Used to forge every blade with a coal fire, now I'm all propane

Honestly, I spent like 8 years fighting with a coal forge in my uncle's garage near Nashville. The smoke was constant, and I'd spend half the day adjusting the airflow just to keep a decent heat. Switched to propane about 6 months ago after I got sick of breathing that mess and having to clean clinker out every 15 minutes. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. Any of you guys made the jump and regretted giving up the traditional feel?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_burns963d ago

Used to forge every blade with a coal fire" - man, that line hit me hard. I spent way too many years breathing in that coal smoke and fighting with airflow, and I totally get the frustration. When I finally switched to propane a while back, I honestly felt the same way, like why did I wait so long. The cleanup alone is so much easier, no more picking clinker out every few minutes. I don't think you should feel bad about giving up the traditional feel, it's just a different way to get the same job done.

noahhall3d ago

Yeah, that line about 'adjusting the airflow' really takes me back... I spent a whole summer trying to revive an old cast iron blower from a farm auction, and it just never worked right. Ended up using a shop vac with a dimmer switch for a while, looking back that was dangerous but it got hot.