coal forge

[yesteryearforge]

how do you start ( light ) your coal fired forge / What works best for you ?

[bruce wilcock]

poke the gas cutter in give it a wiff of oxy 1/2 min ,

[Don A]

I start with a small ring of newspaper in the bottom, add a few hickory twigs or shaving, then a small heap of charcoal.

After the charcoal gets fired up, I rake in the coke from my last fire and keep a little air going.

Once the coke gets going good, be sure to give it a poke or two; the charcoal wil burn out and leave a hollow fire if you don't.

[elkdoc]

The tried and true "giant ball o' newspaper" method...

[Rantalin]

The last two times I went to light my forge, I couldn't get it lit for at least an hour. My dad said its probably from having an outdoor forge, and leaving the coal in the forge between firing, so it had moisture in it. but USUALLY, I throw a couple balls of newspaper in, followed by some wood, then charcoal, then my coal.

[Glenn]

Different types of coal catch fire more quickly than others. Wet coal just takes a little more heat to start burning as your drying off the water first.

Build a good fire with sticks, kindling from a 2x4's, lumber, etc then add the coal little at a time. Smaller pieces of coal start faster than large pieces. But avoid using accellerants of any nature. Saving a couple of minutes is not worth the potiential problems accellerants can cause.

[mike-hr]

I keep a lookout for big pine stumps in the woods, they are mostly pitch wood. I chop the pitch into pencil size sticks and keep in a sealed coffee can. Sometimes i pour a bit of turpentine into the can to fortify the pitch. Talk about a one match fire, a guy saw me start up the forge and called it solid propane..

[Ten Hammers]

Like Bruce sez, the blue wrench is fast. I make my living in the forge and rest of the shop. Some days ( many ) I just drag a few coals from the stove and light with that. Some days I use a piece of newspaper and use a handful of commercial charcoal ( from Menards ). Pile the coked coal on top of that. Some days I just use paper and coked coal. ANY of these 3 and I have a fire to forge 1/2 rod inside of 3-4 minutes. Some days, the air is exceptionally damp and so is the shop. Bag of Menards charcoal ( on these days) is handy because if the coal is lightin hard, start with charcoal and a piece of paper. This charcoal is about $5 a bag. You can forge in it absolutely but takes a fair bit of volume. I use a power blower and airgate in the shop. This charcoal is lump. No Briquettes.

[Leah]

I used to use fatwood, then Steve quit deer hunting so I don't get that anymore. Then, I started using the little firestarter cubes that campers use. I finally gave up and just started using newspaper.

[drason69]

on my forge (a small 'rivet forge' i think) i just take some newspaper or wood shavings, add some small pieces of wood or lump charcoal, and a few pieces of coke. light the paper or shavings and let them burn and light up the wood chunks or lump charcoal. after these are going, gradually add a few more bits of coke and maybe some green/unburned coal. give it some air blast from the blower. gradually add coke/coal and give it more air. in a few minutes, you should have a nice fire going.
best of luck to ya