coalfired

there is local welding/metal fabrication shop about 3 miles from work swung by after work last night and got enough coal to fill a 22 gal trash bin for ten bucks. He doesn't use it to forge with, he restores old steam tractors as a hobby. Does any one out there know where he could pick up a large quantity at a reasonable price. Somewhere within a reasonble distance from mid-missouri.

thanx for info on fuel sources. I work at a custom wood mill shop and have access to loads of hard and soft kiln dried wood scraps. could there be a decent way to convert this to charcoal and still mantain good relations with my next door neighbors.

a no brainer question from a newbie. how much hotter will a coal fire be, say over a fire made with charcoal ? I've even heard that you could use wood fuel pellets. time and money tight right now to make a coal run.

celebrated the 4TH by firing off the recently purchased forge. used some charcoal for the first fire up. Number one son and wife got involved with the process taking turns cranking and working on their projects which left me as supervisor. Both were having a good time and were excited about their first completed projects . My wife made an ice pick that she needed and my son made her a letter opener. I think she wants to go this saturday to the next Blacksmith's meeting with my son and I. life is good.

At work one of our supersize garage doors gave up. It seems one of the lift springs broke.There are four of them on a rod. They"re about 3/8" diameter in a coil about 5" across and 3' long. Boss told the repairmen to replace them all and told me I could be the proud owner of all the old coil springs. Has any body out there worked with coiled spring. I've heated a short peace up and uncoiled it, want to try and make a set tongs. Any input appreciated.

also picked up some 3'' galv. vent pipe at local home improvement store. Could not find dryer vent to fit. Hope it works.

I've checked all over this forge and could not find any lettering in the casting.Although I've seen pictures on the web with similar forges that have instructions to line with clay before firing.

I recently aquired a coal type forge with a hand crank Champion blower.The blower works good but needs a 3'' supply to go from the blower to the forge. Will aluminum work? Also I've been told from a reliable source that you don't need to line the fire pot with clay,which it isn't. Any advice or comments appreciated. Coalfired (hopefully soon to be )

I've been a HVAC tech. for 18 years. took a sabatical from that field and have been working in a custom wood working shop for 4 years.Now my son wants to start metalworking so we joined BAM and are working on putting together a coal fired forge and scrounging tools and equipment

salutations to all professors of hammerology and fellow students of blacksmithing ,ready to learn from those more experienced than I, which would be everyone.