Used the same bag this past weekend for the first time ever using my brake drum forge. Used about 5 match lite charcoal brickets to start with. Worked great. Lots of heat with very little to no smoke. Thx for the video!
Just got a bag of this at TSC myself. I didn't realize that it would get nearly white-hot from a hairdryer blower on high. It was almost as bright as the sun at the end of the tuyere. Plus, I was instantly pulled back to kindergarten 1989, our school was heated with anthracite. I love the smell of burning this stuff, and the sound is relaxing.
Great video. My local Tractor Supply only stocks rice coal. I've been using it and it seems to work just fine with a constant air supply. I start mine with a handful of cowboy charcoal, and it lights right up. Very affordable for a hobby that I'm not making any money off of..... Yet.
I started a month or two ago with lump charcoal from the local hardware store, and my ‘dirt box’ forge definitely got hot enough but it ate charcoal like crazy. Then I saw this video and, after a 3-hour trip, ended up with a couple bags of this proper coal. Definitely liking it so far, it lasts pretty long and is much, much cheaper than my charcoal! Much easier to work with too, since I’m not constantly feeding in more fuel.
Thanks for affirming what I am thinking and experiencing. I am about as new as you can get to coal forging, actually to forging period ( haven't tried propane ). I have a local coal source less then an hour away, that sells bulk lump and stoker coal. It sells for $2.50 for a 5 gallen buckets. I've tried both, smokes light crazy, clinks pretty bad, and burns up fast. We have a TS so it tried anthracite mixed with stroker I can be forging in about 15 minutes. Lately I use kindling to to start using just Anthracite by the time I'm set up in about 15 or so minutes my forge is ready. I've read a lot about pro's and con's. With anthracite I have a good air supply to my fire pot once up to temp air gate set at about 1/2 good for most the day remove clinker after lunch add air starts right back up I'm forging or ( trying to forge ). As far as weighting the cost difference local about 80 lbs for 7.50 vs 7 bucks for 40 lb bag of anthracite. Anthracite last twice as long or more with very little to no smoke... Cost seems to be wash... Kind of a wordy post...anyway point is thanks for reassuring my thought process. Great video.
I am a team leader and I say you did a good presentation . . . thank you. Lowes has this on their internet site but they say they can't get it. I want it for my parlor stove which is ceramic coated under the fire chamber.
I’ve only ever had access to bituminous coal and have used it for years. Recently I ran into some of this anthracite at TSC. I concur with everything you said about it. I start it the same way you did, I love the heat and that it holds together, I do get some hella clinker, much glassier and harder than the bituminous coal but definitely lasts. This was 7$ @ 40lb bag, close to what I pay here for bituminous 16$ @ 100lbs. The guy that got this for 1$ a bag got a swinging deal.
I know this is late but may be it'll help other people at least. The first fresh light is the hardest. I just use charcoal igniter, fluffly sawdust, a carton or two worth of cardboard from 12 pack pop carton torn into 2x6inchesh strips. I make a pyramid like shape with that as a foundation and place some to the side, maybe a third of it. Then I take some hardwood or whatever scrap I have laying around in 2 inch diameter, 6ish inch strips and lay it with the length pointed up one layer around the pyramid. From the bigger wood or a softer/fuzzier wood scrap make strips the same length, but quarter to three quarter inch thick to go inbetween the bigger stuff to help get it going, give that all a good soak in igniter, and then lay the extra kindling on top of that layer for spacing and to let oxygen flow through, you don't want the big stuff choking i out. I kinda work two or three big handfulls of this coal into that breather layer so some of it is blazing hot later, then I do another layer of the big stuff, and lay another handful or two of coal on top of that. Lastly I encircle the pyramid with more fuel, some close enough to catch fire at the base, and the rest further out to dry and warm it so it's easier to feed later. Give it one more soak in igniter, put igniter on a long stick incase I used too much, and light it at a distance. After the saw dust has caught and it starts to burn decent I turn my air on a low setting to give it extra motivation and enough heat to help get the smaller strips going but not so much it burns the easier burning fuel before the big chunks and coal start. As the pyramid starts to collapse down into the pot I start pushing in more of the fuel I had parked around the edge careful not to smother it till all the woods gone and you got the desired amount of coal burning in the pot. After that I like to smother out some of the coal if I have enough left after a forging session. I put this coal both in the starter fire, and to the side to cover over the starter first when it's going good enough. You wont need nearly as much wood fuel, or coal to start any fire after this since you have partially burnt, and what I call cooked coal around the pot from the last session that's been baked super dry and. You'll just kinda light a tiny fire and the partially used / cooked will light right up for you.
