Starting and maintaining a coal forge fire - basic blacksmithing

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discussions:

About: Starting and maintaining a coal forge fire - basic blacksmithing

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As a millennial i feel great anxiety about your phone being so close to an inferno. Great vid though, winter just broke in Ohio and Im excited to fire my forge for the first time this year.
Brilliant, I was just about to google using coke or coal, I wasn't to sure if they were the same or different  products.
Man take it easy on that left pointer finger, you have it bandaged in to many videos.
Sorry for the dumb question but what do you mean when you say “coke?” Never mind you just answered my question. Thanks.
Thanks for all the great videos and information you share with us.
I want to try my hand in blacksmithing and I'm just about to build my first forge. The only solid fuel available to me is charcoal.
How deep a fire would you need to get a neutralizing fire if charcoal is used instead of coal?
Would love to see a video with you forging something using and managing a charcoal fire along with your thoughts on it.
Thanks again.
Hi there, at one point you had said you sometimes use coal as fine as "dust". I was wondering if you could demonstrate your "slurry" mixture, the consistency etc. My coal is anywhere from large egg size to just bigger than tennis balls and I have been breaking it up smaller and find I have a lot of "dust " and fine particles left. I just don't want to make a mess while experimenting with this stuff and end up spending a lot of time cleaning out the fire pot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks in advance; Jeff
Im #900 like. O yea
Very helpful 👍🏻
How do you maintain a fire while working with the forge on and off all day like the old time blacksmiths ? I have mounded up up a pile of coal and sort of seal it off and came back up to 3 hours later and broke it open , added air and revived the fire. Thanks
Spray bottle instead of sprinkling water (the variable spray ones), havnt tried it yet, any downsides if i did?? A light spray wouldnt really do much but a light jet surely would work?
Is that an induced draft chimeny?
John, I am wondering how you got started in black smithing and at what age. maybe a video to answer?
Any input on other fire pots like the Newman ones being sold at blacksmith depot or the lorance ones sold over at pieh tool vs the centaur forge offering, especially the Vulcan?

I'm looking at buying a fire pot soon and each of these costs different prices haha. Basically any pot you would choose to purchase to replace yours now? Or have you been happy with the vulcan?

Thank you (:
thanks, once again, great information delivered in a straightforward and clear manner. I would like to know more about the chimney. does it have an exhaust fan? how does it draw so well even though not directly over the fire?
Had trouble lighting new forge did not light at all how much air is needed at first Blower has a side gate and also a line gate. can you help me. I did watch your video no mention on air control do i close off gate on side of motor and just use line gate.
Great videos thanks for explaining the basics
I like your style! But not the noise. I love the thumping of the hammer on steel. But I cannot use a noisy forge blower. I must speak with visitors. Must have a silent blower.
Great video. Many stuff on youtube about coal fire starting, but it's always good to have an experienced blacksmith point of vue. Everybody interested in this kind of video about blacksmithing, check out "DF - In the shop". Another great blacksmith with so much experience about so many subjects that everybody should listen to him.

Thank you !
I love your very informative videos. I under stand what you are talking about . You sir are a great teacher.
I wish I was closer to you, I'd love to work with you in person. You have a fantastic video series. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

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