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Unpopular opinion: I stopped using my gas forge for most small work after a trip to the Ozark Folk Center.
For years, I thought my two-burner gas forge was the only way to go for everything, from big projects to small hooks. But watching a smith there work a coal fire for detailed scrollwork, I saw how much easier it was to control the heat in a tiny spot. I built a simple coal forge in my shop last month, and now I use it for anything under 1/4 inch stock because I can pinpoint the heat without cooking the whole piece. Anyone else make a switch back to a 'slower' fuel for better control?
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joseph5295mo ago
Yeah, that's so true. I started using a little charcoal forge for scrolls and it's a total game changer, you can just nudge the heat exactly where you need it. Makes the gas forge feel like a blunt instrument for small stuff.
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barnes.shane5mo ago
Totally get that, @joseph529, my little coal forge is perfect for detail work.
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