fiddlertx4 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 This may be a dumb question, but my son and I are new to this and just built a forge. After your done with the coal fire, how do you put it out? We have just been pouring water on it, but don't know if this is the best way?????? Thanks, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Not the best way at all, the cold water can shock and crack your fire pot. The better way is to rake the coals out onto the forge pan and once separated, they should go out on their own. I suggest you shovel the fire and coals and coke into a 5 gallon bucket of water. Any ash will settle out to the bottom of the bucket. The coal and coke can be recovered and let dry to start new fires or as quick fuel for an existing fire. Knowing everything that used to be hot is now covered with 2 inches of water means there is NO FIRE to worry about, and you can sleep well at night. Also dump the ashes out of the twyere. Many folks forget that there could be hot embers in the ashes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Hi Paul. Welcome to IFI. Don't pour water on the fire if your fire pot is made of cast. All that you have to do is spread the coal/coke and it should go out in less than 5 minutes. Water on hot cast will make the cast crack to pieces. Hope that this helps. Also, if you add your location to your profile you may be suprised to find another smith close by that is willing to help you with some pointers. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I just pull the hot coals away from the tuyere and within a few minutes the coals die out. By the time I have everything put away the coals are cool enough to be safe. I also have a lid that I put on the top of my forge that air starves the coals. Mark<>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I do it just the opposite. I bury the hot coals with the green coal surrounding it,and pack it down smothering it. The coal I have has a hard time staying lit without the blower being cranked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric sprado Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I stack up green coal too and let it coke up some for tomorrow's fire.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urnesBeast Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I just let it go sometimes, without air not much happens anyways. You get a nice big klinker that way. When I am feeling more conservative, I will pull out the coals to just above the clinker out. Then I get out the "water mop" (I learned this tool from Brian B.). It is a towel cut into strips and attached to a metal bar. I can mop down the coals and put them out quickly without danger to my fire pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 It depends how long you are going to remain in the shop area after pulling your fire apart and how long it will be before you use the forge again. If you are going to remain in the area until the coals can cool by themselves then simple move the coals out of and away from the firepot. If you are going to use the forge the next day, after raking the coals away from the pot, sprinkle the coals with water till cool, without touching the pot with water. If you are not going to use the forge for days then you can shovel the coals into a bucket and water the coals in the bucket. Clean out the forge. By cleaning out the forge that will not be used for a while, you are removing any corrosive stuff that might speed the deterioration of the forge bottom. Drain the water when cool and spread out on a surface for the coals to dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 There's probably something wrong with the way I do this, but in my charcoal burning brake drum forge, I'll often let it burn down as I'm getting to the end of a working session, using the last couple handfuls of charcoal to slightly tweak my shapes and heat up work for the application of wax and shellac, or to even out the overall heated look of the iron. Left to its own devices, charcoal pretty much all burns up unless I wet it all down or shovel the still hot coals into a bucket of water, so I just let it do what it wants to do and have a mostly clean forge to come back to. I have drenched the whole fire to put it out if I need to stop and leave, and the cast iron brake drum hasn't cracked...yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlertx4 Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 thanks for all the great information. what we had been doing was raking the coals out on the table and sprinkling with water - it worked, but really makes a mess. last night we just raked them out and waited until they went out - about 10 minutes. we liked this much better. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwaite Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I like to put my coals in an old paint can put the cover on an let it go out... then use in in the next fire. works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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