I'm not convinced that a gas forge is always the upgrade people say it is.

I ran a coal forge for my first eight years, and I switched to a propane Majestic two years ago because everyone said it was cleaner and easier. I still miss the direct control over the fire's shape and heat I had with coal, especially for detailed scrollwork. Anyone else find they work better with the old methods for certain jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_adams254d ago

Right? It's like everyone just decided progress means giving up all the fine control. You trade a living fire you can poke and shape for a dumb box that just gets hot. Sure, my shop is cleaner, but my work on small pieces got way worse for a solid year. Who decided easier was always better?

tessa8684d ago

I read a woodturner's blog where he called modern kilns "temperature prisons." He argued the old uneven heat actually helped shape the wood's final form. That loss of feel is a real cost they never put in the brochure.