Thomas wasn't really being sarcastic. (Well, maybe just a little, but I doubt he meant real offense by it. Believe me... From what I have read on here, you would have NO doubt if he were seriously bothered) Just blunt and to the point. My gas forge is only about eleven inches long. It will hear about eight to ten inches of length IF I leave it in long enough, but the typical amount I let get to higher than Orange is about four to six inches because that is what I am comfortable with being able to seriously work. If I'm to the point of just plainsong, I'll heat more length. People with more experience and/or power hammers may very well want to heat more length becUse they can get more worked before it has lost its heat.