My forge finally hit 2,000 degrees for the first time and I accidentally melted a pair of pliers I left on the edge of the firepot.

I was so focused on the color of the steel in my first attempt at pattern welding that I didn't notice the pliers' handles drooping until they were a shiny puddle, so has anyone else had a tool casualty from getting too into the zone?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy8171mo ago

Getting lost in the work shows real passion is a nice way to put it, but I'm more curious about the aftermath. @the_elizabeth, when your pliers turned into a puddle, did you just let them cool and scrape the puddle out, or did that puddle fuse to the firepot brick and now you've got a permanent silvery scar in your forge? Because I had a pair of tongs that slipped in and the handle now lives as a lump in my firepot's floor.

the_elizabeth1mo ago

Getting lost in the work shows real passion, but maybe keep a better eye on your gear next time.

tylerj221mo ago

That firepot brick is probably fine, but melted pliers can leave a nasty zinc oxide fume cloud you really don't want to breathe in.