Back when I used coal for every heat, now I run a gas forge for most stuff

I used to fire up the coal forge for anything from a nail to a sword blade, spent 15 minutes just getting a good coke bed going every time. Switched to a propane forge last November after I got tired of cleaning clinker out for hours on a big commission. The gas forge heats a 3/8 inch bar in under 2 minutes flat, but I still miss the control you get with coal on fine work. Anyone else find themselves keeping an old coal forge around just for the tricky bits?

3 comments

3 Comments

alex_johnson3d agoTop Commenter

I've got to disagree, coal just gives you way better heat control for precision work.

hannahk192d ago

Totally feel you on that, coal heat control is hard to beat.

faith6842d ago

Consider keeping a small coal forge just for heat treating blades or doing pattern welding where you need to see the steel color clearly without the gas flame washing everything out. The slower heat up time with coal also gives you better soak time on thicker stock before you dunk it in the quenching oil. I run my propane forge ninety percent of the time now, but that old coal pot still sits in the corner ready to go for the jobs where gas just doesn't behave the same.