Ace sells this stuff dirt cheap just use the road from me. I'm fairly certain it is for cooking but I was wondering if you guys know anything about it and if it would work for forging. Thanks.

t

It'll work fine, as long as it is good lump. Give it a try! At very least, have some steaks handy in case forging doesn't work out!

Check out this site, it might help: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpdatabase/lumpbag6.htm This guy has all the lump hardwood brands represented, pretty much. Its not the best, but it'll be fine.

It's a common standard for charcoal forging as it has wide availability. (That site seems more oriented toward cooking than forging...)

Thanks for info guys! Much appreciated!

Used it for years, better than mesquite charcoal. Occasionally you'll get a piece of Trex style plastic wood in a bag. Otherwise, good for forging. Before switching to coal, I'd go thru about a 5 gallon bucket every two hours or so.

It is OK. It is not as well charcoaled as could be, and will throw off fire fleas. Reserve any obvious unchared boards. I use it for lighting up and sometimes to forge in. It does start very easily with a plumber's torch.

Phil

i have forged for years with cowboy and royal oak. Rendezvous choice for me. You can buy Stremph brand in Missouri (might be spelt wrong). It is outstanding stuff too. I have yet to see charcoal that DIDN'T have fleas from the fire.

Been using that since I first started forging here recently, works well for me. Once in a while I run across a rock or something in there but I just toss em aside or put them in the quench bucket if they make it into the fire.

The nice part about charcoal, you bank it with a piece of green firewood (which actually you can do in coal as well). With charcoal, just build a small grate to set OVER the fire and you have a place for coffee or water for the basin to wash up. You can cook dinner over the fire that you have just welded in AND you can go to the store to buy more fuel. You will use more charcoal than coal yes but in the long run, the charcoal is mostly consistent (when you break it up) and available. On the other hand, forging tripods or stands from 5/8 silo banding will be better suited in coal (for me anyway).