Sabre Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 well i just started using coal and it smoked out the neioubourhood....... my dad says we may have enviroment canada at our door if someone complains... i dont have a chimney so maby a high 1 will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeaverDamForge Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Once you get the fire established there shouldn't be much smoke. How are you putting new coal on the fire? A chimney may dilute the smoke some, but mainly gets it away from your face. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 If you have to use new/raw coal to start the fire try getting a bright wood fire going and put the coal around the edges so it cokes a bit then slowly add it to the fire. Keep the wood going till you have a bright coal fire then keep it surrounded by coal that is coking and add the coke as its needed. Make sure you have some coked coal when you finish so you can use that to start next time and the smoke will be less. Once any fire gets enough heat in it it will somke less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeaverDamForge Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I just read your "Free Coal" thread, that might be part of the problem. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Poke a hole in the top of the fire to let the flame out to burn the smoke. With good fire maintenance the smoke should only last 15 minutes or so, at start up. Follow rmcpb's suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 the local demo shop saves coke from previous sessions, and uses this exclusively, slowly making more from green coal each time they forge. The smith sources the best coal he can possibly find to do this with. This they must do because the smithy shares a park with some ballfields, all located in a residential area. The helper steps outside regularly to check the chimney discharge and wind direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnW Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Definitely, there will be no noticable smoke once you have a good hot coal fire going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 ya i guess i should be allright......i guess it was because i never had any coke....ill try again soon maby tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 To reduce the smoke you need open flame on top of the mound. Poking a hole in the top is one way to ignite the smoke. Building a hot wood fire and keeping some of it exposed is another. Using a propane torch to light it works too. However, if it isn't good enough coal nothing is going to rid you of heavy smoke if you use very much. Some guys who can't use coal will sneak a little into a charcoal fire to juice it up some. The large charcoal fire consumes the smoke before it smogs the neighborhood. I used to heat with coal, almost 30 years ago now and mined it myself at a open ditch north of here. The coal was superior anthracite and wonderful heater coal. The neighbors for half a mile around complained about the smell and then wondered about the lack of mosquitoes. Sometimes in the same sentence. When I mentioned the sulfur was probably what was keeping the biters down several other families started burning coal. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 lol i LOVE coal but when i move to a little city lot smoke will be a HUGE problemespeccially out in calafornia where its dry so i hope they dont shut me down kuz i dont wanna use a gasser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Most likely some "good intentioned" neighbor will at some point call someone that will come to visit. Clean the area of all flammable materials, sticks, leaves, dead grass, etc. Wet down a circle around the forge area with a garden hose and have the hose pressurized and ready. Have the slack tub full of clean water, a 5 gallon bucket of water, and a fire extinguisher handy. When visitors do arrive, they can see your good intentions toward safety, and it is one less topic for discussion. You can delay the visit by good fire maintenance, and working to reduce the smoke being produced. It can be done you just need to figure out what works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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