Chrispy Posted July 7, 2022 Share Posted July 7, 2022 Been ages since I was active on this page but now I'm back with a password reset. My Problem is the supply and price of Coke. My regular supplier is unable to provide it anytime in the future and the cost has just doubled in price to $1200.00 / tonne. My question is, where are others in Australia purchasing their Coke and at what price. I have considered making a retort but that would not provide sufficient charcoal for my use, as the scale would be too small for my situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 Welcome back from the Ozark mountains. Bet you notice a lot of changes in the forum after several updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 $1200 AU a tonne?!? Holy guacamole! That seems pretty steep to me what about switching to coal an making your own coke? Would that be cheaper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 About US$818 for 2200 pounds; for coke; doesn't sound bad to me at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 8, 2022 Share Posted July 8, 2022 $75USD for 2000 pounds of coal sounds better to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 Not everyone has access to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 I understand and agree with your point Thomas, I don’t know diddly about Australia or what fuel sources are available there, but that doesn’t mean that coal isn’t worth looking into right? if coal is available and if it cost less which it always does then why not look into it as a alternative fuel source? that’s all I’m sayin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 FYI, Australia produces about 90% of the amount of coal, annually, that the US does. Much of it is exported to Asia. Both the US and Australia each produce about 6% of the world's coal production (China produces 50%). "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 I pay around 1 euro per Kg of coal here. That's the cheapest I can find. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 It takes considerably more than a ton of coal to make a ton of coke after the volatiles, water, phenols, etc. are pyrolized out. While there is energy in the volatiles it doesn't contribute much to a forge fire, the carbon is the main energy donator. A ton of coke is nearly pure carbon so contains more net energy. So, you should expect coke to cost more per ton than coal, it costs more to make and has a higher energy density. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 I realize that one ton of coal doesn’t produce one ton of coke but if a body was able to buy 8 tons of coal for the same or less then one ton of coke I’d think you’d still come out on top but I could be wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 Good point you're right it would be. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 Only problem is it’d take up a bunch more space to store 8 tons vs 1 ton! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 You'd probably be able to bargain for a discount on 8 tons too but if you don't have room. . . A person would have to go through coal mighty fast to need that much at a time. It might be worth building a bunker to consolidate it. How many yards is a ton of coal? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 Frosty, broken bituminous coal is 53.35 cubic feet/ton. So, a bunker 5'x5' would hold one ton of coal stacked 1.4' deep. I agree that you'd have to do a LOT of forging to go through that much coal. But, on the other hand, it doesn't go bad if it is out of the weather. There are times when we buy a lifetime supply of something. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 I remember when SOFA built their coal shed; seems like the EPA had a *LOT* of restrictions on coal piled outside and the "runoff"; but almost nothing on coal in an enclosed building; so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 10, 2022 Share Posted July 10, 2022 That got me thinking George so I just Googled the dimensions of an 8 yard Dumpster 6' x 6' x 7'. A few drain holes and you'd have your lifetime supply storage. Used ones come up for sale pretty frequently, some construction companies buy rather than rent. It's just a thought but for some reason I have storing 8 yards of coal stuck in my head. Four 55gl drums hold 1 yard. And thinking about filling, moving, storing, etc., 32, 55gl. drums full of coal, sure got that 8 yards thing out of my head! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 On 7/10/2022 at 2:23 PM, ThomasPowers said: remember when SOFA built their coal shed; seems like the EPA had a *LOT* of restrictions on coal piled outside and the "runoff"; but almost nothing on coal in an enclosed building; so... Do you know if there was a ton limitation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 I don't recall as I was not part of the folks getting it set up---I lived about 2 hours away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 That would be interesting to know if there’s a weight limit or pile size limit that could set out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 11, 2022 Share Posted July 11, 2022 (edited) If I recall the outside coal bin at ESSA will hold 2 tons of coal. However it's on a concrete slab under the roofed over south side of the building. Made out of dry stacked concrete blocks in front with a slanted plywood cover. As the coal is used a course of blocks are removed to make it easier to get to the remaining coal. It is in the background of this picture of the rotted out coal forges Hofi style stacks that Debi replaced. Edited July 11, 2022 by Irondragon ForgeClay Works add picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOC Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 (edited) Hi Chrispy, Coke options, I can see for you are; http://www.artistblacksmithsa.org.au/live/membership/ The Melbourne guys used to sell to members; https://www.abavic.org.au/?Membership Or the current source in Aus is Shere Carbon. I'm steering towards homemade charcoal and waste vegetable oil, personally... regs, AndrewOC Edited September 7, 2022 by Mod34 Commercial link removed per TOS and replaced with business name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrispy Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 Andrew. I am a member of ABASA and have been in contact with ABAVIC I’m searching for a better deal than what we are all currently paying. It’s jumped from $600 / tonne to $1350 / tonne and we are in dire need for lots more. I have just found a reliable source that is offering $700 / tonne in large quantities of 50 tonne lots. im working on the logistics of freighting it from the east coast to the south coast of SA. Semi tippers and a dog are capable of shifting up to 30 tonne and are expensive. And there are problems with storing 30 tonne on site. I’m working on it and will share the info with the other Artist Blacksmith associations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOC Posted September 9, 2022 Share Posted September 9, 2022 Chrispy, Sounds like you are right on it. Last price I heard from Shere carbon was $900 a bulka bag, October 2021. Good luck! AO'C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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