Hello everyone! I'm an artist in Bend, Oregon. Primarily I create sculptures in hot glass. My website is www<dot>thompsonstudioglass<dot>com

I need to make custom metal structures for displaying sculptures that I create and I have a lot of questions about forging..... I hope its okay to ask some in this section of the forum.

How hot is a typical propane forge? I have an air/propane furnace (pine ridge burner) for the glass studio that runs at 2100-2300 F. and I wonder it this is the right temp for detailed bending.

What might be typical interior dimensions of a "journeyman level" propane forge?

After bending steel rods, like 1/2" round stock or 3/16" round stock, does the surface of the metal need to be treated or finished, say with a wire brush, before it can be painted? I'm worried about spalling metal (is that the correct term for flaking?).

Are there specific hammer shapes that will decrease the "dents" created in the metal when forging?

Kindly,
--Jeff