The day I tried to forge a small garden trowel for my wife

I got the steel nice and hot, about 1,800 degrees, and started shaping it on the anvil. Just as I was getting the curve right, our new puppy, a golden retriever, ran into the shop and grabbed the hot steel right out of my tongs with his mouth. He didn't get hurt, thank goodness, but he dropped it and it landed perfectly in my old steel-toed boot, melting a hole right through the toe. I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing the trowel while smelling like burnt leather. Has anyone else had a shop helper cause a complete mess like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

charles_green1mo ago

That bit about the steel landing in your boot is wild. I had a cat once that knocked a whole can of quenching oil off the bench, and let me tell you, that smell does not come out of concrete. You really do need eyes in the back of your head with pets around the shop.

abby8361mo ago

Nah, I kinda like having my cat around while I'm working. Keeps me on my toes, makes me pay attention to where I put things down. Honestly taught me better shop habits than any safety class.