maxs139 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Hello Im rellativly new to this site. i just got my forge and anvil set up today and im having a little bit of trouble lighting the forge. I have a hand cranked blower and im using Pea coal. and it got Wet But ive dried it but im still having trouble ive even used some Gasoline. Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mills Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Coal needs some time with the flame to get caught itself. I have traditionally used kindling as if to start a campfire. Never had a lot of success with kerosene or charcoal lighters. Gasoline isn't even on my list of things to use. Just recently I was shown how to use newspaper and it is very effective when done right. I haven't done it right til now. Crumple 2,3, 4 sheets of newspaper into a large softball size and leave a pigtail twisted as if a fuse. Put that into the firepot with the pigtail coming out of the bottom and up the side. Heap coal onto it leaving the pigtail sticking out. Light the pigtail and let it catch for a bit then start some air slowly then increase as much as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I like to use cardboard to light coal. I cut or tear a strip 1 1/2" or so wide and a couple feet long. I roll it into a tight coil and place it over the air grate. I then pile coal around it and let it open up a little bit. I continue to pile coal till the top of the coil is at the bottom of a crater with an inch or so (dia) showing. At this time, I give the blower a real gentle turn so a little air is moving and drop a couple stick matches (lit of course) into the coil. Keep just enough air to it to get the cardboard burning, then bury it the rest of the way with coal and give it a moderate air blast. The burning cardboard will behave like a blowtorch blowing through the coal. It also burns hotter than paper. Not saying it's the best method but it's my favorite. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete46 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I Use Lump Charcoal To Start ;get A Good Bed O Hotcoals [on A Smaller Scale Than Bar-b-q.] Then Push Fresh Coal Around It. Turn The Air Slow Our Put A Hair Dryer In The Inlet Hole ,& Wire The Cold Shot Button Down! Werks Grrreat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxs139 Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thanks everyone for your help i think i might be able to get it going now By the way does anyone know the difference Of blacksmith coal and pea coal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Pea is a size designation like walnut and has no reference to quality. Blacksmith's or metallurgical coal is a quality issue. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I use pine cones to start a coal fire. Works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooseRidge Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 One thing I do is make coke with my last heat of the day. Heap it on then, when the smoke clears out, break the pile down and clean out the pot. Leaves me with a goodly amount of coke to start the fire with the next time.... As my forge is a bottom-blast, I use paper to start usually. If wet or very "fresh" coal, I'll get a paper/cardboard/wood fire going first, then add the coal, leaving small gaps between the pieces until they start to catch, then add more and some fines..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 IForgeIron> Lessons in Metalworking > Blacksmithing > LB0010 Building a Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip in china Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Wood shavings or paper work fine for me. Just don't give it too much air at first. Also sometimes I put a piece of cardboard or thin plywood over the tuyere and light on top of that, give it a bit of blast and once the fire is big enough to have burnt through the card or ply it is big enough to use the blast that it starts to get. Bigger the hole the bigger the blast. Once your kindling is burning just put small coal on it. You will soon get good. We all had to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simmonds Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I use pine cones to start a coal fire. Works great. Great idea! Have to try that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalliferous Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I can start a coal fire straight from paper and coke now, but when I was just beginning to make my own fire, I'd always make a small wood fire and add coal to that. If you have no luck with the pinecones, I'd suggest going with some kindling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I almost always go the small wood fire route ... and sometimes i go a big campfire route! when I am at a rondezvous a use the most ancient method..... get coals from someones campfire!!! it is the easyest ! I use coke a lot and that takes a good fire to get it going ...once lit i has good heat tho and almost no smoke ! good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 On totally wet days.....when nothing wants to burn.........I've wrapped a short stub of parafin candle in a piece of cotton cleaning cloth or the finger of an old cotton work glove and lit it. Burns like a big candle. It will burn long enough to get even wet coal or coke going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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