[TheForge] Re: coal or coke or propane

[LrdThorolf at aol.com]

Since I started blacksmithing I  have used coal, coke and  propane. I  hate 
coal because of the smoke and having to  make a  slurry  of it to work in  
until it coked. I liked the coke because a  small wood fire would get it hot.  
Good burning and had clinkers that came  out in one piece. Good working and could 
let it bank down and come back to  it later. Propane is good because I could 
feed lots of pieces of 1/2 inch square  stock in and keep rotating them in and 
out as I  forged them.  The  problem with my coke was I could not get any in 
AZ. nobody wanted it, they  wanted coal. Although the cost of propane goes up 
I  can put up with  it. I  just got to make a smaller forge now. My old one 
weighs in over 125  pounds. 2 burner atmospheric. Made out of 1/4 inch steel  
barrel  with steel base and legs. Takes 2 people to  lift it to it's stand  
about 4 foot high. I  like it at eye level and it makes it easier to see  when  
pieces are hot and pull them out. I  have worked on many forges  and the small 
ones are good for small stuff.
 It is just a preference of what a person likes and what they  want.
 
this is my 2 cents worth. 
Ike
Pan's  Forge
Out of the heat and into 4 seasons. 
 
 
 
Life is not a  journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in 
a pretty and  well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly 
used up,  totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming-
"WOW!! What a  Ride!"