[TheForge] Coal, propane, or charcoal?

[Jonathan Barnhart]

As far as charcoal goes, you have to make the differentiation between solid wood charcoal(good) or charcoal briquettes(bad).  Both, will make hot fires, however the briquettes are made of sawdust and will both burn quicker as well as throw a lot of loose embers(my buddy and I used to call them "Fun Dots").  To get the solid wood charcoal you'd do best to make your own.  If you go that route then there are several ways of doing it.  I bought solid wood charcoal last year from wal-mart to cook with.  It was a little more exspensive, but it might be easier for you to go this route that having to run a charcoal retort in your backyard(the huge hot fire might atract the nice policeman again).  Especially when you consider that you only work a couple times a month.


--- On Thu, 9/11/08, Saint Phlip <phlip at 99main.com> wrote:

> From: Saint Phlip <phlip at 99main.com>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Coal, propane, or charcoal?
> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Thursday, September 11, 2008, 10:27 AM
> Dunno what you're doing with your charcoal, that you
> think using it is
> like using a Zippo.
> I like charcoal because it smells better than coal, and is
> lots easier
> to forge weld with. Certainly, no lack of heat, unless
> you're not
> giving it enough air.
> 
> But, propane has its advantages too. I'll be building a
> propane forge
> sooner or later, but I really can do anything I need to
> with my
> charcoal brake drum forge- and I'm looking forward to
> building my
> wooden forge, to see if the ceramic tuyere I had made will
> do what I
> want it to do, as far as heating longer stock.
> 
> On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 11:17 AM, Brian Reedy
> <lfpd7311 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > What fuel do you prefer to use; coal, propane, or
> charcoal?  Something else?!?  Why?  What do you use most
> often?
> >
> > I'm in a residential area and I'm not so sure
> I can get by with using coal for too much longer (at least
> that's what the kind police officer suggested) and
> charcoal is like forging with a Zippo in a homemade
> rivet-style forge.  I'm looking at building a propane
> forge but venturi burners are rather intimidating and
> I'm worried about fuel usage and cost.  I only get to
> fire up the forge 1-2 times a month if I'm lucky but if
> I switch to propane I'd be out there 3-4 times a week. 
> Any one else in a similar predicament?  Thanks.
> >
> >
> > Brian Reedy
> >
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> 
> -- 
> Saint Phlip
> 
> Heat it up
> Hit it hard
> Repent as necessary.
> 
> Priorities:
> 
> It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which
> make the smith.
> 
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