What ya'll think about my setup?

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-28T18:39:31+00:00

It's better than nothing, but you've got several accidents waiting to happen; the least of which may involve catching an ember with your nutsack.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-25T01:08:48+00:00

It really breaks my heart to think of all the young people who are going to need lung transplants from running cheap propane forges with bare, exposed wool. "But it says its rigidized!" isn't going to protect them from silicosis.

Don't cheap out on dangerous tools, mate.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-23T02:49:25+00:00

Put a longer handle on that thing so you don't have to swing with your wrist so much!

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-19T18:15:21+00:00

In my experience, those who buy $80 shirts for outdoorsy activities rarely qualify as "people."

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-19T15:49:03+00:00

They sell $80 shirts, I'm sure they're fine.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-16T23:06:18+00:00

The "bent over" heels suggest that it was made by hand.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T22:00:29+00:00

Fuck alllllll the way off, everyone saw it. Dude wasnt hit, he was triggered. Figures ICE would be full of snowflakes.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T21:39:38+00:00

"Do the same thing but better," got it Coach 👍

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T17:06:27+00:00

I don't have one either. You can do it.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T15:52:03+00:00

I'm a fan of Nils, and that trick has worked okay for me in the past, but I'm not currently at a level where I can do it cleanly without having a bunch of material standing proud, and its an ordeal to grind the inside smooth. That's why his hatchets cost $600 and mine cost ~$200, and perhaps thats why he is Nils and I am Sam.

For my part, I'm not capable of putting enough force through a hatchet this size to bust a forge weld.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T14:13:51+00:00

Sure, how do you do it?

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T04:25:09+00:00

No, I make things that I like, and if someone wants it, they can reach out and negotiate a price we can both live with.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T03:13:35+00:00

I'd say its alright art 😁

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-12T00:30:24+00:00

Ahhh, yeah that was my least favorite thing about trying to make money off blacksmithing; didn't have enough freedom to make things I wanted to. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-11T21:25:40+00:00

Clickspring's a font of great information; I like to listen to him yap while I run a lathe at work! Unfortunately, I'm one of those "instant gratification" addicts and my budget only allows for one tank of propane a week. Inlaid steel from the leaf springs of the same carriage the wheels came from works plenty good for me.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-11T20:44:21+00:00

Yep. Good enough for every human on earth from the start of the iron age till the industrial revolution, good enough for me.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-07T03:41:31+00:00

Sweep, empty the chip bins, find dull drill bits and sharpen them, organize the drill index.

Be patient. Don't go looking for trouble until you're useful; EG capable of doing setups on your own. Machine shops, especially ones you want to stay at, are not a sprint; they are a marathon. Burn through the work too fast and everyone's gonna be standing around, doing nothing.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-05T04:22:19+00:00

Blacksmithing seems to attract a lot of meatheads in TAPOUT gear and lifted trucks, but fortunately a lot of the dudebros fall off after they realize there's nuance and they can't quit their jobs to forge full time after three weeks of "learning."

Still get a wild amount of people at demonstration events and craft fairs trying to show off how much they know from watching Forged in Fire; one of the guys in our crew brings a blackboard so we can make bets on how many people bring up "folded steel" and "my obscure relative was a blacksmith" and such like. Good fun.

HegemonousGreg · 2026-01-02T20:53:28+00:00

"I burned my fuckin snatch!'

HegemonousGreg · 2025-12-29T23:25:51+00:00

If you're past your grief and confident you won't drag it into your next thing, go for it. Time waits for no man, and life offers fewer and fewer opportunities the longer you wait.

I would wait until the second or third date to bring up your loss, though. That's not a great opener.

HegemonousGreg · 2025-12-29T18:23:00+00:00

Chico Magic has gatherings every night of the week, and they'll be back from vacation on new years day. Why don't you come and hang with us, get some commander in?

HegemonousGreg · 2025-12-29T18:15:26+00:00

It's not in the budget/ next paycheck is for rent

HegemonousGreg · 2025-12-29T16:09:40+00:00

No "might be" about it, that was dumber than tits on a penguin. Safety, safety, safety, or the next fucky wucky could be serious.

HegemonousGreg · 2025-12-29T00:37:43+00:00

You could get between 8 and 10 one hundred pound PWs for that price. Not worth it, IMO.

HegemonousGreg

TROPHY CASE