Shoutout to the smithy at the Living History Museum in Williamsburg, I used to think coal was just coal

I was there last weekend and got to watch them work for a good hour. The smith was using this super clean, dense anthracite, and the fire was so much more steady and hot than the bituminous stuff I usually get from the local supplier. He said it burns cleaner with less smoke and clinker, which honestly, I never really considered. I've always just bought whatever bag was cheapest. Has anyone else made a switch like that and noticed a real difference in their forge work? I'm thinking of hunting down a source, even if it costs a bit more.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_gavin1mo ago

Guess you could say your old coal was a bit... sub-bituminous.

charlie_jenkins1mo ago

Switched to anthracite and it burns way cleaner, no more smoke issues.