Mobile Glassblowing Studios' Dragon Furnace General Owner's Guide Standard W/ Proof of Air Safety Systems
Mobile Glassblowing Studios' Dragon Furnace General Owner's Guide Standard W/ Proof of Air Safety Systems
You can also refer to the FAQ and Resources pages on our website for more information.
Mobile Glassblowing Studios, LLC, for a period of one year from date of shipment, warrants each system or product of its
own manufacture, with the exception of burner tips, crucibles and other refractory materials, to the original Purchaser
to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use, service and maintenance. Normal use, service
and maintenance means: (1) Not exceeding the maximum temperatures, volumes, and other parameters specified in the
Company’s instructions and/or Owner’s Manuals. (2) Using only the fuels specified in the Company’s instructions and/or
Owner’s Manuals. (3) Operation and maintenance in compliance with the Company’s instructions and/or Owner’s
Manuals. Products or goods not manufactured by the Company and supplied in piece, or as components to a system
designed or supplied by the company, are not covered by this warranty. Components and parts of the equipment that
are not manufactured by the Company are not covered by the Company’s warranty, and the Company does not warrant
the performance, use and operation of those parts. For complete details, please refer to your Terms, Conditions, and
Limited Warranty document or visit www.mobileglassblowingstudios.com/warranty.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
System Specifications………………………………………………. 3
Unpacking………………………………………………………………… 4
Setup……………………………………………………………………….. 4-7
Pre- Light-Up Info…………………………………………………….. 8-9
Light-Up & Firing Guidelines…………………………………….. 10
Lighting the Furnace………………………………………………… 10 - 11
For the Initial Firing; Flame Adjustment…………………… 11
Regular Use; Things to Note; Transport……………………. 12
Troubleshooting Burner Instability…………………………… 13 - 15
Don’t Blow ‘Um Up or Whack ‘Um with a Hammer….. 15 - 16
Air Pressure Safety System & Wiring Diagrams………… 17
Component Specification Sheets……………………………… 18 - 23
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Baby Dragon:
Little Dragon:
• Dimensions (disassembled): 31” D x 34” W x 56” H (79cm D x 86cm W x 143cm H)
• Dimensions (assembled furnace with accessories - not including bench, annealer, marver, etc.): 90” D x 48” W x
78” H (229cm D x 122cm W x 198cm H)
• Curb Weight (approx.): 850 pounds (385 kg)
• Capacity: 60 pounds (27 kg)
Big Dragon:
Carefully unpack the burner train. Be particularly careful with the burner train, as the pressure gauge and ceramic
burner tip can be broken if not handled carefully.
Look around the crate for any loose hardware; sometimes thumbscrews can come loose during shipping.
The handle including pins was shipped assembled. Make sure to have the pins installed any time you move the furnace
by the handle. The handle can be moved to either the front or the back of the furnace. It should be located to the back
or completely removed when firing your furnace.
Once all loose parts are removed from the crate, you can remove the furnace from the pallet. Be aware that the Dragon
furnaces range from 600-900 pounds. Be extremely cautious when moving the furnace. You will need to fashion a small
ramp or use a forklift to remove it from the pallet.
The standard casters were shipped with the brakes “ON” (engaged). The brakes will need to be placed in the “OFF”
(disengaged) position to move the furnace. The heavy duty spring-loaded casters (add-on option) are not equipped with
brakes; you will need to use a chock system once furnace is in position.
Before assembling ANY components (other than the handle) to the Dragon, move it into the position where you will be
firing it.
The Furnace reaches internal temperatures over 2000 degrees. Extremely hot air and flame come out of the burner tip
area (on top of the furnace) and from the front opening of the furnace.
The outside skin of the furnace, when in operation, will reach high temperatures. DO NOT TOUCH THE OUTSIDE OF THE
FURNACE WITH BARE HANDS ONCE IT HAS BEEN TURNED ON.
Allow for plenty of ventilation, as the exhaust fumes from propane combustion can be harmful if allowed to build up.
For the initial firing, there will be some smoke and fumes.
We recommend that the furnace is monitored while in operation, however the burner system is equipped with safety
systems allowing for continued use.
Once the furnace is set up in a safe outdoor location, put the caster brakes to the “ON” position and secure with wheel
chocks. Assembly for the initial firing can begin.
