[TheForge] I don't think so

[Jerry Frost]

Bingo!

Of course I don't make a living smithing so the occasions I've needed to
work iron in sub-zero temps have been rare. On those few occasions I've
taken the time to preheat everything I'm going to use: Anvil, hammers,
chisels, even the forge.

I have a hard refractory inner liner in my little gas forge and taking it
from sub-zero to forging temps in one go is a bad thing. I light it off for
about a minute and shut it down, wait maybe five minutes and it's warm
enough to fire up and work.

I also do this if I haven't used it in a while to drive off any moisture the
liner may have absorbed.  Drying it takes longer depending on how much steam
is escaping from the shell. It's double lined, hard refractory on the inside
and Kaowool between the inner liner and shell so it can absorb a lot of
moisture.

I lay my hammers and other small tools on the forge shell while it's heating
up, then leave them on the table in front to keep warm. Heating the anvil
depends on how much of a hurry I'm in. Heating a couple bars or bricks and
laying them on it works fine or I can take a weed burner, rosebud, etc. to
it if I'm in more of a hurry.

Still, hanging out on the computer, at the local coffee shop or just napping
is preferable in extreme cold. <grin>

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.


----- Original Message -----
From: "GHS" <ghs@execpc.com>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] I don't think so


> You mean like not working in a smithy
> that is -25 or lower? BRRRRR! It has to
> be at least 30 degrees warmer than that
> for me. <G>
>
> Mike Graf