Blacksmith Coal

J

jawilder

Joined
Jun 27, 2006
Messages
2,331
How many of you use coal for your forge and are there any good suppliers out there?

If I can't find any I'll have to keep making my own charcoal.
 
Centaur in New Braunsfels sells both coal and coke in 50# bags. I've been using the lump charcoal from Lowe's and Academy. FWIW, the Lowe's variety sparked alot less than the Academy stuff.
 
Do you have to break it up into smaller pieces to use it in your forge....if so, how are you doing it. Yesterday I ran over some in my car to smash it up some!!! (No joke!)

Brad
 
i am no expert but i did build a coal forge once didnt do anything constructive with it but i built it anyhow. once you get the fire going good you can add big chunks when they burn a bit they break up easily with just a good solid tap. so i wouldnt break up coal in the beginning. if you can buy the smaller tho...it makes life easier.

oh and light it with a torch or something dont be in a big hurry. coal when first lit does give off some stinky fumes... add copius amounts of paint thinner and the like for fuel and its really bad..... dont ask me how i know :(

jake
 
Not all coal is made equally, the blacksmith coal is different from heating coal, and it comes in pea size to about an 1" dia chunks. The differences in the coals is sulfer content and a few other impurities. Heating coal has a HUGE amount of sulfer so much so that the smoke rolls of VERY yellow and is Awful for forging blades as it can impart more sulfer into the metal's recipe , Forging coal smoke rolls off slightly yellow and Metalurgical Coal is the cleanest and most expensive coal it burns clean and slightly greyish white smoke. I use only "Pocahontas Slack" Forging coal, I pick it up a blacksmith hammer-ins (ABANA) and festivals around my state. Do a google search for pocahontas slack you'll come up with all kinds of suppliers. The last time I bought it was 06/02/08 and I got 300 lbs for right at $90.00 US. Or about $15.00 per 50# bag.
 
I just use BBQ coal....oak or mesquite. Once I made some pine charcoal in the backyard, but it was a pain and it burn up very fast. Once again I found myself questioning why I live in the city!!!!

Brad
 
If you find a local supplier, it might be wise to just try and burn a little bit as a sample. Then go for 1/2 ton!:D One thing to look for as well is a high "coking button" if you would like to have the type of coal that burns into coke that you can mold into an old style welding fire (Igloo.) It works more with soft bituminous coals, pocahontas coal falls into this category. (But still try it first.) Or if you want a more charcoal-esque bed of coals to weld and heat in, some smiths like to use anthracite coals. You can even buy smithing coal in bags on e-bay, for Pete's sake.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top