Differences in coal

[egally08]

I'm about to build my coal forge, and I was wondering about what type of coal to use.

I have read a little bit about the types of coal on the forum. The thing is, I have a railroad track about 200 feet from my house.

I can walk down the tracks and in just a few minutes, collect over 50 pounds of coal, most of it being pretty large chunks.

Is there anyway to tell which type it is, or is there a common type of coal that is transported on the railway?

 

[bittermanbrewing]

generally you should be able to hit it with a hammer and anthracite coal will shatter and bituminous will crumble. Wear safety glasses when doing the test. Also, bituminous has a kind of stink to it when you burn it of sulfur, though sometimes the smell is pretty faint.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Forging coal is not the same as heating coal.

Forges use bituminous coal, and the preferred type is Pocahontas #3. It comes from a large coal field in VA and WV. It has a very low volatility, which makes it cleaner burning and it cokes easier. High sulfur coal is bad for forging.

If the tracks have trains that carry coal cars for steel mills ( or for export to other country's steel mils), then it is probably bituminous metallurgical coal ( also called coking coal), and will work for forging.

 

[Schleifstein]

All the anthracite I've messed with seemed to have shiny/ glossy faces and inclusions. The bituminous coal was always matte with a rougher surface texture. I also don't recall any bituminous coal as big or bigger than my fist, but perhaps it was graded and sorted for bagging.

A good bituminous coal should also tend to cake together a bit at temperature, allowing you to shape the fire. You can break through the upper crust where you want flame and pile a little more on the leaks you don't want. This will concentrate heat and airflow, creating an air torch effect. You can form a long narrow gash for long pieces or leave a neat round hole at the top for spot heating a bend.

I like to mound my coal when the fire is green (spewing thick smoke) crank the air until most of the volatiles are cooked of and the smoke dies down, then I shape the fire and get to work. Trying to get a good heat in a green fire only frustrates me. I like a long rod with a 6-8 inch L piece at the end for raking and poking.

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

Being in Ohio it should be easy for you to get some good Pocahontas #3.
It's about the best forging coal you'll find.
Mined in W. Va, but I was able to get it quite readily in Illinois.
The further east you go, the easier to find.

 

[elementfe]

Start out with whatever, but when you do get your hands on a bag of "real" blacksmithing coal, it'll be a total eye-opener. You'll never use Whatever again.