@@Daniel-ih4zh Verry good point. I use electric motors at the slowest safe speed possible, if any. I also trap it under wood or caedboard with slits between for airflow, then wood or coal from the sides of my last session. Most of the time with "cooked" coal I don't use air till after the wood or coal stars and the sawdust is gone.
I use TSC nut coal and I really like it. It hardly smokes, and since I live in a suburban neighborhood it keeps the neighbors off my back. It does take a little more attention to keep a good hot fire, but in my experience, only marginally. A big bag like the one used costs about $7 where the same size bituminous cost me $35 including shipping. I start with a small charcoal fire and get the air flowing then pile a ring of coal around it, and it lights right up.
I have one of those "hole in the ground" style forges. It's just a pile of creek rocks, with a mound at the top. I have best results when I build a basic camp fire, and then just heep it over the fire. After you get past the learning curve, it's good stuff to work with. When you're on a tight budget.
Dude! Thank you soooo much for this video! Been studying forging for a while now, got a mountain of notes I even have a neighbor who is going to give me his small gas forge ready to go. But I'm a traditionalist and an armour maker I want a coal fire, and I now have my answer...I honestly do feel this video of yours is the single most valuable vid on forging period...I'm serious! Checked with my local Tractor Supply and they can get it for me at seven bucks and some change for a 40 LB bag! So a pinch over $20 that's now 120Lb of forging coal!!! Not only am I sold...but I'm all in. As soon as I finish redesigning and rearranging my shop it's on buddy! Again sir thank you so much! This video was the missing piece for me. Oh yeah...I'm subbing as well so how do ya like me now!?! Very much looking forward to more great vid's...keep calm and hammer on my friend!
I am glad you enjoyed this video! How has your forging setup been coming along? Have you burned some coal yet? Let me know of future topics you may be interested in.
@@IronWolfIndustrial Sorry for late reply (1 yr sheesh) really sorry about that. Back on track with with both shop and forge (Wife had cancer scare last year) What is best way to send you progress pictures? Thank you sir.
I light anthracite rice coal (the chips) with news paper then cover with nut coal. you only need a handfull or two of rice to light and it lights nut. 45 minutes or so of smithing from nut and you pull out a baseball of clinker, push it back together and run all day on nut. clinker is the issue with this stuff.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm heading 70 miles out to the tractor supply co near me and couldn't figure out if I should get nut coal or the rice coal!
My fiancé and I started forging and found a landscaping company that sells Anthracite in both 40lb bags and by the truck load. We checked our area, and almost all the landscaping places sell it. So if it's hard to find at Tractor Supply or other stores like them, try looking at landscaping places.
I'd like to Thank you very much for all the Info you gave me with this video. Because I just built myself a forge to use and needed to know what kind and where to get the coal for it. Plus you showed me that I still need to put a damper on my forge to control the air blowed to the coal for the right temp.
All I use is tractor supply coal! The packaging is different, but from everything you said it seems to be the same stuff. Only sold during heating season here, so I bought a whole pallet! Hope it gets me through the summer! Define Your Legacy!
I just saw your video. Very interesting. I have a question. How long can i expect a small coal fire to last? What do you do with the lit coal if you are done forging for the day?
So, I just started forging. Used to use a wood fire with a blower to stoke it up. Worked great, built several nice knives and door handles.... just bought/built a coal forge and have several attempts over the course of 3 days to get anthracite lit, but it will not light. I use charcoal, paper, pine wood and lighter fluid with different rates of air flow and it will not light at all. It seems like lots of people use anthracite for forging, why is it not working for me?
My lighting method is to start with a few regular BBQ charcoal briquettes. Light as you would if you were going to cook a burger on the forge (I use regular charcoal lighter fluid). When the briquettes are happily cooking away in roughly 10-15 minutes, top with the TS coal and start up the airflow. Pretty quickly you have a good forge fire. No fiddling or battles involved. I do find that airflow control is much more fiddly at times...it's easy (on my system) to add too much air and start cooling down your fire instead of heating it up.
I am a firm believer in using bituminous coal but one of my friends turn me on to anthracite it is a very hot coal hard to light but I only went through one bag of coal blacksmithing all weekend I wouldn't be able to do that with bituminous good video and happy smithing.
I've been using it almost exclusively, for around a year now. I use wood to get the fore going. It takes a little while, but it gets crazy hot. It's pretty nasty smelling stuff, so you've gotta make sure you have good ventilation. But I'm not a rich man, and it only makes perfect sense, when everything else is so much more expensive.
It's the hardest and the purest form of coal - should be the most heat. I really enjoy that it doesn't coke up, because then your fire is always a little more open/free. Thanks.
