September 15, 200817 yr they use to burn to make electric,sorry if it's a dumb question I want to get my ducks in a row. One more the mortar used on fire place bricks can it be used in the bottom of a forge ? I hope you all understand and can help ,thanks
September 15, 200817 yr Can you use coal to what? To forge with... yes. To make electricity...yes. They still burn coal to make electricity...
September 15, 200817 yr Not all coal is the same. I understand that many coal fired power stations run on lignite, which is a very poor grade of coal. It must be crushed into a powder and mixed with propane to burn at all, which is not practical for a forge. You will have to examine a sample of the coal and see for yourself if it is useful.
September 15, 200817 yr If the coal they are using to burn for making electricity is the soft type and is low in sulfur as well as other impurities it should work, grab a bucket and give it a try. If the mortar is called fireclay it will work fine, check around on the blueprints and you will find several other mixes that will work as well or better.
September 19, 200817 yr I pick up coal along the railroad tracks. It's coal destined for power plants in the area that fell out of the cars. It is NOT the same quality as metalurgical grade coal but it works fine...especially if you don't know the difference. The RR coal doesn't coke well, if at all, burns up quicker, and leaves more ash but produces more than enough heat.
September 21, 200817 yr czbohunk, where are you located? You do not have to give your precise location, but what country, area, etc. You might be close to good coal and not know it. We can help. So where are you? Dan:)
September 21, 200817 yr i pick up coal and coke on the railroad tracks here i mix it i dont have any experience with anything else and not much with this.but i know it will melt a railroad spike.here is a video of it burning.YouTube - fire for heating steel
September 21, 200817 yr Author I'm in Springfield,Mo. On the Blacksmithing Association of Missouri I found a guy in the next town over who sells it by the bag.
September 21, 200817 yr Since you're in Springfield you might just as well drive up to Potosi and buy coke from Tom Clark at the Ozark school for $20/ 40lb bag. It is good clean coke.
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