Pro tip: How I stopped my coal forge from burning one side
Most smiths blame their tools when heats go bad, but it's usually just poor setup. I kept burning one side of my work because the air flow was uneven. After checking, I found the tuyere was clogged with ash. Now I clean it regularly and my forge runs perfect.
Totally get what you mean, @waderamirez. Once you're in a groove, it becomes way easier to keep up with. I used to let things pile up, but now I just do a quick tidy every couple days and it stays clean. Makes such a difference not having to deep clean all the time.