[TheForge] Non-Spontanious Ignition. Lighting your forge on purpose.

[Chris Worsley]

I have always coked up enough before shutting down to have enough nice 
fast starting coke to put on top of my 2 wadded sheets of newspaper the 
next day. Once coke is burning, apply green coal.
OR - on the other forge, turn on gas and hit piezo button.

Chris
W7IBI - hello Bob

Jerry Frost wrote:

> It's been quite a while since a thread about lighting your coal forge 
> ran on the list. I'll kick it off with my favorite method.
>
> I cut or tear a strip of cardboard about 1 1/2-2" wide a foot or so 
> long and roll it tightly. Then I place it over the center of my air 
> grate and allow it to spring open a little. Ideally the gaps and 
> cardboard are about the same. I make a crater shaped mound of coal 
> around the coil to hold it in place then pile smallish chunks on the 
> coil. These need to be coarse enough air can pass through them but I 
> pile fines on the outside of the mound to contain the air.
>
> Once I have it laid I drop 2-3 lit wooden matches into the coil while 
> giving it a real gentle blast, just enough to keep the matches going 
> but not blow them out. This is, believe it or not, the trickiest part 
> of the whole process and a few drops of lighter fluid (scout water 
> <grin>) are an easy cure. As the cardboard coil starts to burn I cover 
> it completely in coarse 3/4" +/- coal and increase the blast. Once the 
> coal starts to take I cover it with fines and give it the air.
>
> It takes longer to describe the technique than it takes to start the 
> fire.
>
> To get the fire ready for forging is a different matter of course and 
> depends entirely on personal preference and what you're going to be 
> doing.
>
> My like to coke up the day's coal in the morning rather than have the 
> smoke and flame with me all day.
>
> Frosty
> -------------------------------
> If it ain't forged
> it ain't real.
> Wrought iron is.
> The FrostWorks
>
> Meadow Lakes, AK.