[TheForge] what IS that stuff?

[Andy Gladish]

Dear Abby-
Came in from the shop to warm my toes and my wife said, What is on your  
hands? It smells so bad it makes my eyes burn!
I looked down and saw only the usual black stuff that steel leaves all  
over our lives, not the smithing soot, but the whatever it is that the  
steel is coated with when we get it from the supplier.
You know what? She's right! It's nasty. One of those things you just take  
for granted until someone points it out. I mean, I don't mind the color,  
it goes with my Carhartts, not to mention my black and evil soul, but it  
really does smell nasty and I really don't want it on my skin anymore.
So- does anyone know what it is?
Signed,
Alarmed in Anacortes