texassmith11 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Whats ya'lls opinion on coal vs. coke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texassmith11 Posted October 4, 2007 Author Share Posted October 4, 2007 Reason for asking is that I have found 2 sources, 1 in Georgetown, the other in Rockland, and the one in Georgetown only sells coke, but is 30 minutes closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evfreek Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Hi texassmith. It all depends. A 30 minute longer drive is not all that much when it comes to buying the right fuel. It is a lot further for me, but I just buy more when I go, and I make sure not to run out. There are lots of different kinds of coke. I have heard that TX has a lot of L-brand forge coke. This is supposed to work well, but might have some popping if you don't know how to warm it up. I tried using some Buckwheat coke in Southern California, and I really did not like it. Huge clinkers, couldn't weld, and if you turned the air blast up too high, it spit molten rock. Got one of my worst burns that way. But others swear by it, and I saw someone do a fluxless weld, so it must be the smith. But, I have been able to get welds with mesquite charcoal, oak charcoal, homemade charcoal, Utah Elkhorn coal and propane. For this reason, I wouldn't drive out of my way for coke, but if I scored a bunch cheap, I'd run off to somebody who could teach me what I'm doing wrong. Try a bit of both, and if it doesn't work, just forge with it or give it away. One sack isn't a tragedy to get stuck with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don A Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Ditto evfreek. Go to the trouble of getting a bag of each. 30 minutes will ultimately be well worth the difference between a good fire and a mediocre fire. My $.02 Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 If you're making the drive get a couple bags of each, sometimes one just isn't enough for a fair trial. You can mix them as well just for a third option. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texassmith11 Posted October 4, 2007 Author Share Posted October 4, 2007 how big are the bags in #s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Turner Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 I agree with what has been said, bags are 50# unless they say they are supper sacks which when I have gotten them have been 1500# to 2000# cheaper in the supper sack I was paying $180 for great coke. I have moved to another area and I can't find coke and coal here is $30 a bag (50#). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Jim Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Coke smokes a lot less. I really like it. Although a very talented smith out here recently talked about one advantage he thinks coal has over coke, and I would have to agree. He has found that coal maintains a good 'edge' of the hot spot. In otherwards it goes from hot spot to out of the fire in a very small distance. Where as coke tends to gradually cool the farther you get from the fire. So if he only wants to take a heat on a certain section and he really doesn't want it to get hot beyond that, he prefers coal. Hope that makes sense... Anyway, I wish I had a source for good metallurgical coke out here. It's all coal for miles and miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texassmith11 Posted October 5, 2007 Author Share Posted October 5, 2007 Ouch mike! 30$ for 50#! I'd call that price gouging. And chaos it makes perfect sense. Thank you both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texassmith11 Posted October 5, 2007 Author Share Posted October 5, 2007 Does coke burn as fast as charcoal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 No it general burns slower than coal as commercially made coke is quited dense compared to the breeze we make from coal in the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrforge Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 In my uses of coke v.s. coal I have made these observations. can't walk away from a coke fire, needs a lot of air can't form a dome with coke and pops like crazy when wet l-forge brand clinkered up nicely coal forms a dome well I can bank up a fire and walk away for half an hour come back crack some air and I'm back to work quickly. coal is very quality dependent coal seems to have a higher usage rate pound for pound, coke already having the impurities cooked off. that makes sense to me in conclusion I like to have both in my smithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnW Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Heck, I don't know. You burn a lot more gallons of charcoal, than coke, but then if you start weighing it, maybe it's pretty close. Why do you ask? I use charcoal, but I can't tell you there's a good logical reason for it. Charcoal is more expensive for me, since my time is valuable, and good coal is nearby. I guess I just like charcoal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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