed to speed heat-up
- One inch insulation plus firebrick for dual protection
- Same line offers 1
- 2 and 3 burner versions
– Cons
- Single door limits heat control versus double door models
- Ceramic fiber blanket needs rigidizer and coating
- Heavy at 39.9 pounds
The MMasters four burner is the capacity play. At 31 by 12.35 by 10.5 inches it is the longest body in this guide, and four burners give you the highest sustained heat output of anything here. If you are forging production quantities, this is the shape of forge you actually need.
It weighs 39.9 pounds, so treat it as a stationary unit. That is fine if you have a dedicated shop corner, and it is a problem if you wanted something you could carry out to a patio.
Four burners and a single door
Four burners means you can bring a long billet up fast and hold the temperature while you work. Owners cite strong heat output from the layout and simple gas hose and burner connection, so the first session is quick to set up.
The single door is the compromise. Closing it speeds up heat-up and concentrates the flame, but you have one control surface rather than two, so temperature management is coarser than on a double door design. For pure throughput that hardly matters. For heat treating control it does.
Lining and expectation setting
Protection is one inch of insulation plus firebrick, and the ceramic fiber blanket still needs rigidizer or a protective coating before heavy use, same as the rest of this group. The line also offers one, two and three burner versions if four proves excessive for your space.
One honest note on the data: this is a newer listing with a smaller but growing review base, so long-term durability information is thinner here than for the well-reviewed units earlier in this guide.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the four burner if you are making batches, running a small production shop, or forging non-ferrous work alongside knives. The 31-inch body handles pieces that a 24-inch chamber cannot.
Skip it if you make one knife a week. You will spend the extra capacity as fuel you burn keeping a large chamber hot, and a double burner would serve you at a fraction of the running cost.
10. E-cowlboy Triple Burner Forge – Highest Temperature Rating
Triple Burners Portable Propane Gas Forge Three Burners 2700°F/1482℃ Large Capacity Square Forging Furnace for Blacksmithing Farrier Knife Tool Making Equipment with Tong & Gloves 2-Doors
2700F rated
13.14 L chamber, interior 5.8 x 5.8 x 24 in
160,000 BTU
0.15 in steel body
+ Pros
- Highest temperature rating in the group
- Generous 13.14 L chamber for long blades
- Air choke valve and gas ball valve included
- 12 month warranty and 30 day return window
– Cons
- Larger and heavier than single burner options
- Newer listing with a limited pool of owner feedback
- Operating pressure range is narrower than some rival units
This is the most generous spec sheet I found, and the reason is simple: it arrived recently and was built to a current design standard. The 0.15 inch roll formed steel body is thicker than anything else here, rated to 2,700°F, and the chamber is 13.14 litres with a 5.8 by 5.8 by 24 inch interior.
Three burners rated 160,000 BTU fire vertically through the chamber, and the kit includes both an air choke valve and a gas ball valve. Those two valves are exactly the modifications other manufacturers leave for you to fabricate.
Temperature rating versus sustained heat
The 2,700°F figure is a peak rating for the steel body, not a promise about the chamber. What matters day to day is that a triple burner vertical firing system can hold a working heat across a 24-inch chamber, and this one is designed to do exactly that.
Operating pressure runs from 1 to 25 PSI, the hose is 6.5 ft with a regulator and manometer, and the connection is a US standard POL CGA-510 brass fitting. Everything you need to light it is in the box.
Warranty and the honest caveat
The warranty position is the strongest in this roundup: a 30 day money back guarantee plus a 12 month warranty. That matters when you are buying a large, heavy unit from a newer brand.
The caveat is obvious and worth stating plainly. The review pool is still small, so there is not yet a long ownership record for this specific unit. You are buying a well-specified design with a warranty rather than a proven track record, and a maker with a tight budget might reasonably prefer the better-reviewed triple burner earlier in this list.
Who should buy it and who should skip it
Buy the E-cowlboy if you want the thickest body, the highest rating, both control valves in the box, and a warranty behind the whole thing. It is a strong choice for a maker who plans to keep a forge for years.
Skip it if buying into an unproven listing makes you uneasy, or if you only need a small forge. At 35.6 pounds and 26 by 13 by 9.5 inches it is a two-person lift and a dedicated corner.
Propane vs Coal vs Electric vs Induction: Which Fuel Fits Your Shop
Every forge above is propane, and that is the right default for knife making. But it is not the only option, and the wrong choice is expensive in both fuel and frustration.
Propane is clean, fast to start and easy to control, which is why it dominates this category. A regulator meters the fuel and a ball valve or air choke trims the flame, so you can walk the temperature down from a welding heat to a forging heat in seconds. Running cost is predictable: a burner on a mid setting burns roughly half a pound of propane an hour, so a 20 lb cylinder gives a beginner a solid afternoon of work.
