Back in '09 I thought a propane forge was just a cheap shortcut for hobbyists.

After borrowing my friend's Johnson gas forge for a month in my Portland garage, I was shocked by how clean and even the heat was for most of my general forging work, so what's one tool you were totally wrong about at first?

3 comments

3 Comments

gracet228d ago

Remember scoffing at needle files until @torres.sage's post made me try one for a tiny clock gear repair?

hill.andrew15d ago

My old boss at the machine shop swore by files for finishing. I thought they were slow and outdated compared to a belt grinder. Then I had to fit a custom bronze bushing by hand. A few minutes with a smooth mill file gave me a perfect press fit that power tools would have ruined. I keep a full set in my box now.

torres.sage15d ago

Yeah @hill.andrew, I had the same thing happen fitting a steel pin last week... my bastard file saved me from wrecking the whole assembly.