Man that bench stuff misses things sometimes, I always double check with a visual test now.

lmao "regretted sticking with coal for so long" hits different when you realize we were basically just glorified cavemen throwing rocks at hot metal. I held out for 8 years because my old man said gas forges were for "weekend warriors" and I wanted to prove him wrong. Then I finally caved when my neighbor's gas forge had me done with a sword blade in 2 hours while I was still trying to get my coal fire to stop smoking like a chimney. The even heat control is no joke, it's like going from driving a stick shift with a blown clutch to an automatic with cruise control. But hey, at least we can flex about the "good old days" while our gas forges do all the heavy lifting now lol.

... watching a patch of corn for wind reads? That's a new level of old school I ain't never heard of.