Spent $400 on a digital forge controller and I'm not convinced it's worth it

I mean, it holds temp fine but idk, maybe it's just me but I feel like I lost the feel for the fire. Anyone else try one and end up going back to the old ways?

3 comments

3 Comments

black.amy3mo agoMost Upvoted

Man, I hadn't even thought about the sound! That's a huge part of the feel for me. My old rig has this low roar that tells me everything, I can almost hear the heat. The new digital box just hums, it's like a quiet fridge. I miss listening to the work, it made the whole process more connected.

henry_palmer241mo ago

That "silent partner" thing from the farrier's blog really hits home. The hum from those digital units just doesn't give you any feedback, does it. When you're pulling a piece out of a coal forge and you hear that low, steady growl, you know the steel is soaking up the heat right. Have you tried running a regular coat hanger through your old forge just to hear if it still sounds the same, or has the roar changed over time? I'm curious if that sound stays consistent or if it shifts as the forge ages and the firebrick wears down.

robin_wright3mo ago

Read a blog post from a farrier who said the same thing. He called his old forge a "talking fire" and the new digital one a "silent partner." Said he lost the rhythm of the work when he couldn't hear the steel's changes. That stuck with me, the idea of the fire telling you a story.