pea coal or nut coal

[Bud in PA]

I have finally found some smithing coal. Pea size is all that they have, will there be problems using this. It's either this or anthracite ,which I use in my furnace.

[JHCC]

Pea coal is fine. It'll be coking before it burns anyway.

[Bud in PA]

Thank you, found it for $10 for a 50 pound bag. I intend to buy 100 pounds to see how it goes. I am finally starting out and figure this will last me quite a while, and save me from travelling 45 miles to get it.

[JHCC]

Not a bad price. If you like it, stock up!

[Stash]

Ditto John above- that's a pretty good price. Give it a try, see how it works for you, and stock up! Is that from the Fisher mine in English Center?

Steve

[anvil]

Good score!

[Bud in PA]

Called up Blashak coal in Mahanoy City, PA. They were the only ones I contacted who had any.

[Bud in PA]

Picked up my coal today, 100#. I told the woman at the mine that most of the coal suppliers that I contacted had no smithing coal, and didn't know when they would get more. She said that she didn't know when they would get more either. Is there something going on with the supply of smithing coal? I am only going to do this as a hobby, how much more should I get to last me for a year?

[Latticino]

It all depends on what kind of things you are going to be forging.  I might be able to make a dozen 3/8" tapered S-hooks with a couple of handfuls of coal (I have large hands...), but for making a large forge welded axe head I need a deep hot fire for hours.  I might use a 50 lb bag almost completely for one large axe head.

[JHCC]

Remember that you can always break nut coal into pea coal, but it's kind of tricky sticking the pea coal together to make nut coal.

[George N. M.]

I would say that if you can afford it and have storage space to get as much as you can.  Coal is dropping out of use and becoming unprofitable for suppliers.  So, availability is dwindling.  If you find a good coal and can store it IMO it is worth buying 20 years worth.  As long as it is out of the weather and kept dry it will last forever (it is already millions of years old.).

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

[anvil]

ditto what George said

[Bud in PA]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I can see another trip in the very near future.

[Jobtiel1]

I have seen people have a coal storage that is out in the open. I've heard of water infiltrating in the coal seams and when it freezes it breaks up the coal. Are there more downsides to storing coal in the weather?

~Jobtiel

[gewoon ik]

It is wet if you consume more than the inner storage

[Bud in PA]

George and Anvil Thanks for the advice about stocking up. At 78 years of age I don't worry too much about the future. I used to complain about my morning pain, but now it makes me realize that I woke up alive!

[JHCC]

Demographically, people are living longer and being more active in their old age than in earlier generations. Might want to throw in a couple extra bags, just to be on the safe side. Hey, it's not like it goes bad!

[anvil]

 Im a youngin,,, 75 and still smithing.

Water or size makes no difference. We, in Colorado used to be able to get the fines below the tipple for free at the Carbondale mine, or a 6 pack to the loader driver. mix it with water to make a slurry, and it makes a great heat source. 

[George N. M.]

Bud, I'm 76 and am not planning on winding down anytime soon.  Besides we're Baby Boomers and will never get old!  Pater Pan is our hero!

GNM

[Frosty]

“It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness." Peter Pan.

That's the secret of a HOT fire too. It's not in having the "right" coal, charcoal, gas burner, forge, etc. it's using what you have to it's best.

Of course a sprinkle of fairy dust helps. 

Frosty The Lucky.

[anvil]

Well said Frosty and George. Peter Pan, May he live forever in all of us!