MjolnirofRockport Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hi, just started blacksmithing up at my school, and my teacher is encouraging us to build forges at home, though nothing pricey, more along the lines of the 55 Forge Admin has up. I am also in need of coal, though I have no clue as to where to get some down here on the coast of TX, which makes me wonder, could I substitute it with Charcoal briquettes? I know it has a much lower BTU rating per cubic foot, so my Carbon Steel would take a while longer to heat, but, hey, better than nothing right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 MR All of your questions have been answered on IFI before. Take a bit of time and use the search function at the top right and see what you can find. A few quick answers: Coal source: Phone book, Google sources near __________(zip code), ask around. Charcoal Briquettes: Possible, but expensive and will not give you the btu's. You are better off with real hardwood charcoal, but this too is expensive for the amount of heating you will get out of it, but it makes a nice clean fire. There are many smiths all over Texas. I know getting around Texas is crazy because it is so big, but I am sure that some of the members from there will chime in here with information that will be helpful. If you have some hours to kill, pull up a chair, a notebook for notes, and read some of the 400,000+ posts here on IFI. You will find a wealth of information, sorted by category, as presented by many talented experienced smiths from around the world. We do not mind answering questions, as long as they are presented in a clear, concise manner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Briquettes are mainly *not* fuel and are designed to burn slowly. What you want is real chunk charcoal, (cowboy brand was one handled by Walmart IIRC); real Charcoal has been used in forges for the last 2000* years coal is much more recent as a forge fuel. Traditionally made japanese swords are still forged with charcoal as were the Viking era swords..Real charcoal has about the same BTU per pound as coal; but it is much less dense and so you go through a lot more of it in a session---making your own or sifting it out of wood stove ashes helps stretch the budget.Tweaking your forge design to use charcoal efficiently helps a lot. May I commend to your attention the "Tim Lively washtub forge" beloved of the neo-tribals for knife smithing with charcoal. (search on that string to see examples of an easy to build and fairly cheap forge tweaked for bladesmithing with charcoal.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobd Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 There are a couple places by Houston you can get coal, one in Conroe I know of. Also if you have the space and supportive parents, you can make your own charcoal. I did it in a 55 gal drum with fallen trees from the woods in my neighborhood. In Kennedale (by dallas) I can get coal $12 for 50lbs. Save up a hundred bucks and you can get enough coal to last a couple months of part time forging or more. Also, look and see if there is an ABANA chapter nearby, members might sell you coal. Also, tractor supply sells 40lb bags of coal. Never tried theirs, but my local store doesn't sell it (you'll probably have to order it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. Have you joined the local smithing organization? At least attend a meeting and get to know some of the guys. Give a local farrier supply a call, even if they don't carry smithing coal they'll be able to tell you which farriers use coal and you can call them. Or you could just call a couple farriers. So, what have you learned and practiced in class? What's your first project? Be sure to hold onto it so you can look at in the future and recall your progress in the craft. WE love good questions and pictures more. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottMitUns Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Rockport B&B brand lump charcoal from Academy work good If you can make it up to Victoria I'll donate enough coal and coke for you to try out and see if you want to go that route. Actually one of my guys lives in Rockport and could probably drop it off on the weekend. The Goliad forge has a meeting on Feb 14th in Ander/Weser Texas, just between Goliad and Ceuro. If you can get there it will be worth the drive. I may be helping some guys put together gas forges next month at my shop in Victoria. figure out how to PM me and I'll let you know when that going to happen if you want to go that route. Welcome aboard Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Look up the group near you and go to the meetings. They can answer many of your question and point you to fuel and tools. Texas Balcones Forge Central Texas Four States Iron Munchers Houston Area Blacksmith's Association North Texas Blacksmiths Association - NTBA Texas Artist Blacksmith Association http://www.iforgeiron.com/page/index.html/_/articles/a0000-blacksmithing-groups-r75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Du7ch Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I personally use El Diablo brand lump charcoal. We have it here in west Texas at Albertsons at $15 for a 40 lb bag. Seasonal of course but the season is fast arriving. Best deal I've found on a budget without a long drive or ordering bulk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Smith Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I have bought coal in Conroe also, just not recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Propane forge might be another option, but a bit more costly. Since you are learning forging in school, I take it this is a shop class. You might keep a propane forge in mind as a possible shop project for later. My Jr high school had all the toys to roll sheet metal, weld up parts and so on to build one in the shop. Biggest cost would be the kaowool and lining materials, plus a reg and hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 i have used coal(when i got it in colorado) but now over here in west texas, i use the hard to find misquite... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Soft wood charcoal works just fine, less ash and dire fleas. I use construction scrap and make mu own. With a lively style you can feed wood directly to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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