Hi folks, after years of using a propane forge, I decided to fire up my coal forge. Boy, I should have done this years ago. It is amazing at the heat you can get in a very short time compared to propane. In the pic I was tying my first axe head using coal. I learned my first lesson, if it is left in there too long, it will burn up. With propane, I could watch the color I was getting. Anyway, I found that it heats my shop better than propane..Using a hair dryer for air until I get an old hand crank. Having a great time with coal !

I totally understand where you're coming from.  I moved away from coal because I didn't have a decent place to set up a sheltered smithy, and learning how to use a propane forge has been something of a bother.  It's certainly nice to be out of the weather, but I get the feeling I have a bunch of learning ahead of me!

 

I miss coal, though.