Hey Guys, I got started building a homemade forge a couple years back, stopped when I lost a close family member, and I've just gotten fired up again. I'm operating on a shoestring at the moment so I haven't ordered any coal and I've just been running my forge on charcoal. I believe its the walmart store brand. I've been experimenting with making railroad spike knives and have made several so far. The tools I have a at hand are simple. Beyond my forge I have a simple wheel grinder, and a belt polisher. I've been tuning my forge a bit and have recently started being able to consistently get a good yellow heat. But I'm still having a problem with pitting in the metal. I thought I'd read a couple years back that store bought charcoal had chemicals in it that might do this and that I should make my own if i wanted to use charcoal. Could this be the problem? Could I be making a mistake when hammering/shaping the metal? I did a rough spike knife last night and I'll post is here so that you can see what the problem is. I've tried sanding the pitting out but it tends to be deep enough that unless I'm willing to take off alot of metal it still shows thru. Thanks in advance for any responses.

Sootyfellow,

Do you brush off the scale that forms when you are heating the piece before you hammer it? The scale can get pounded into the workpiece and leave pitting. You will want to do that every time you pull the piece out of the fire. This will help cut down on the pitting.

On a side note, I just got like 200 + pounds of coal for $25... I don't think it's that expensive. A bag of charcoal @ Walmart is usually $4+ for the big ones.

Sootyfellow,

Do you brush off the scale that forms when you are heating the piece before you hammer it? The scale can get pounded into the workpiece and leave pitting. You will want to do that every time you pull the piece out of the fire. This will help cut down on the pitting.

I thought that might be the problem and I've been more careful but you might be right I may not be doing a good enough job of removing all the scale. Thanks for the tip.

On a side note, I just got like 200 + pounds of coal for $25... I don't think it's that expensive. A bag of charcoal @ Walmart is usually $4+ for the big ones.

Really? Where did you get it at? I live in southern okla and haven't been able to find any locally just by the bag on the internet. I'll keep looking. I'd rather have coal as I hear it burns hotter and longer.
Thanks

i agree...watch your scale, on the anvil, keep the anvil clear or tap along the anvil with your project leaving a trail of scale but none under your work. i find it helps me when doing smaller work where heat is lost while you brush before hammering.

Are you using charcoal briquets or hardwood charcoal?
Stay away from the briquets.
I have used seasoned hardwood chunks as well as hardwood charcoal and there is a thread here about using shelled corn

Well, tbh it looks like you aren't spending that much time grinding. It usually takes me about an hour or two to get a knife completely ground and ready for HT. Also, I don't use a wire brush for scale. I just wet my anvil with a spray bottle and the face of my hammer. Steam explosions knock the scale off. Also, make sure you aren't oxidizing your metal. Also, old steel can be well old steel that isn't good anymore. Forge thick, grind thin!