Donnie

IN GOD WE TRUST everyone else pays cash.

It was not the kind of thing you will do twice.

I once took a piece from the forge, checked for straightness, only needed a slight adjustment. Then while holding one end with tongs, I grabbed the other end with a bare hand. It actually took a full second or two to feel the pain. [When you grab something barehanded and hear a hissing noise, this should be a clue]. The next 30 minutes were spent knelt at slacktub, next 30 minutes spent with hand under kitchen faucet, next couple weeks with a very sore hand.......

I don't use tongs for anything I can hold with my hand. I will forge something on end of the bar and cut it off when possible. If I must use tongs I prefer the v-bit bolt type.[sooner or later you have to use the short leftovers]

I never wear gloves at the forge. I prefer the feel of the metal and tools in my bare hand. I also had a steel splinter surgically removed from my left hand years ago. The splinter was sticking through the artery leading into the thumb. The splinter was a projectile from a punch with a mushroomed head. I no longer use poorly maintained tools.[stuff WILL happen]

I used a brake drum for a while. I got tired of watering to control the size of the fire. I fabricated a firepot out of 1/4" steel. It lasted about a year. I used a mud(fire clay,cement,sand) to form a funnel shape inside the brake drum. I've been using it this way for a couple of years. I have no complaints when I think about the price of a store bought firepot.

No power.....Score with chisel, break in half.....another option, large bolt cutters you may be suprised what you can cut into with them.

Thank you JW for that poem. Reading it really touched me deeply. It took me back to all the hours sitting in my grandfather's shop with him. I learned a lot about work and life in general in that old shop. For a few moments it was like he was still here. Thanks again.

I put 4 or 5 pinecones in the firepot. They light up very easily. Add a gentle air blast. Pile coal around and on top. After a rain and pinecones are wet a handful of fatliter splinters work beautifully. Just my 2 pennies worth..

Here's one for the believe it or not category. I bought a $10 hair drier. I opened it up and unplugged the heating element then put it back together. I wired it through a dimmer switch for speed control. It has seen regular use for 3yrs. and it is still running!

MY forge is a large brake drum. I had the same problem of controlling the fire. I mixed a batch of fire clay and portland cement. I placed the mud in the brake drum and formed a funnel shape with my hands. The bottom of the funnel is the size of my grate(3 pieces of 3/8 round), the top is the size of the brake drum........worked for me for the last 3 yrs.......Donnie

I am new to this site. I've worked iron most of my 44yrs. I am a welder by trade. I am at my happiest when at my anvil. I love to view the work of other smiths. This looks like a great place to do just that!