Tom, yes some of the propane forges can have a strong oxidizing flame. However once you get the gas regulator and the air control set it will pretty much stay that way all day long. I made mine primarily for melting not blacksmithing so the blower is a little larger than it really needs to be(it was free). Since you access to a lathe you might like some of the venturi style burners, a little more skill to make but more uncomplicated to use.<br><br>As far as links,<br><br>http://www.lindsaybks.com/ Has a large variety of technical books at reasonable prices.<br><br>http://www.reil1.net/design1.shtml Lots of information on forge and burner design for blacksmithing.<br><br>http://www.anvilfire.com/ The place for anything blacksmithing.<br><br>

Casting is a somewhat quieter activity than forging. :-)<br><br>Although, I have to admit that I chuckle every time Hollywood portrays the sounds of a blacksmith shop with what is obviously someone just hammering an anvil.. forging hot metal just doesn't sound like that, doesn't "ring". When I was first learning, I was told that hammering cold metal was "calling the Devil". There are.. other.. good reasons not to do it. I tried it when I was young, just starting, and didn't have routine access to a forge. I managed to hammer out a few useful things with a LOT of work, but.. they didn't look like they'd been forged (mostly just bent and twisted to shape), some of them cracked and fell apart in the process, and my left hand, that was holding the stock while this was going on, swelled up to about twice it's normal size, apparently from the vibrations. Not good.<br>