[TheForge] Report on NJBA's Lightweight Forges

[Bruce .]

I had a great success recently using the lightweight forges for a
demonstration at a county fair.  I was able to load up my little Nissan
pickup truck -- all by myself -- with three (each) forges, firepots, hoods,
4' flues, blowers & stands, (55-lb HF) anvils and adjustable stands, plus a
vise & stand, two canopies, two 10-gal slack tubs, coal, kindling and
tools.

Aside from the anvils, no single item weighs more than (maybe) 40 lbs, so
everything is easily portable by one man.  Most everything either breaks
down or nests for stowage.

Set up (3 folks working) took 45 minutes, including staking down canopies,
vise stand, and blower stands, and installing stanchions and rope perimeter.

All forges performed adequately well.  The HF anvils are far from
top-of-the-line, but indeed proved adequate for demonstrations.  Their
utility can be extended considerably by means of hardy tools.

The real test came at break-down.  My helpers that day did not want to
leave early because that would mean I'd have to reload my truck myself, but
staying would have kept them up till midnight and they had kids to get back
to and work the next day.  So they helped as much as possible, without
breaking down the last forge, before leaving.

The only real complication to re-loading my pickup truck was that the Fair
shut off the overhead string of lights!  Fortunately, other lights remained
which were adequate if dim.  I brought my truck in at 11:30 PM and drove
out the gate at 12:45 -- not too shabby!

The contrast between this experience and NJBA's previous history, using a
trailer to haul heavy equipment, is like day vs. night.  This experience
completely justifies this whole "Lightweight Forge Project" effort.

Needless to say I was pretty tired -- frazzled, actually -- the following
day, but I had recovered fully by the second day after.

Please see follow-up posting for a related discussion.

Bruce
NJ