Fuel survey... Please participate.

[frogvalley]

I am about a fifty fifty user of coal and propane, we have two coal forges and two propane. Just about equally split for production of our art pieces. There is nothing cleaner than propane for forging. However, its a bit impersonal. I like the smell of coal burning and use it whenever I am doing demonstrations for the general public or one of our "Studio Tours", people seem to identify blacksmiths with that aroma. And of course I have been told that sweat and coal smoke are aphrodisiacs. LOL

[elkdoc]

You never forget the smell of a coal forge, do you?

It's one of the first things that pops into my mind when I think of watching the theme park blacksmiths as a kid.

8)

[Ten Hammers]

Coal is what I use. I also use a lotta acetelyne to weld with and for some finish work. I sometimes use a weed burner for finish but not too much. a Brenzomatic torch gets used sometimes to cook oil onto utensils. My shop is small but I do plan to build a gasser on wheels so I can use it half in the door. Good coal is hard to find around here. Glad I got what I got.

[hterag]

I use charcoal for the similar reasons as have already been mentioned by others;

Environmental, coal being a non renewable resource and the local effects burning it would have on my suburban neighbourhood.

Gas powered forges seem expensive and also use a non renewable resource.

I am just starting out with blacksmithing and charcoal is the only fuel I have been able to get hold of.