After having been "raised up" on a bottom blast forge, I, having, more time than money, decided to build a side blast forge , ala blacksmiths journal, mark aspery/CBA ect... And I'm having considerable trouble managing the thing. It's been my principal forge for about six months now and I can't say I've gotten much better at removing clinkers, or managing two irons in the fire. I, of course feel fairly stupid for not just building a bottom blast , with a bought firepot, but , alas sheer cussedness prevents me from getting rid of the thing.Its clearly my lack of experience that seems to be causing such woes but I have little else to go on. My coal is, in part, comprised of an upsetting amount of fines, that just seem to fill up the duck's nest within about an hour of fire management, this also just helps to muck everything up with removing the clinker and keeping the work clean.I also find it incredibly difficult to keep from pushing the ash/fines bed into the fire accidently, when trying to feed the fire. I do enjoy the concentrated heat zone, but have yet to tease out enough redeeming qualities to out weigh all the negatives associated with my ineptitude. I'm sure some of you old timers can set me straight. Well any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou much, matt