Found an old coal forge in my grandpa's barn last month

It was under a tarp, covered in dust. I cleaned it up and got it running again with some fresh coke. The fire pot is cast iron and must be 80 years old. It heats up way slower than my propane forge but the heat feels different, more even maybe. Anyone else still use coal for certain projects?

2 comments

2 Comments

grant.margaret12d ago

Honestly, that slower heat is a feature, not a bug. It gives you way more control for things like forge welding or working with tool steel. You can really see the color changes in the coal fire. My propane rig is great for quick jobs, but for the finicky stuff, I always drag out the old coal forge. It just feels more connected to the work.

brookef7312d ago

But is all that extra time and mess really worth it for a "feeling"? Propane gets just as hot and you can control it with a knob. I get the tradition thing, but calling it more connected sounds like you're just used to the hard way.