if you can do that well with a grinder, why worry about a forge. i usually grind em out because i live on a main road with lotsa neighbors now, and can heat treat through the mail. i used to live off the drag and nobody much cared about the coal stench, but i can't really say i miss it or the gawdawful mess. as for a handle i'm partial to recycling (dumpster diving) myself. i found some mahogany off of an old projection tv that way, and did a scabbard for my broadsword. rock whatever you do!