[TheForge] propane vs coal in current energy market

[Andy Vida]

Walmetalwk at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Using gas more then doubles production time in our shop.  Any added cost for
> gas far out weighs the expense of coal.  Simply the advantage is getting more
> done in an 8 hour day using gas.

	This seems to be the case.  One of the problems I had with gas,
	initially, was control of the atmosphere.  I have found two
	ways of curing this.  One is the introduction of carbonaceous
	material into the hot forge when one desires a reducing
	atmosphere and the other is to build a blown forge, which
	offers broad and easy control over atmospheric chemistry.

	The one area where coal is completely superior to gas is in
	the open nature of the forge, allowing one to work on large
	pieces using a small fire for localizing heat.  Therre are
	certain sorts of work where any post-assembly hot work is not
	very practical in a gas forge not sized to accept certain
	portions of that work.  Here a coal forge often will come to
	the smith's aid.

	I would not completely discard one for the other unless my business
	was absolutely locked into the one. Besides, coal's a lot of fun.
	Isn't the filth and the stink of using coal at least half of the 
	whole point of being a blacksmith? :)

	-Andy