Coal (not charcoal) forging

Wade Jones

Wade Jones

Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
183
Say a guy was wandering around the mountains and stumbled across an abandoned coal mine, with a decent amount of coal laying about.

And say this guy was thinking about building a small forge and using said coal for fuel.

Anything special said guy would need to do to use said coal for forging?

Hypothetically speaking of course.
Said guy is in the process of finding out if anyone owns the land/mine still. He did appropriate a couple chunks for scientific research though. :)
 
You need a low sulfur coal. If there is too much sulfur then you will make the steel brittle. If you can harvest this said coal, take it back to your shop, light it on fire and put a blower to it. Make sure you do this in a fire proof container or the like. If you see yellow smoke rising from it then it is not suitable for forging.
 
Even the good coal will burn yellow/green when you first light it up. You take the coal and burn off all the impurities (well most of them) leaving Coke. Coke is what you use to forge with. Chuck is correct that you want to get a good grade of coal.

Jim Arbuckle
 
Look on the sign over the mine ( or laying on the ground). If it says "Pocahontas #3" then use the coal. If not put it in the pot belly stove to warm the smithy.
You want low sulfur Bituminous coal. Pocahontas #3 is the preferred forging coal.
Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
Look on the sign over the mine ( or laying on the ground). If it says "Pocahontas #3" then use the coal. If not put it in the pot belly stove to warm the smithy.
You want low sulfur Bituminous coal. Pocahontas #3 is the preferred forging coal.
Stacy
Click to expand...

He's from Colorado Stacy don't think that's the stuff :D

Burn some, if it stinks like farts then it is none too good.
 
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