Visited a working forge in Flagstaff, changed my mind about gas vs coal

I used to think gas forges were the only way to handle detail work steady, but watching this old timer in Flagstaff run a coal fire with a hand crank blower made me rethink the whole setup. He hit a clean weld on the first try, no fuss, and I haven't touched my gas unit since that Tuesday. Anyone else go back to coal after sticking with propane for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

bailey.jennifer26d ago

Hand crank blower" sounds like a workout I'd skip, but now I'm picturing my propane tank feeling jealous in the corner. Guess that old timer's got one thing right, coal's got that stubborn charm.

fiona_carr2626d ago

...and honestly that's exactly why I love it. I've got a bad shoulder from an old sports injury, and hand cranking that thing feels like I'm punishing myself for past mistakes. But the payoff is this great, steady heat that just hangs around way longer than the propane ever did. My wife watches me do it and just shakes her head, says I look like some kind of medieval blacksmith who lost his anvil. Forget the fuel comparison though, half the reason I stick with the coal is I get to feel like I've EARNED a warm house by the time I'm done. The propane tank out back might be more efficient, but it doesn't make me feel tough, so what's the POINT really?