tarheelsteel75

Newbie here also and I agree with your post.  I have had to hack together stuff to get me started but I feel doing this makes you appreciate learning more.  Ditto on using the Royal Oak brand charcoal....not to expensive and burns hot...wife was good to me and bought me a couple of bags for Christmas...

Bish's Scrap Metal just outside Siler City off of Old Hwy 421 which is about 35-45 min from Raleigh.  There phone number is 919-663-3336.  It just depends on what they have when you go but they do sell to the public and I have found some useful stuff there.  Also very friendly staff.  Hope this helps.....

Hey Burlington area of NC here.....I built a forge like some of the designs I have seen on here and youtube and have so far only used charcoal for fuel.  I am still kinda new at this but I can't see where there would be any differences.

Fired up my newly built forge today. Same style as some others have made, plate steel fire pot and top with angle iron legs. Champion forge blower which I got a heck of a deal on works great.