Thanks element, it looks simple enough. Travis.

It's cool to see people finding out that a big ol' hood don't work hardly at all. Yep, had one on my first forge 'bout 40 years ago. Smoke just rolled out around the sides. Well dang, it SEEMS right. Smaller is better. Somebody with a super sucker or side draft can try something for me, please! Tape some sheet metal or even wet cardboard to reduce the opening to about 3 or four inches high, but full width. Please report back your results.

Friend of mine had a big hood that also did not work. He has like a 14" flue and he slipped a long 12" up inside it and hooked a wire to it with a counterweight to balance it. Well now he can just reach up and pull it down close to the fire and it will darn near suck the coal up! Nice way to fix a non-working hood.