Coal -> Coke. Am I getting this right?

[BlissStreet]

I am understanding this correctly? Coke is basically coal with the volatile hydrocarbons cooked off by the fire already started? or is there something else happening?

[ThomasPowers]

Yes; but you can also buy it already made just like one can buy charcoal already made. (There is also a petroleum coke produced as a side effect of oil refining, and there is the soda and there is the alkaloid---heavily overloaded name...)

[BlissStreet]

That makes sense. It would explain why the green coal smells bad and smokes, then suddenly gets clean burning. And why wetting it helps, increasing the time for outgassing.

[Old N Rusty]

Bliss read Alex Bealer's book "THE ART OF BLACKSMITING" Alex covers the basic building and maintaining of a coal fire, what kind of coal should burn, and what happens to coal in a forge.

[BlissStreet]

Bliss read Alex Bealer's book "THE ART OF BLACKSMITING" Alex covers the basic building and maintaining of a coal fire, what kind of coal should burn, and what happens to coal in a forge.

Thanks, I will look into it. But ordering a book and having it shipped here when I have less then 6 weeks left doesn't make a lot of sense. I'll have to order it once I'm settled in...where ever that may be.

[Tom Allyn]

Coal is cheaper but charcoal doesn't make clinker!

[ThomasPowers]

Charcoal can be free---where are you getting free coal? (And charcoal can make clinker, just do a lot of forge welding with it.)

[Old N Rusty]

Bliss you are moving, but don't know where? If you want to legally emmigrate to the USA, as an established biz I can sponsor a foreign blacksmith. In my 17 years of biz not one American blacksmith has applied for a job.You getting out of S.A. before it goes Zimbabwe like?

[BlissStreet]

Bliss you are moving, but don't know where? If you want to legally emmigrate to the USA, as an established biz I can sponsor a foreign blacksmith. In my 17 years of biz not one American blacksmith has applied for a job.You getting out of S.A. before it goes Zimbabwe like?

I had to laugh a little. I'm an American who is here on a corporate contract (my wife's, not mine. but we haven't received our next station yet.). I do appreciate the offer though, and if we are ending up in that neck of the woods I might apply for the experience. For what it's worth, our 4 years here has been delightful and we will truly miss it when we leave.

[Arbalist]

I saw a Smith using about 80/20 Charcoal/Coke mix and was making some really nice stuff on it. He says the coke made the fire a bit hotter than charcoal on it's own and lasted a little longer.

Vic.

[John B]

Doesn't go out as quick if you shut the blast down too.

[thingmaker3]

Coke is to coal as charcoal is to wood, or as whiskey is to beer. :)

[Arbalist]

Coke is to coal as charcoal is to wood, or as whiskey is to beer.

Not too sure if you can make whiskey from beer, but you can make beer from bread! :)

[Frosty]

Right on all three. You betcha whiskey is distilled beer.

In some of the oldest human structures on earth there are beer vats, distinguished by the effects of the yeast and alcohol on the containers. Beer breweries are found in all Minoan communities as well as all Egyptian ones. The large number of structures in front of the pyramids are the barracks or town for the work gangs and really common amongst the mix are the brewery/kitchens and apparent pubs/eateries. There was a program on the History Channel I think about civilization being built on beer.

Frosty the Lucky.

[ThomasPowers]

Except that in whiskey making you save the volatiles and throw out the mash where in charcoal and coke making you get rid of the volatiles and save what's left of the "raw material" So not quite like whiskey making (or moonshine---coming from the hills of AR freelance distilling is more "historical" for us...)

[Frosty]

It's refining a product none the less, the only time little details like this count is if you're actually doing it.

Frosty the Lucky.