What forge carbon monoxide actually does, and what your alarm misses
Forge carbon monoxide explained from the shop floor: whose exposure limits are whose, what a UL 2034 alarm catches, and what ventilation must do.
September 7, 2026 · 15 min read
Topic
Safety and PPE
The gear that keeps you working. Real hazards, the real standards, and why I never treat any of it as optional.
Forging galvanized steel, and why I keep it out of my fire
Forging galvanized steel puts zinc oxide fume in the air you breathe. What the NIOSH and OSHA limits say, how I spot coated stock, and what I do instead.
September 7, 2026 · 15 min read
Hearing protection for blacksmithing, and how loud a shop really gets
What hearing protection for blacksmithing has to do, what the OSHA and NIOSH noise limits actually say, and why the NRR printed on the box is not what you get.
September 7, 2026 · 13 min read
Blacksmith gloves, from the ABANA guidance to what I would buy
What ABANA says about blacksmith gloves, why cotton and Kevlar beat synthetics, and the cotton, elkskin and goatskin pairs I would buy for the forge.
August 19, 2026 · 15 min read
The blacksmith aprons I would actually wear at the forge
An honest gear guide to blacksmith aprons: the split leg leather apron I would buy first, what leather weight and fit to check, and what to wear under it.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
Blacksmith safety gear: what matters and what to skip
The safety gear a beginner smith actually needs, the standards that matter, and where not to waste money, from a smith who learned the hard way.
July 17, 2026 · 5 min read