Unwrap burner system and set in place (as pictured below). Burner tip should be centered in the opening at the top of
the furnace. Stop collar will place at the appropriate height. Tighten both bolts with a wrench or 9/16” socket to secure
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If your furnace comes with the Air Preheat hose, it is recommended that it
is engaged for your initial firing. The Preheat hose creates drag on the air
flow, which allows for a slower heat-up.
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Attach all the accessories, yoke bar & mounts, pipe warmer and pipe hanger as pictured. Tighten thumb screws either by
hand or with an adjustable wrench.
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The air flow is regulated by adjusting the angle of the green handle (butterfly valve) located directly in line with the
blower. When the handle is in line (parallel) with the pipe, it is fully open, allowing maximum air flow. When the handle
is across (perpendicular to) the pipe, it is fully closed, allowing minimal or no air flow.
The burner system is set up for low pressure, either propane or natural gas. Do not exceed 14 water column inches of
pressure on the output of the regulator. Introduction of higher pressure will result in permanent damage to the gauge
and other safety components.
The burner has an output range of 50,000-140,000 BTU/hr. We recommend a minimum of ½” inside diameter for the
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gas delivery hose. Smaller diameter may impede the flow, and cause the burner to underperform.
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Manual Switch
The Manual Switch, as well as aiding in the light up procedure, also acts as an emergency switch to open the electrical
circuit to the solenoid valves, shutting down the gas flow to the burner.
If the pressure from the blower drops below a preset value, the Air Low Pressure Switch will open the electrical circuit to
the solenoid valves, shutting down the gas flow to the burner.
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Light up procedure is a specific sequence that must be followed to successfully start the
furnace. If a step is missed or skipped, the burner system will not ignite and you must start
the sequence from the beginning.
When lighting the burner (we recommend using a Mapp gas hand torch – like the style
pictured), the flame will need to cross the burner tip prior to opening the gas needle valve.
Do not open the gas valve without the blower on and flame present. Failure to do so can
cause gas to build up inside the furnace and create a hazardous condition.
Always have the furnace door open when lighting, as this will prevent gas from building up
inside the furnace.
2. Before opening the gas valve at the fuel source, make sure the needle valve
is in the “off” position. Firing will require adjusting the needle valve to dial
in the proper fuel/air mix.
8. Turn the green handle to the “11 o’clock” position (as pictured to the
right).
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Flame Adjustment
The flame is adjusted by changing the ratio of air and gas.
Too much gas results in a bushy (or lazy) flame, whereas too little gas can result in the flame blowing out.
The desired mix will give you a nice solid roar and a flame with a blue core.
If there is a big yellow flame coming out of the door and or top of the furnace, not enough air.
Once you have an even mix, you can adjust it up or down, to control the speed at which the furnace heats up.
To adjust the furnace up (bigger flame, hotter – faster), first increase the gas, then the air. If the air is increased first, the
flame could potentially blow out.
To adjust the furnace down, first decrease the amount of air, then the amount of gas.
The burner system is manual and will require some getting used to. This takes time and experience. We recommend
documenting your firings, to refer to later.
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Once you have vacuumed the inside of the furnace, place cullet into the crucible, mounding it up to the top. Another
method is to place 15-20 pounds of glass in the bottom & charge 15-20 pounds at a time once the furnace is up to
temperature.
Refer to the “Initial light-up” sequence 1-10 to light the furnace. Once lit, you can close the door such that there is only
a half moon opening on the right side.
Be sure to empty the crucible completely when finished, this can be accomplished by either gathering, or using a casting
ladle to scoop the molten glass out.
Once empty, shut the furnace off by turning the needle valve to the “off” position, close the valve at the fuel source.
Leave the blower running overnight – this helps to keep the burner tip cool.
Things to Note
Quick on and off is abusive to the refractory materials. Though the crown has been cured and cooked carefully, the rapid
heat up and cool down may cause the crown to develop cracks; this is normal. These cracks do not adversely affect the
functionality, or the longevity of the furnace. This is true for the door as well, small cracks may develop, but the door will
stay intact.
The crucible will crack. This is also normal. It is backed up by castable refractory (semi-invested) and will last years after
small cracks develop.
