BIG

WOW, thanks for the feedback. I thought about the bituminous coal, but we're kind of cramped and I don't want to offend the neighbors too much. Doesn't the soft coal smoke alot more? Not having much experience, I thought I was getting lots of air. I've read Yall talk about fleas. I guessed you were talking about the coal popping free and burning you. I got the fire to do that, but as soon as I quit cranking, it died out. My coal is 3/4" to 1"

Beg pardon if I'm jumpin in out of line, I'm as new at this BBS stuff as I am to smithing. I've already decided on my fuel. I'm gonna use coal, but I can't seem to keep it burning, let alone turn iron colors. My forge is fairly standard with a cast fire pot in the middle of a 2' X 3' fire brick topped table. I'm using a real old Champion 400 blower, that i rebuilt. I started an anthricite coal fire with charcoal. I cranked my arm off and it burned OK until the charcoal was gone. What am I doing wrong? I'll send pictues if it will help BIG