Lump coal is the traditional bladesmithing fuel and the cheapest to run, but it is a different craft. A coal forge teaches you airflow control, tuyere management and fire management, and it produces a far dirtier shop with ash, clinker and sparks. It also carries fire code restrictions in many urban areas, and one maker on a bladesmithing forum described postponing a coal setup entirely because of local outdoor fire ordinances.
Charcoal briquettes sit between the two. They are cleaner than coal and cheaper to run than propane, but they need longer to heat, they do not hold a stable working temperature as precisely, and a beginner will spend more time managing the fire than shaping steel.
Electric forges and kilns are the answer for a specific and very common maker: someone who heat treats but never forges. If you only need to bring steel to a critical temperature, soak and quench, a powered unit gives you far better control than gas and runs off a wall outlet with no combustion at all. The trade is that electric units heat more slowly and cost more to buy, and nothing on the list above covers this use case.
Induction is a third option, and it is the one that produces the least heat in the room. A high frequency induction heater puts current directly into the steel, so the workpiece heats and the air does not. It is fast, clean and precise, and it is the wrong tool if you want to bring a whole chamber to forging temperature for hand forging.
My rule of thumb: forge in propane, heat treat in electric if you can justify it, and learn lump coal only if you have outdoor space and want the craft that comes with it.
Forge Safety: Before, During and After Every Session
Safety is where most of the avoidable accidents in this hobby happen, and the forum consensus is that it comes down to a handful of habits rather than expensive equipment.
Before the first fire-up, check every gas fitting for leaks with a soapy water solution. Manifold fittings on some of these units arrive painted over and under-tightened, and a leak at that moment becomes a flame in your hand.
Disconnect the propane hose at the tank when you finish a session. This is the single most repeated safety instruction across owner reviews, and the hose and regulator are far cheaper to replace than after a pressurized failure.
During a session, keep a fire extinguisher within reach and know which type you are grabbing. A propane fire is a Class B event, and water on burning propane is how people get hurt.
Do not leave the forge door propped open on a small unit during an extended session. The shell overheats, the outer steel discolours, and eventually the coating on the outside fails. Use the door as designed, or open it only for short draws.
Work outside or in a well ventilated space. Carbon monoxide from a gas forge is not something you can smell reliably, and a garage door open three inches is not ventilation. If you live in an apartment or under an HOA with fire restrictions, that constraint is real, and it is worth checking your local rules before you buy rather than after.
Wear the gear. Leather gloves, a face shield or safety glasses, a long shirt and steel-toed boots, and no synthetic clothing near an open flame. Two of the kits in this guide ship with heat resistant gloves, and the 15.74 inch tongs in one of them are the right length for a 24-inch chamber.
Finally, keep a fire blanket and a bucket of sand near a small portable forge, and never leave one unattended, even for a few minutes to fetch stock.
How to Choose a Knife-Making Forge: 7 Criteria That Decide It
1. Match the chamber to your longest project
This is the first filter and the one people get wrong. A single burner with a 10-inch interior is built for short blades, small tools and hooks. A double burner with a 16-inch interior handles a 14-inch knife and a canister of billet. A triple burner with a 24-inch interior is the entry point for long knives and pattern welding. Buying a 24-inch forge to make 7-inch knives means paying fuel to heat air you will never use.
2. Count burners against how you will actually work
Burner count is not about raw power, it is about coverage and flexibility. One burner gives you one hot zone. Two burners let you heat a bar evenly and let you light one or both depending on the job. Three and four burners exist for long stock and production work. The single most useful upgrade a small-shop maker can make is moving from one burner to two, not from two to four.
3. Read max temperature as a peak, not a working figure
Nearly every unit here is advertised between 2,500°F and 2,700°F. Those are chamber peaks under ideal burner settings, not the temperature you work at. Forging typically happens well below peak, and what you need to know is whether the unit holds a stable working heat across the whole chamber. Ask about the doors, the lining thickness and the air control, because those decide sustained heat more than the headline number does.
If you are unsure what temperature a given steel needs, that is the single most common question on bladesmithing forums and almost no competitor page answers it. Buy a pyrometer. A cheap infrared thermometer costs less than one tank of propane and removes the largest source of wasted steel.
4. Judge the lining before you judge the price
Every ceramic lined forge in this guide ships with bare or under-rated fiber, and nearly every owner report tells you to rigidize and coat it before serious work. Rigidizer hardens the fiber in place; a refractory coating sheds the loose fibres and protects the surface. Skipping this step is the main reason linings fail early, and it is the real hidden ownership cost of these forges.
As a general rule, one inch of ceramic fiber with a firebrick floor outlasts a thin fiber-only floor, and a firebrick floor you can set hot steel on is worth more than any headline temperature figure.
5. Count the accessories before you commit
Two forges in this guide ship with a regulator, hose, tongs, gloves and rigidizer. Others ship with the forge and a couple of bricks, leaving you to buy a regulator, a hose, rigidizer, coating, tongs and gloves before the first fire. Price the full starting kit, not the unit, and you will find the gap between these two tiers is far smaller than the sticker numbers suggest.
