Blue flames

[Zeroclick]

Hi All,

Sorry if this is a stupid I just want to check something, if when I am using my coal forge I get small blue flames within the fire.

Do I need to be concerned that I am burning harmful chemicals, I have always previously thought that blue flames just indicated a hotter flame. But I watched a video on youtube about harmful gases when heating metals and it mentioned a key indicator is a blue flame.

Thanks,

[ThomasPowers]

Depends on what the flame looks like.  Most likely you are just getting a reducing flame; generally considered a good thing; but you do need adequate ventilation.

Another very different bluish flame is burning off zinc which is a clear and present danger.  Avoid putting galvanized stuff in the forge and it's not a problem.

[Zeroclick]

I did think that but just with the warning on the video, I am forging under the open sky at the moment so ventilation is my main advantage.

Thank you for the reply.

[ThomasPowers]

May not be enough ventilation for galvanized!  I've had several friends welding stuff outside and still ended up going to the A&E (ER in USA).  Really just easier to ban it from the scrap pile---"In Rust We Trust!"

[arkie]

When burning your coke, incomplete combustion of the carbon and oxygen from your air supply will produce carbon monoxide resulting in a blue flame, among other sources.  Just provide plenty of ventilation as in any forging.