Switched to a coal forge after 3 years with propane. Not going back.

Been running a propane forge since I started in 2020. It worked fine but I could never get the heat right for forge welding. Picked up a used coal forge off Craigslist in Dayton for $150. First fire was a mess but after a week I welded a chain link on my second try. Anyone else make the switch and find coal easier for certain things?

4 comments

4 Comments

paige1669d ago

Took me about four months to get consistent with coal after switching from gas back in 2018. The key for me was learning to read the flame color and not letting the fire go green before I put the steel in. Keep a spray bottle handy for the clinker and you will save yourself a lot of headache.

hannahcraig9d ago

The spray bottle tip is huge, I've been doing that for a couple years now and it makes a world of difference with clinker buildup. Another thing that helped me was stacking the coal a little wetter than I thought I needed to, it keeps the fire more even and you don't get those sudden temp drops.

harpercampbell9d ago

Wait, you said you can't get the heat right for forge welding with propane. What burner setup were you running? Because I've been fighting with my two burner propane forge and I'm wondering if it's me or the equipment.

emma_wells839d ago

Man that propane swap thing is real, I hear so many people say the same about forge welding. Honestly I think the big thing nobody talks about is how coal lets you see your heat zones way better. With propane you're guessing where the hot spots are inside a brick tunnel, but with coal you can actually build a focused fire right where you need it. Plus you can crank up the airflow in a coal forge way harder than most propane setups, that extra blast makes forge welding click faster. The mess and smoke is annoying but being able to see exactly what your steel is doing is worth it for tricky welds. I'd never go back for heavy work like that.