My first forge, I've used a friends full size solid fuel forge in the past but this is so much simpler to use; cleaner, more controllable so you only use what you need. Using the refractory cement was a bit daunting but I followed a couple of YouTube videos and it all worked out. I've been using it regularly now on the same setting I used the first time I fired it up. I tend to light both burners even when I only need one so I run the other as low as it will go otherwise it gets very hot and starts to overheat the gas supply pipe. It takes less than 10 minutes to heat up from flat cold (about 10°C) so I tend to turn it off while I'm grinding or welding and fire it back up for forging and heat treat which is far easier and controllable than the solid fuel forge. I haven't managed to forge weld yet but I see no reason (apart from my lack of skill) why it shouldn't and I think it will go hotter if I change the settings.