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That Tuesday my forge fire backfired and melted my safety glasses
Was working on a railroad spike knife, got distracted by a phone call. Came back to find the fire had reversed and melted the lenses right off my face shield. Anyone else had a forge fire do something weird like that?
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derekward9d ago
After getting a new forge setup a few years back, I started keeping a small fire extinguisher nearby and a timer set for 10 minutes anytime I step away. That melted lens story is a good reminder to stay close to the fire - I had a similar scare when a breeze kicked up and blew ash right into my face through the gap in my hood. Now I also point a small fan away from the forge to keep air moving steady, which helped cut down on those random backdrafts.
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williamhill8d ago
Man, that's such a solid point. Honestly, I've noticed this same pattern in so many parts of life - it's like the universe tests you just enough to make you smarter if you're paying attention. That little scare with the ash is exactly the kind of thing that teaches you the real lessons, not the textbook stuff. Tbh, I think most of us learn more from those tiny close calls than from anything else, whether it's a forge or just navigating a crowded parking lot. It's funny how a split second of danger can stick with you way more than hours of reading safety manuals.
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