Bought a portable forge for cold shoeing calls and it's been a game changer

Spent about $1200 on a small propane forge setup last fall after a string of cold shoeing jobs where the client's barn was just too far from my shop. Took it out on a call near Redmond last week for a horse that needed a quick fix on a pulled shoe. Had the shoe heated, shaped, and back on in under twenty minutes right there in the field. The horse stayed calm because we didn't have to trailer it anywhere. Anyone else using a mobile setup like this, and what kind of fuel do you prefer?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_dylan1mo ago

My uncle runs a small engine repair shop and he told me last year that half his service calls are now mobile. He drives out with a van full of tools. It's the same idea, bringing the shop to the job instead of the other way around. People just expect things fixed on the spot now, for their cars, their appliances, and I guess their horses too. That propane forge sounds like it pays for itself just by saving all the time and stress of moving the animal. The upfront cost is steep but it makes sense if your work is spread out.

stellafisher1mo ago

Kinda surprised nobody's mentioned the fuel theft angle yet. Running a propane setup in a remote area like Redmond means you're leaving a tank in your truck bed overnight sometimes. Had a buddy who did mobile welding lose two full 40lb tanks out of his rig at a motel in Bend. He switched to a locking rack and a dash cam after that. Plus propane gets finicky in cold weather below freezing, so if you're doing early morning calls in the winter you might need to keep the tank inside your cab overnight.