Finally came around on using a coal forge after fighting with propane for 2 years

I used to think coal forges were just messy and old school, not worth the hassle. But last month I watched a guy at a meetup in Portland take a rusty truck spring and turn it into a usable knife in like 3 heats. With my propane forge that same piece would have taken 8 heats and tons of scale. The difference was the heat control and the reducing atmosphere you get with coal. He showed me how to manage the fire with a simple water spray and a rake. After 4 weeks of trying it myself, I'm getting way cleaner welds and way less decarb on my blade edges. Anyone else made the switch and found their steel behaves totally different?

2 comments

2 Comments

west.alice3d agoMost Upvoted

Wait til you try charcoal, it's like coal on easy mode.

faithjones3d ago

Wait til you try charcoal" - yeah, that stuff is so much easier to manage. I feel your pain with coal though, it's a real workout just to get started.