That crack convinced me to always warm the oil first.
I took a trip to a small village in Japan and watched a master smith use only coal in his forge. He said coal gives a softer heat that's perfect for detailed scroll work. Back in my garage, I always use propane because it's clean and easy to control. Now I can't decide if the mess of coal is worth the supposed better feel for the metal. Have any of you switched fuels after a trip like this? Which do you think leads to better results in the long run?
I accidentally forged it so long it won't fit through the door, and now it's just leaning in the hallway like a weird metal guest.
The used market is all Chinese cast iron that cracks on the first strike.
I always looked down on power hammers... thought they were cheating and took the skill out of the work. But after hurting my shoulder from overworking, I had to use one for a big commission. The consistency it gave on the heavy strikes was something I just couldn't match by hand. Now I see it as a tool, not a crutch... it lets me focus on the finer details without wearing myself out. I guess I was just being stubborn about the 'old ways'.