Apparently charcoal does actually burn hotter than coke, (according to wiki) and it's mainly an economic factor why people use coal and coke. Both the japanese and the vikings used charcoal for forge welding.
Hey - can you give some more details on your forge set up? I looked through your channel and couldn't find anything. Looks like a good set up that I might want to duplicate - especially since you've had good luck w/ it using charcoal.
not sure where you are in the west....but if you come up to the Crow's Nest pass in South Eastern BC (Canada) thats major coal country. Historical town of Ft Steele usually has a supply from the 6 mines in the region.
Two things about charcoal: You can cut down the amount of sparks by cutting back on the air and by keeping the fire sprinkled or wet the charcoal first. To keep the heat in for welding you might try placing a wet board or scrap blocks of wood on top of the fire. Oh, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't use pine or softwood - I can weld even with pine cones or pine bark. They used to smelt iron ore with charcoal made from pine over in Alabama a couple hundred years ago. Burns hot :-)
I make my own charcoal, but I live in the country so smoke isn't a problem. If you want to make it in the city or suburbs, you might try building a woodgas stove or gasifier stove. They are homemade for cooking in 3rd world countries and produce charcoal as a by product. The "smoke" gets burned for cooking.
i'd take charcoal over coal any day, it's much cheaper and you can make it yourself + it's not poisonous like coal (it has sulfur and other impurities) and it's much much cleaner
but coal does last longer so you don't need much coal as charcoal
I also use charcoal. I have a piece of 6 inch round pipe about 5 inches tall with two notches about 2x2 inches cut opposite each other but at same end of pipe. This thing fits around the opening for your air blast. saves fuel and allows for a deeper fire. I made a spark arrestor by making a large tube out of perforated steel with four piece cone top open in the middle. make an opening to work in and you'll have less burns from the sparks. Keeps the neighbors happy to see the sparks contained.
I also use charcoal. I have a piece of 6 inch round pipe about 5 inches tall with two notches about 2x2 inches cut opposite each other but at same end of pipe. This thing fits around the opening for your air blast. saves fuel and allows for a deeper fire.
I also use charcoal. I have a piece of 6 inch round pipe about 5 inches tall with two notches about 2x2 inches cut opposite each other but at same end of pipe. This thing fits around the opening for your air blast. saves fuel and allows for a deeper fire. I made a spark arrestor by making a large tube out of perforated steel with four piece cone top open in the middle. make an opening to work in and you'll have less burns from the sparks. Keeps the neighbors happy to see the sparks contained.
@Thenumber1tool the amount of wood to forge one thing would so much more then the equivalent of coal or charcoal, that it would be extremely expensive and wasteful, thank for the comment, Ed.
@edwyrd If you want to make your own charcoal without much smoke check out the type of kiln on the twinoaksforge site. It's closed so not much smoke is made, and is self-regulating. (It's found in the bladesmithing section of the site)
i used the same charcoal over the summer when coal was harder to find. but you can however use wood. hardwood of course but you have to let it burn down into coals. stacking wood on top of your already burning coals constantly. gets to be a bit of a pain in the ass though. another thing is if you get 2 55 gallon drums you can light a "hobo" fire in one and place the other on top of it. cut holes at the bottom though or you'll get no air flow. and the fire will die.
Apparently charcoal does actually burn hotter than coke, (according to wiki) and it's mainly an economic factor why people use coal and coke. Both the japanese and the vikings used charcoal for forge welding.
truggeri 17 hours ago
anyone else see the person in the reflection off the picture at 3:41 ?
xboyprodigyx 2 weeks ago
i use charcoal...i like it and it does get hot enough
paulakaFATBOY 2 weeks ago
Hey - can you give some more details on your forge set up? I looked through your channel and couldn't find anything. Looks like a good set up that I might want to duplicate - especially since you've had good luck w/ it using charcoal.
mrlisk1986 1 month ago
I've been making and selling knives for years; I;ve always used charcoal... works great.
holysomes92 1 month ago
you could try to use ebay to get your coal
pixelwizard9001 3 months ago
not sure where you are in the west....but if you come up to the Crow's Nest pass in South Eastern BC (Canada) thats major coal country. Historical town of Ft Steele usually has a supply from the 6 mines in the region.