Great vid. I bought much of my smithing equipment from a guy who's father was a pro smith in coal country. He spent his whole life burning anthracite and swore by it. I had no idea that Tractor Supply sold nut sized anthracite until you mentioned it in your previous vid. I've been paying to get smithing coal shipped in, and often I'm forced to buy pea-sized which personally, I don't like. The nearest store that has it in stock is a bit of a drive, but I may just head over this weekend and pick up a bag or two to try; that price is crazy low; my mind can't process how cheap that is.
I haven't had much luck with tractor supply coal. I have tried mixing it with bituminous coal and that does seem to help but alone that stuff doesnt like to burn
Hi, thanks for the video. Saw it at TSC and wondered about it. Going to pick some up to help stretch out the bituminous that I have. One question though, what kind of blower do you have set up, I'm getting tired of cranking mine..thanks!
I like it, my Tractor supply got a pallet by mistake so I bought a bag and I have Bituminous as well so as you showed I start the fire with Bituminous and add the nut coal. Tractor supply says they cannot get it cause its not on this regions floor plan, even if I buy the whole pallet. I think I'm gonna call corporate.
Thank u for producing this video I’m just starting and experiencing and this is great to hear because I just bought two bags of it. And I dont know how much u got it for but I got it for pretty cheap
If you have a side blast that pea works good .. and it ashes up nice it will clump up as it fires but again less klinkers and more ash .. A cover works to prevent wind from causing problems
My area had two pallets of it (nut) left not sure if it would work well and being tight on funds I only bought one pallet which I got a great deal on for buying a whole pallet... After having used it for a bit I sure wish I would have got both as they were the last two they would ever get :(
I like the tractor supply coal, it works well, gets hot enough to weld with. Because it requires constant air, its also easier to shut it down. I have no problems getting it to start, but I also use charcoal and kindling to get it going
This is KH BLACKSMITHING I just got done watching your video on anthracite coal. This is what I use I believe that I am getting a lot of clinkers. I am just starting out. Would you have any advice.
Is it good for cooking and home heat. We heated and cooked on pot bellied Stove in the late 50's long time ago. I didn't know that there was but one kinda coal then, If you were hungry or cold you used it. Now seems a dozen different kinds. Only good for certain things.
England here: I use anthracite all the time - Welsh anthracite as it happens. It looks very similar to what you have here and the pieces a very similar size. They're called Anthracite Beans here in the UK. Forge is a standard bottom draught firepot about 10 inches square. The air pipe is 2 inch diameter black iron pipe with a matching stainless steel pipe cap screwed onto the threaded pipe end. The cap is drilled with 5 x 5/16" holes. How I light it: One full sheet of newspaper (just one) crunched into a loose ball, a palm-full of small sticks stacked as a wigwam shape onto the paper and light the paper with a lighter or match, with the air off initially, until the sticks begin to crackle. Then turn on a moderate air blow. As the sticks begin to burn and the wigwam collapses, arrange them into a neat burning pile (with the poker) and pile on just about a palm-full of lump charcoal. Then more or less immediately also carefully pile on a similar amount of anthracite. Keep the firepot around the fire filled up with fresh anthracite. Keep feeding in to the middle from the sides as the centre fuel slowly burns. The anthracite should have caught and be beginning to glow at about 5 minutes from first lighting. Air blow: Anthracite will not burn without an air blast. However it will burn well with just a moderate air blow, even a fractional one (compared to some I see). it's very economical. A 50kg (112 pound) sack of anthracite (about £17 or $25) lasts at least two weeks - say 60+ hours forging. Blower: I use one of those air fans that are fitted under jacuzzi-type bathtubs. It was 2nd-hand on ebay for £30 (about $40 currently). It has a 2 inch outlet and is quite powerful on full speed - too powerful for a forge - would blow all the ash out of the pot. It is rated at 1/4 amp @ 230 volts. I slowed down the air flow two ways. I fitted a 300 watt sliding dimmer switch in-line on the supply cable (that is just on a plug into the wall outlet). These dimmers are on ebay and are often used for domestic lamps. I have the dimmer on the lowest possible setting before cutting off, once the coal is lit and glowing. Also, I fitted an air choke (gate valve) on the iron piping below the forge. That is also set to a fairly minimum flow. The blower is still too powerful, even dimmed on the switch, without this choke. I estimate the power usage over about 6 hours to be about 1 - 2 kw.
Local coal merchant, here in the North West. Just Google for your local coal merchant. These anthracite beans are mainly sold for gravity feed domestic coal fires, so I believe. Whereabouts are you?
Good job. Kent used to have coal mines too of course, like the NW. The anthracite would always have been South Wales anyway. Get anthracite beans, or sometimes called peas too. Don't get the large or even small nuts - they're too big for forges. The pieces are about the size of an end joint of one of your fingers, hard and shiny black. Happy forging.
