Metallurgical coke

[robert hanford]

I got a deal on this stuff and now that I am on my last two bags, I thought I would ask if anybody had tips on using or lighting this. I find it much more trouble than good old bituminous coal/coke. Even the clinker is harder to deal with. Lighting it, I have had to use briquettes or wood. Any benefits to using this that I am missing?
Robert

[Don A]

The only advantage that I have seen is that if you need to start a fire from scratch, you don't have to endure the process of coking out the green coal.

If I have plenty of coke from my last coal fire, I would prefer the standard coal fire.

Seems like the pure coke will go out if you spend too much time between heats with no air.

[Frank Turley]

Somewhat less smoke with pre made coke is an advantage when neighbors might complain. Some smiths use an oxy acetylene flame to start their fires.

[robert hanford]

Yes, the smoke and smell are less.
An oxy -acetylene torch would indeed make starting the fire much easier.
Thanks for your replies.

[peacock]

It's cleaner to use no dust or smoke. I start my coke fires by starting with lump charcoal. Also stick a piece of wood (broom handle size) clear to the bottom of the coke fire and leave the ash open dump to help keep the fire from going out.

[Dave Huntress]

I have noticed myself that not all coal is created equal. Not to hijack your thread but I started buying it a couple towns away from me. It's Donson coal (nut coal) and then I found out the sand and gravel place up the street from me sells coal but it's a different brand and I have a hard time lighting it and also keeping it burning.... I have wasted more time trying to light my forge than I can believe. I was using sticks and newspaper because it's cheap but have been using cedar shingles because they burn nice and hot with the blower on of course, but sometimes that doesn't even help. Last resort was using the acetylene torch but both the shingles and the torch cost money... I still don't understand the pre-made coke thing either, all I know is it's coal and it burns..... thanks for reading....

[Randy]

You also have to be careful that the coke doesn't burn out if unattended. You need to put a piece of wood in the center and get it burning before leaving it for 10 minutes or more. Some of what I've used was too large and I had to use a hammer to break it up. Hard stuff! I still like good coal better.

[SReynolds]

I had been told about that wood trick to keep a fire. The old timers would pound a hard wood into the fire. I never really understood that as my forge will keep a fire for over three hours idle time with out any prep at all. All I need is some air flow and the fire comes alive again.

[tomhw]

I used lighter pine to start a petrolium coke fire. I'd start with shavings and add larger sizes up to drum-stick size before moveing the coke into the fire pot.