Finally gave in and switched to a coal forge after 5 years on gas

I always thought coal was too messy and fussy compared to my propane forge. Then last month at a demo in Boise, an old smith named Hank let me try his setup for 10 minutes. I welded a split in a railroad spike on my first try, something I'd been fighting with gas for weeks. The heat control was just way more responsive, and the fire smell grew on me honestly. Anyone else have a stubborn switch like that, or am I the last guy to come around?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly.hannah1mo agoMost Upvoted

That Boise demo circuit keeps converting people, I switched to cross peens after a guy named Roy let me try his.

spencer_owens581mo ago

Hank's demo sounds like the real deal. I read somewhere that coal fires give you a wider heat range because you can push the fire deeper or pull it back, gas just has the one sweet spot. That welded spike on first try is proof, not luck. Once you feel that direct control it's hard to go back.

victor7791mo ago

Hank's little demo sounds like it would convert just about anybody. That smell really does sneak up on you once it clicks.