The best practice is to allow for a long, slow heat-up and draining as much glass out of the crucible as possible each time
before shut down.
The paint around the door will burn away – there is no paint that will withstand the temperatures we are dealing with.
Transport
Do not travel with any components loose in a trailer or back of a truck.
Make sure the furnace is tied down with multiple tie down points. It is much better to over secure than under secure.
The burner tip is ceramic and can break. Use care when moving.
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condition.
• The flame should burn evenly (not "rumbly").
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One day a glassblower makes a new melt and really gives it the business, gets the furnace really hot, and on the down
side he is in a hurry and wants to plane it off because he has a hot date in a couple of hours. He turns it down to a
setting which normally works when the furnace is a bit cooler and off he goes to visit his 'sweety.'
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When he comes into his shop the next morning a sense of panic overcomes him. The furnace is roaring and the pipe
work near the burner is red hot. The head is perhaps broken. (He did not have a safety system.) And he is indignant!
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That's when I get a call from Mr. X. It takes me awhile to get Mr. X. back to the real problem and that is how to
successfully turn down a burner after a melt and go on a date at the same time. I don't know about the date thing, but
we can get the furnace turned down ok.
Not surprisingly, many people lose their burner heads during a big studio move where the plumber guy applies the
hammer to the pipe work to loosen it up a tad, and "whack!" If you pound on the pipe work five feet away the shock still
follows the metal all the way to the burner head and plop, on the floor it goes in a couple of big pieces‒ don't hammer
the pipe work. Constant, hard vibration will eventually shake even a good burner head to pieces.
You see, the physical strength of the burner head is not that great. It is probably twice as strong as a soft brick. I did a lot
of experimenting trying to strengthen the physical mass, that's easy. I could make it hard as a rock. But the harder I got it
the less well it withstood the thermal changes.
Face it, the major threat to a burner head is the thermal stress it must go through each day in its cycle, not the plumber
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with the hammer. So I made a mix which would take some physical abuse but which was stronger under thermal abuse. I
have experimented with a lot of different things but have returned to the original formula for every burner I have ever
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sold.
Mobile Glassblowing Studios Dragon Furnace General Guide: Oct 2018
CALL US WHEN YOU’RE READY TO LIGHT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME: 844-452-7246 EXT 3 or 229-352-9988 EXT 3
For more information, visit our website: www.mobileglassblowingstudios.com – see FAQ and Support
While we are on the subject of physical abuse, occasionally I get a customer who will literally blow up a burner, like an
old-fashioned pipe-bomb. Well, it's more like a gas cannon. In my youth we'd celebrate appropriate holidays by shooting
off an acetylene and oxygen filled drive shaft housing plugged with a Life magazine. Boom! Instant confetti. At a hundred
seventy-five dollars a pop it loses its humor. So, what's happening to cause the explosion?
When a gas/air mix burns it expands rapidly, as much as seven times in volume. If the expansion happens in a closed
space, like in the mixer section behind the burner head, we get an explosion. Earlier, I talked about how any burner
system will have a pop-back point on the low end. This is true. If you turn down any system low enough it will pop back...
boom! It usually is a small boom but what if there's a lot of pipe work of large sizes behind the head? Then we have a
large explosion. It is a matter of physics.
Any excess piping and it is almost guaranteed that at some point you will blow the head right up. It may be the first time
you light it.
Well that's about it for the exciting stuff. No more explosions. But there is one more caution in the physical abuse
section. It is very important to mount the burner system by the iron pipe work behind the head. Use a regular clamp or a
"U" bolt and attach it to the frame of the furnace. This provides support for all the weight of the burner/head/mixer,
etc… It is especially important not to rest the totality of this weight onto the head and expect it to hold up unscathed. It
might hold up for a short while but to be so cavalier is asking for trouble.”
To summarize, if you set-up and operate your system by the guidelines in this manual, and use a turndown schedule that
keeps the heat out of the head, we eliminate nearly all the bumps in the road.
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Wiring Diagram
To the right is the wiring diagram for the
burner system for your reference. It is
recommended that should any problems
arise, do not attempt to repair or modify
the wiring. Contact Mobile Glassblowing
Studios at 229-352-9988 ext 3 for
troubleshooting advice first before hiring a
certified electrician for repairs.
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