[TheForge] suggestion for abana and local blacksmith groups.

[Andy Vida]

John Husvar wrote:

> I wonder a bit if manufacturers would be enthusiastic about a
> head-to-head for one thing.

	I'm not sure they would be, especially if they are skating
	their marketing at the edges of the truth.

> Testing would have to take into account the
> advertised design purposes of each product for another.

	THis is a very good point.

> Direct competitions could have significant consequences for the
> manufacturers, such as lost business, or legal ramifications for the
> testers, especially if the manufacturers could legitimately claim the
> tests were not direct comparisons, apples to apples.
> 
> Maybe a kind of decathlon, to demonstrate the suitability of each torch
> for the most common smithing/fabricating/demolition tasks?

	That sounds wise.  That way, the torcheds are not being
	stacked against one another per se, but are simply being
	demoed on their own merits.  Any conclusions reached by
	the audience are the responsibility of the individual
	viewers.

	Isn't it so sad and stupid that we even have to discuss
	bullshit like this; that this is what this nation has come
	to?  A bunch of lousy smiths get together to see what 
	torches can do and they have to worry about being sued 
	because the manufacturers have piss and cry foul.
	
	It's pathetic.
> 
> IIRC the Petrogen is mainly advertised as a demolition tool, for example.

	A cutting torch.  BTW, on the page they speak of the torch's
	ability to jump gaps, but they don't mention how large a gap.
	I thought it would be nice to see how large an I-Beam one could
	cut, across the flanges, in one pass.