My neighbor's old rivet forge versus my new propane one for a simple bracket job

I needed to make 20 identical brackets last month, and his setup took me 3 hours just to get the metal hot enough. The propane forge had them all done in under an hour, with way more even heat. Anyone else find that switching fuel types changed their whole workflow?

3 comments

3 Comments

troy_gibson432mo ago

Come on, it's just 20 brackets. Was the extra two hours really that big of a deal? Some folks have used rivet forges for a hundred years and got stuff done. Sounds like you just needed a better fire in the old one, not a whole new setup. Not every job needs the fastest tool. Sometimes the old way is fine if you're not in a rush.

lunah862mo ago

Honestly, this is the same energy as people telling me to just patch a tire when the sidewall's shredded. Yeah, the old way works, but time has a cost (both in hours and in frustration). It's not about being in a rush, it's about not wasting effort.

samf951mo ago

My uncle tried to run a small forge with a rivet setup for custom hinges last year. He spent more time babysitting the fire and fixing air leaks than actually shaping metal. Upgraded to a simple gas forge for under three hundred bucks and said it paid for itself in a month just from saved time and consistent heat. Troy's point about old ways working is true, but it misses how much mental energy you burn fighting a tool that's fighting you back. Sometimes the new way isn't about speed, it's about not starting every project already tired.