pnut Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 I like the smell of coal too. When I use charcoal there's not much odor good or bad. A gas forge does make heating long sections easier. I don't have much experience using a gas forge though. The little I have used one made it obvious that there's certain things a gas forge is better suited to and others where solid fuel is better. I would like to have both but it's going to be a while before I can make it happen. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 I have no problem heating longer stock in my coal forge. Just have to learn how to build the proper fire and move the stock back & forth through it. Although my propane forge is easier in that regard, less fussing with the fire I still like coal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohowson Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 Yeah I can - but it’s a bit of a pain. I need to work out a stock holder as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 On 9/19/2019 at 4:08 AM, ohowson said: The reason I’m considering a propane forge at some point is the ease of sliding long pieces of material in and heating a reasonable size length evenly Lest we forget,, when a great blacksmith was asked "how did you do that?" His answer was,,, "6" at a time",,, Also the old addage "too many irons,,," does not mean heat one piece at a time, it means heat as many as your forge and skill level will allow. The meaning of these statements to me is my own one liner. "I've never been fast enough to outwork my coal forge." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Remember it's not "free electricity" unless you paid nothing for the stuff to make it---including *time*! I started out with a motorized blower, then found I preferred a good hand crank to it, then found that I preferred a good double lunged bellows to the hand crank. Used that a decade or two and had to leave it when I moved 1500 miles and so am back to a hand crank. My chimney is 10" diameter single walled spiral seamed ducting and is just warm to the touch about 3-4' above the fire. I'm putting in a old small (2 plate) coal stove to keep the shop warmer this winter---but will burn wood in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 19 hours ago, anvil said: On 9/19/2019 at 6:08 AM, ohowson said: The reason I’m considering a propane forge at some point is the ease of sliding long pieces of material in and heating a reasonable size length evenly Remember too you can only work about six inches at a time. Heating any more of the stock than that is a waste and if the stock is HC it's detrimental. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohowson Posted September 25, 2019 Author Share Posted September 25, 2019 At the moment I can heat about 2". 6" would be a luxury! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 The length of the heated material should be no longer than what you can work with a hammer before you loose the heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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