My coal forge runs better since I changed one simple habit

I always let ash pile up in my forge bottom until it was almost full. It made the fire sluggish and uneven, which messed up my heat treats. After talking to another smith at a demo, I began clearing out the ash after each use. Now, I just take a minute to shovel it out while the forge is cooling down. The difference is huge, my fire gets hot faster and stays consistent. I waste less coal and my projects come out more even. It's a tiny extra step that pays off big time. Honestly, I wish I had started doing this years ago.