[TheForge] Coal, propane, or charcoal?

[Ron Childers]

Brian,

Are you trying to use briquettes? They don't work as well as real charcoal.
Lots of blade smiths, etc use real charcoal esp for forge welding. It's easy
to make with scrap wood: Burn a few limbs and char them to get started, line
the forge with unburned sticks and rake into the pot as they char. The smith
at Mission San Louis uses that method and he produces some fine work.

You have to be careful with the fire as it will smoke and give off sparks,
esp if the wood isn't dry. You can also burn the wood in a steel barrel and
hose it when it's charred. 

Ron C


-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Brian Reedy
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 11:17 AM
To: The Forge
Subject: [TheForge] Coal, propane, or charcoal?

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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