Help on lighting a coal forge

[simmonds]

Originally Posted by Donnie

I use pine cones to start a coal fire.
Works great.

Great idea! Have to try that one.

[metalliferous]

I can start a coal fire straight from paper and coke now, but when I was just beginning to make my own fire, I'd always make a small wood fire and add coal to that. If you have no luck with the pinecones, I'd suggest going with some kindling.

[dablacksmith]

I almost always go the small wood fire route ... and sometimes i go a big campfire route! when I am at a rondezvous a use the most ancient method..... get coals from someones campfire!!! it is the easyest ! I use coke a lot and that takes a good fire to get it going ...once lit i has good heat tho and almost no smoke ! good luck!

[jayco]

On totally wet days.....when nothing wants to burn.........I've wrapped a short stub of parafin candle in a piece of cotton cleaning cloth or the finger of an old cotton work glove and lit it. Burns like a big candle. It will burn long enough to get even wet coal or coke going.