hexusziggurat 5 months ago
love the front mullet
stimulater7 5 months ago
Two things about charcoal: You can cut down the amount of sparks by cutting back on the air and by keeping the fire sprinkled or wet the charcoal first. To keep the heat in for welding you might try placing a wet board or scrap blocks of wood on top of the fire. Oh, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't use pine or softwood - I can weld even with pine cones or pine bark. They used to smelt iron ore with charcoal made from pine over in Alabama a couple hundred years ago. Burns hot :-)
apatientspider 5 months ago
I make my own charcoal, but I live in the country so smoke isn't a problem. If you want to make it in the city or suburbs, you might try building a woodgas stove or gasifier stove. They are homemade for cooking in 3rd world countries and produce charcoal as a by product. The "smoke" gets burned for cooking.
apatientspider 5 months ago
nice video ,what do you use to etch blades?im new to this lol :)
bigaxe87 7 months ago
i'd take charcoal over coal any day, it's much cheaper and you can make it yourself + it's not poisonous like coal (it has sulfur and other impurities) and it's much much cleaner
but coal does last longer so you don't need much coal as charcoal
Slic3R1 9 months ago
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I also use charcoal. I have a piece of 6 inch round pipe about 5 inches tall with two notches about 2x2 inches cut opposite each other but at same end of pipe. This thing fits around the opening for your air blast. saves fuel and allows for a deeper fire. I made a spark arrestor by making a large tube out of perforated steel with four piece cone top open in the middle. make an opening to work in and you'll have less burns from the sparks. Keeps the neighbors happy to see the sparks contained.
kxm177 10 months ago
I also use charcoal. I have a piece of 6 inch round pipe about 5 inches tall with two notches about 2x2 inches cut opposite each other but at same end of pipe. This thing fits around the opening for your air blast. saves fuel and allows for a deeper fire.
kxm177 10 months ago
I also use charcoal. I have a piece of 6 inch round pipe about 5 inches tall with two notches about 2x2 inches cut opposite each other but at same end of pipe. This thing fits around the opening for your air blast. saves fuel and allows for a deeper fire. I made a spark arrestor by making a large tube out of perforated steel with four piece cone top open in the middle. make an opening to work in and you'll have less burns from the sparks. Keeps the neighbors happy to see the sparks contained.
kxm177 10 months ago
you should use raw wood for fuel
Thenumber1tool 10 months ago
@Thenumber1tool the amount of wood to forge one thing would so much more then the equivalent of coal or charcoal, that it would be extremely expensive and wasteful, thank for the comment, Ed.
edwyrd 10 months ago
@edwyrd yeah it is it goes through WAYYYYYY more wood haha
rc8rsracer 4 months ago
@edwyrd Wouldn't it be a good idea to switch over to a propane forge? You can do same work for less money.
theecocraftsman 2 weeks ago
nice and informative .GJ dude
VorVZakonie 1 year ago
@VorVZakonie thank you.
edwyrd 1 year ago
@edwyrd If you want to make your own charcoal without much smoke check out the type of kiln on the twinoaksforge site. It's closed so not much smoke is made, and is self-regulating. (It's found in the bladesmithing section of the site)
truggeri 17 hours ago
thanks for posting this video,it was very informative and helpful,can`t wait to see the etched steel you had there.keep on forging,
blacksmither1 1 year ago
I love the manuel air blower you have there.
Was that an old air raid siren by chance?
RDPproject 1 year ago
@RDPproject No it is a purpose built commercial blower for blacksmithing.
edwyrd 1 year ago
@edwyrd Where can you buy them and for how much
rappelier 4 months ago
i used the same charcoal over the summer when coal was harder to find. but you can however use wood. hardwood of course but you have to let it burn down into coals. stacking wood on top of your already burning coals constantly. gets to be a bit of a pain in the ass though. another thing is if you get 2 55 gallon drums you can light a "hobo" fire in one and place the other on top of it. cut holes at the bottom though or you'll get no air flow. and the fire will die.
boredism07 2 years ago
Hey will you do a video on how to temper? thanks
TheSwordOfPeace 2 years ago
Nice job on the steel there.
avagdu 2 years ago