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Serious question, why does everyone push coal for a first forge when lump charcoal from a hardware store got me going for $18
When I started out in my buddy's garage in Boise two winters back, I almost quit because I couldn't get coal to light clean and keep a hot spot going. Then I switched to a bag of Royal Oak lump charcoal from the local store, about $18, and suddenly I could weld a scarf in one heat instead of three. The coal burns hotter long term, sure, but it smokes like crazy and I was fighting clinker every 20 minutes, and for a guy learning basic tapers and scrolls that was killing me. Anyone here run charcoal for their first year or so, and what did you change when you finally made the jump to coal or gas?
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the_jessica8d ago
How long did it take before the charcoal stopped being enough for you? I ran lump for about eight months and the turning point was when I started doing bigger stock, like 3/4 inch square bar, because charcoal just couldn't hold the heat long enough to soak the middle. What helped me was building a deeper firepot and banking the charcoal around the sides so the hot spot stayed put instead of spreading out. When I did switch to coal I kept a small charcoal fire going on the side to light it, that trick saved me a ton of grief.
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