Good Morning All! First post here but have been reading the wealth of knowledge for a while. I know the "what forge" is rather common but I wanted to get some insite on my specific needs so I can get what suits me best. My main need is working with railroad spikes, so nothing big is needed. I would like to keep cost at a minimum without sacrificing quality, at least for the time being. As I gain experience I may upgrade but right now I just need something to get me going for a commissioned piece that I need to manipulate the spikes. I was thinking coal would be easier, as I am in Western PA so it is readily available BUT I am open to recommendations.
Every time I search and decide on a forge design ( like brake drum ) there seems to be much opposition to it as well. What would you guys recommend as a small, budget minded forge to get me started into this great art?
Thanks!!
Dan