coal, where do you get yours

[beaver#1]

i got part of a bag o coal froma guy that used to build knives.  i tried it out and it burns pretty good and a heck of alot longer than charcoal.  where do you guys get your coal for your forges?  thatnks
Beaver

[beaver#1]

anyone?

[Wampus]

Built my first propane forge in '92 and never looked back.  Might check with ABANA to see if there's a local chapter that can get some leads.

 http://magichammer.freeservers.com/New_Folder/TX.htm

[beaver#1]

thanks wampus,  is the propain more cost efficiant

[Wampus]

Don't know about cost, but it's a whole lot easier to find and way easier to work with.  The only fire tending involved is adjusting a couple of valves and the airflow and then once it's set, it runs the same for as long as you want or until your tank runs out.  Coal is a pain to keep going just right IMO and it's dirty and smokes up the neighborhood.  Some prefer coal, and it has that certain rustic charm I suppose, but I wouldn't switch back if you gave me free coal for life.

[beaver#1]

i have thought about going the propain route but i didnt know how long a tank would last, i cant go buy a refill every week.what kind of burner do you use?

[kbaknife]

http://www.dfoggknives.com/forge.htm

[Wampus]

I built a copy of Don Fogg's gas forge from his website.   http://www.dfoggknives.com/forge.htm
I couldn't find a discarded gas cyl at the time so I got some 10" stainless pipe and some stainles plate from a scrapyard and welded that up for the body.  It works great for general forging but flux tends to run down the sides and eat up the lining when forge welding damascus.  I built a horizontal version of the same thing for forge welding with a kiln shelf floor in it that stands up to flux a lot better.  They both use the same burner so I just swap it back and forth depending on which forge I use.  The vertical uses less gas.
I invested in a 50# propane cylinder so I don't have to get it refilled as often.

[beaver#1]

anybody else use coal?

[tomh]

sometimes the feed and farm co-ops have coal by the bag.

[beaver#1]

thanks tomh i have not thought of that

[MI_Bowhunter]

I find it in my socks on Christmas.    

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

[LAR43]

Google blacksmith's coal or farrier's supplies. It contains less sulphur than regular coal.

Most guys have gone to propane. It's easier to get, cleaner to store & doesn't leave clinkers in the bottom of the forge.
Making & tending a smith's coal fire takes some learning & practice. Usually, unless you're in an open area, the smoke & smell from a coal forge starts to offend neighbors & firemen pretty quickly.

Other than the dull roar of a propane forge, there's not much else about propane that will get you the attention of your neighbors or the local F.D.

There's lot's of pro's & con's re. coal, it's definitely classic & more traditional, but IMHO,
propane is more convenient & easier all around.

Larry

[beaver#1]

i did find a place to get coal(centuar forge).  i like the coal but was wondering which one was the cheapest to run if you are going to run your forge alot.  the coal i found was $22.00 for a 50 lbs bag.