Thanks! It's good to be back! I've just been getting my butt kicked by all the obligations of life. I got the saws fired up and got a cuple pickup loads in. Good medicine for the soul. I also picked up a dirty new habit... Blacksmithing.
Yep, they hurt! I ended up noodling a few and they were still very heavy. My chiropracter is very excited
Do you use wood to heat the metal for your smithing or do you stick to coal for that fire? Most I have seen actually doing smith work seem to use coal for the fire.
Silver maple is right on par with cherry, btu wise. It's good stuff, just not awesome stuff like shagbark hickory. Much better than poplar.
I've done both. I used to make hedge charcoal. It worked OK but blacksmith coal is definately better. A real night and day difference! The problem is getting it! Man I wish I lived back east...
