All lined up for tomorrow’s attempted wood forge.
Tbh I’m hoping it’s enough. I have to get the strikers past the temp they turn non magnetic (when the metal itself is well beyond 1000ºF if I’m not mistaken), and wood forges are notorious for eating a LOT of fuel to get up high and remain there, especially with an inefficient pit forge. I’ve only got a really small amount of charcoal that’s been sitting out in the weather and in the dirt for years, so I doubt it will help much.
I’ve got a mix of a soft wood seasoned/dried paper mulberry (mwahahhaha I get to finally burn some of that that invasive jackass of a tree) to start building the coals and then some of what I think is some seasoned/dried ironwood (which is a hardwood). I’ve never used either of these when doing wood forging so it’ll be interesting at least. Hoping it works. Rounding it all out is the 3 year old dried orange tree limbs and sticks and the misc sticks I’ve been collecting the past week.
The smaller white bucket is half full with black moss (always have way more than you need in case you screw up starting the fire) and my kindling sticks, while the grey bucket on the far left has charcoal, half burned sticks, and a tennis ball tube filled with the secondary tinder I use with the black moss.
As for that metal thing leaning against the black milk crate...it’s a secret. A part of my secret secret weapon that will make this all work. :3
I plan on recording most of this whole process (shots with my face in it will have me wearing a facemask and goggles because 1. y’all don’t need to know my face and 2. protection. always have it. especially with this kind of heat.) but I’ll also post pictures as I go. :3 the video will later be edited and put on streamable or youtube.
Anyway, cheers!!
Bonus:
I was cutting wood earlier and Lexi came up behind me and just plopped her butt down in the half completed forge pit I had dug. Scamp. X3