Curtis565 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Was talking to a good friend of mine about my adventures so far with creating a forge to start my blacksmithing journey. I mentioned that I'd be using coal for the heat. He stated that coal can "contaminate" the metal, and to use charcoal (not your wallmart brand X of course) instead for crafting blades. I was just curious if there was any truth behind this? Is that what coating your metal with borax is suppose to prevent, contaminates from using coal to forge? Hopefully someone can shine a little insight into the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmHorus Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think Murray Carter uses coal for his blades, and others do as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golgotha forge & anvil Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 coal works fine as well as gas..whatever suits u best..borax is used as the flux for forge welding..from what I've read/heard using a charcoal can add carbon to the metal..I don't know about contaminates... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 charcoal/coal both have the same ability to add or remove carbon. I have noticed that the thing to worry about with the choice of fuels is its sulfur content. Nickel seems to want to soak up this stuff and that can mess it up. I use low sulfur coal, Seawell seam in W.Va, Other than that, using proper forge maintenance should allow most any standard fuels to be used safely. But I do agree that real charcoal (not briquettes) is a very clean fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Sulfur is the bad guy, plenty in coal even low sulfur coal; BUT if you coke it properly before it gets near the metal almost all of that will go away. One reason bladesmithing is considered an advanced skill as you need good fire control---don't over heat/underheat, clean fire, as few heats as possible and great hammer control not to mention that quite a few knifemaking alloys laugh at you when you hit them with a hammer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
son_of_bluegrass Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 As was mentioned, coal, if properly coked before you stick the metal in the fire works fine. The coking process burns most of the impurities out so they aren't a problem. As for the borax, it is generally used when welding as a flux. The flux helps keep oxygen out of the weld area and helps remove the scale that would make it harder to weld. I've read of people using borax as an anti-scaling compound under the idea it keeps oxygen from the surface of the steel. ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecart Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Coal is a very good fuel for knives if- as everyone has said- it is coaked down. A good clean fire is what you are looking for. No yellow smoke clouds billowing from the fire. I've understood that charcoal is an EXCELLENT fuel, but my forge isn't set up to properly use it. I have done it by using fire bricks to create a little "furnace." And I totally agree with Thomas about certain steels laughing at you when you hit them. It can be discouraging when you first start out. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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