[TheForge] going for gas

Fri Feb 7 21:46:03 2003

Ok, you started it.  ;-)

There is something that the coal forge gives me that the gas forge can never
do, and that is the feeling of being connected to a very long past of people
working iron in a very similar way.  I love the smell of my shop that only a
coal forge can give. The gas forge in operation can never match the romance
of the coal forge in a dimly lit shop.

My little gas forge is ok too, but the coal forge brings me back to the shop
every time.  Then there is that other thing that I don't understand, and
that is the iron seems to work nicer out of the coal forge compared to the
gas forge.

Harry Foster
Pontiac, Quebec and it's still really cold too.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Steve Smith
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 7:46 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] going for gas

I rarely use my coal forges anymore. Gas is a lot nicer. There, that
will start a bunch more letters.

Gas is good for even heats over large areas, coal good for heating small
sections (or large). Insulating gloves (not leather, better is Kevlar)
are much more appreciated by gas forge users than coal for the same
reason--everything gets hot.

Gas will be much more cost effective than coal for you, once you factor
in the costs of seriously irritating your neighbor. One way to economize
with gas is to make a general purpose sized forge and then make one as
small as makes sense, with a scaled down burner. You may need to
experiment a bit to find what works.

Steve Smith

Sheldon Laing wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I have been operating a home forge for a while now ( I live in built up
> residential area) and I have received a complaint from a neighbour
> regarding smoke. I use a coal forge. This puts me in quite a
> predicament. I wish to continue forging but I don't want a visit from
> the cops or worse, her lawyer.
> So I have been thing about going for gas. A gas forge that is.
> Should I go for gas? Will it be cost effective considering that a 40kg
> (90lb) bag of good coal costs me 40 - 45 rand ( about 5dollars)?it
> usually lasts for about 10 - 15 long sessions at my forge. The work I do
> mostly small decorative stuff and some bladesmithing. If I should indeed
> opt for a gas forge, what should I know, bearing in mind that I have
> obtained gas forge plans and visited Mr Reil's very informative page.
>
> Thanx in advance for the help
> Sheldon Laing
> Hephaestus Forge
> Cape Town
> South Africa
> [email protected]
>
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