I finally got my forge up to a perfect heat for a Damascus billet and then the power went out.

Spent all Tuesday morning prepping the steel and getting the temp just right, a solid 2300 degrees according to the pyrometer. The whole neighborhood lost power for two hours and the billet was a total loss. What's your go-to backup plan when the grid fails on a critical weld?

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron_perry8d ago

That's the absolute worst feeling. I keep a small propane forge on standby for exactly that kind of disaster.

claire_grant348d ago

Respectfully disagree. Keeping a forge on standby seems like overkill for most people. It adds another tool to store and maintain, plus propane isn't cheap. For the once in a blue moon a piece needs serious heat, a good torch from the hardware store does the trick. Investing in that just encourages buying more single use gear.

robertcarr8d ago

My buddy tried that torch method on a snapped shovel handle. Ended up scorching the wood so bad it looked like a burnt marshmallow. Had to carve the whole thing down and start over, total pain. Sometimes the right heat is worth the hassle.