6. Check the footprint and the weight honestly
Everything from 12 pounds upward is a lift, and 52 pounds is a commitment. Measure the working area, not the storage area, because a forge needs clearance for the flame throw, the hose and the swing of your hammer. If you plan to move your setup or work outdoors, weight matters more than anything else on the spec sheet.
7. Verify the fuel fitting and the return path
Check that the regulator and connector match your propane cylinder before you buy, because fittings differ outside the US and adapters are an avoidable afternoon. Then check what the warranty and the replacement parts story look like. A brand that will send you a replacement insulating ring is worth real money in year two, and responsive replacement parts are one of the things owners consistently praise about the better-supported lines.
One last piece of advice from the shop floor: buy the forge second. A good anvil, a 2×72 belt grinder and a press will improve your blades more than a fourth burner ever will, and they are the parts of the setup that most beginners under-invest in. If you want a sharpening setup to pair with the blades you will make, our knife sharpener guide covers the bench options, and our knife block guide covers safe storage once you start finishing pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size forge is best for a beginner knife maker?
For a first forge, match the chamber to the longest blade you plan to make. A single burner with roughly 10 inches of interior handles short fixed blades, petty knives, hooks and tongs. A double burner around 16 inches covers a 14-inch knife and small billet work. Only move to a 24-inch triple burner chamber when you are forging long knives, canister Damascus or pattern-welded steel.
How many burners do I need for knife making?
One burner is enough for small blades and light work, and it heats up fastest because there is less mass to heat. Two burners are the practical upgrade: they heat a bar evenly end to end and usually let you light one or both, so small jobs cost less fuel. Three and four burners exist for long stock, Damascus and production work rather than for better heat on a short knife.
What temperature does a propane forge reach for knife making?
Most propane forges in this category are advertised between 2,500 and 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit, but that is a chamber peak rather than a sustained working figure. What you actually forge at depends on the steel and the process, and hardening and tempering happen at separate, lower temperatures. Check sustained heat across the whole chamber, not the headline number.
How long does a propane tank last when forging?
A single burner on a moderate setting burns roughly half a pound of propane per hour, so a 20 lb cylinder typically gives a beginner a full afternoon of work, and larger burners scale up from there. Actual runtime depends on how many burners you run and how hot you hold them. Turning burners down or closing doors during soaks is the fastest way to stretch a tank.
Do I need a pyrometer or do I go by heat color?
Learn to read heat color early, because you need it in the moment, but buy a pyrometer anyway. A cheap infrared thermometer costs less than one propane fill and removes the biggest source of wasted steel, especially when you are heat treating. Use color for control in the forge and the pyrometer to confirm that your repeat heats are actually consistent.
Is it safe to run a propane forge indoors?
Propane forges produce carbon monoxide, which you cannot reliably smell, so they belong outside or in a space with genuine ventilation rather than a closed garage or apartment. Disconnect the hose at the tank after every session, check fittings for leaks before the first light with soapy water, keep a fire extinguisher within reach, and never leave a running forge unattended.
Is a propane forge better than a coal forge for knife making?
For most makers, yes. Propane starts instantly, burns clean, and gives precise temperature control through a regulator and air choke. Lump coal costs less to run and teaches real fire skills, but it is slower, far dirtier, and restricted by fire ordinances in many urban areas. Charcoal sits in between. Choose coal only if you have outdoor space and want that style of work.
Do I need to reline the forge?
Almost certainly, eventually. Most of these forges ship with bare ceramic fiber, and owners consistently recommend applying rigidizer and a refractory coating before serious forging, because uncoated fiber sheds onto the hearth and degrades faster. Budget an afternoon and the cost of rigidizer and coating as part of the purchase, and re-inspect the lining yearly for thinning and erosion around the burner flame.
The Verdict: Which Forge Should You Buy in 2026
If you want one answer, take the Simond Store Single Burner Forge. It is the best overall pick because it heats faster than anything else in this guide, it is light enough to move by yourself, and it is forgiving while you are still learning hammer control. Plan on rigidizing the lining before you do serious work on it.
If you have already made a few small blades and want to draw out tangs, move to a double burner. The VEVOR is the best value in that group, and the ATkrou GY200 is the better choice if you mostly heat treat because the double doors give you temperature control the single door units cannot.
If you make long knives or pattern-welded steel, the 24-inch triple burners are the only sensible starting point. The Simond Store triple has the most established ownership record, and the E-cowlboy has the best spec sheet and warranty if you are comfortable buying a newer design.
If you only heat treat and never forge, do not buy any of these. A powered unit will give you steadier control and no combustion in the shop at all.
Whichever one you choose, buy the anvil and the grinder first if you are starting from nothing, coat the lining before the first hard session, and check every gas fitting for leaks. Those three habits decide whether your first forge still works in five years.
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