Shawnc
I am from northeast ok as well and i got interested in blacksmithing as well. I started out with a small brake drum forge and then when i started looking for a source of coal i found Saltfork. I live in muskogee ok and i assumed that there just couldnt be any blacksmiths near me but when i looked at the website i saw that a member was having a meeting here in town. so i got ahold of the member and the first thing he did was invite me to his shop. and i have never regreted it i have been a member now for a year and everyone i meet in the club is willing to help you learn it was a great investment for my 20 dollar member dues.
As far as your questions about the forges when i was studing up i read somewhere that natural gas is not prefered because it takes twice as much natural gas as it does propane and unless you have a commercial line you cannot get the pressure you need because residential lines are measured in water colums not psi
So i built a gas forge using propane and it works great it is clean and easy to use
But i am building a shop soon and i am already planning for a coal forge as well i like the forge you have pictured it should do you well if you decide to go that way and you can also get the club coal from another member in the skiatook area to
but ill tell you joining the club is a great investment i have learned so much from those guys and i enjoy every meeting i have gone to
