Dropped $700 on a new forge blower and I'm still not sure if it was smart

I got tired of my old hand crank blower giving out on big jobs, so I bought a new electric one. It was a big chunk of change, about seven hundred bucks. The good side is it gives me a super steady heat, which is great for making custom shoes or doing repairs that need a lot of focus. But man, the noise is something else. It's loud enough that I have to wear ear protection the whole time, and I miss being able to hear the fire and the metal. Plus, it needs power, so I'm stuck near an outlet or running a generator. My old way was slow but quiet and I could work anywhere. Did I just trade peace and quiet for a bit of speed, or is the steady heat really worth the headache?

3 comments

3 Comments

jackson.faith25d ago

Wow, my neighbor's new leaf blower has the same problem, it's so loud!

hannah40025d ago

Sounds like you bought a jet engine for your forge. My old truck makes less noise than that thing probably does. But hey, at least you can hear yourself think over the ringing in your ears now, right? That steady heat for custom work is a game changer, but man, trading the quiet crackle of the fire for a constant roar is a tough call. Sometimes the fancy tool just reminds you why the simple one felt so good.

anna57825d ago

My last apartment had a window AC unit that hit 85 decibels on a bad day. I had to turn the TV up so loud just to hear dialogue over the constant drone. You get used to the noise after a while, but the second you turn it off, the sudden quiet feels like a physical relief. Makes you miss the simple box fan, even if it didn't cool things down as well.