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Talking to my nephew about my old coal forge made me feel like a dinosaur
Honestly, he's 19 and just got into the craft. He asked me why I still mess with coal when he can get a propane forge online for $600. I told him about the smell of the coal and how you can really feel the heat change. He just said 'but you can set a digital temp and walk away'. It hit me that the hands-on part I love is the part he sees as extra work. Anyone else have a young smith in their life who just doesn't get the old ways?
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sandrat241mo ago
My son is the same age and we had a similar talk. He uses a gas forge for speed, but he started asking to learn coal after he saw how much more control I had for shaping tricky pieces. Maybe your nephew just needs to see it in action on a real project?
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My first coal forge was just an old brake drum and a hair dryer. The thing is, your nephew is right about the digital temp being easier. But that's the whole point. The extra work is what teaches you to read the fire and the metal. It's not about being old, it's about learning a different skill. Maybe invite him over when you're working on something that needs a soft heat.
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