I am using the Tractor Supply nut coal. There are no coal sellers in my area so I tired this seems to work fine for me. I'm just an amateur blacksmith, however.
Anyone in Michigan's Lower Peninsula would be well advised to also check out Family Farm and Home if Tractor Supply isn't in your area. They too sell anthracite coal, Blaschak brand. 40 pounds usually is around 6-7$. Sometimes the coal pops and crackles a bit more than I'd like, but all in all it's great stuff if you can't find genuine blacksmith coal.
David Meyer Pretty cool that you have Blaschak coal out there. I live about 10 mins from the breaker where it's mined. Burned their coal in my house for heat for a long time. I'm also real good friends with Tony Blashack the owner of the company.
I had already tried it. And like you said: It is cheaper, it is easier to get, and it burns hot. Problem is, it burns too hot. I have antique equipment and forge in a historical manner for demonstrations. I worry about damaging my antique forges. I might mix in a bit but I'm not going to give up using bituminus smithing coal.
i bought a ton last year. i think it was 50 40lb bags. i agree about the heat. i would like to see more clinking but i wont complain. i did have an issue with 4 bags of the 50. Those 4 bags would not light or burn period. I even used them in an already hot fire and they didn't burn. Thats about 8% failure for this brand. i have 7 bags left and i would like to mix it with some Kentucky blue anthracite i got a few years ago. That stuff acted more like bituminous in some respects. i think they would pair well. nice video
I bought a bag of this as my first coal for forging and I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it to be a pain to get it to light. I will agree however that it burns NICE ....Once it burns ;D And yeah TSC is the place I was finding it for $6 a bag last year. Unfortunately, when I went back last week it's almost doubled in price. Guess I should have stocked up :D.
So if I have access to bituminous coal or coke to start the fire why not use that instead of anthracite is it cheaper or is heat control such a good advantage?
I've got a squirrel cage motor from a furnace exhaust system. They are rated for continuous duty in hot environments. They work great for this sort of thing.
So my forge lit up fine with a little lump charcoal and then fed coal to it. The coal got wet from being in my garage (frost). Now it won't light up... Any suggestions?
I use a hand crank blower for my forge, so unless I have a worker with me to just crank the blower, I’m gonna get tired out keeping it lit. So, I use lump charcoal with mine to help keep it going.
I use this all the time the only thing i disagree with is the clinks i get very few clinkers from this especially compared to the regular smithing coal
Trying to get a solid fuel forge up and running would love to use the anthracite, but I live in California and my tractor supply store won't sell or ship it, probably because of the environmental protection laws out here. Any ideas how I can get started without the coal? Or how I can get some here?
IWI... You are fortunate to have access to coal at such a great price. I only have access through mail order or drive 8 hours one way. it is not cheap. Thanks for the video..
It needs a steady yet gentle draft, which will cause it to get hot and stay that way. Electric blower required, should the air stop it cools off quickly and takes a while to recover. I've been using Anthracite at the forge for may years, since it was all I could get for the longest time.
Hi, one bag of 25 kg , does for much runs ,or much time ? I bought one 25 kg bag today for 26 euros and i will run my forge who i build but i not have experiente in metal forge,thanks
i used to work with anthracite i loved it but it makes me so sick everytime i use it i've been told that it has alot of mercury in it so people told me thats why i was getiing sick but i think it's the sulfer dioxide i don't know but i can't use it so i've been useing good quality smithing coal and i haven't gotten sick so thats good but the problem is it so freakin expensive
one time i was sick for 2 weeks because of the anthracite it sucked i was vomiting and my head hurt so bad my lungs burned and i could'nt stop coughing it was awful
when I get mine from local yard it is damp inside to where the dust is as a past almost. how can I dry this stuff up ? and just today took 3 hours to light. then only lasted 1hr. Friday took 30 minutes was going good then just poof burned out.. finally how do I know when the coal can not light no more as far as the color ?? son and I are lost...
I use the same coal, and like it but does make a lot of clinker. I have never used smithing coal so don't have anything to compare to. I have to find a new source my local tractor supply has stopped selling coal. I have seen a pile at a local shop its in huge chunks 20 lbs or so, gonna give it a try later this week. Wish me luck cause I dont know of any other source in my area.
Whereabouts are you from? My TSC has also stopped carrying it - they said it was a seasonal item and they only ordered a small quantity. Sounds like a similar deal for you.
Im here in somerset KY, Ya prolly seasonal but they kept it all last year in the back. il find some where aint gunna order online that shits crazy priced.
Coal fires are quite simple - turn off the air supply, and let them die down. If you have a table on your forge, like mine in this video, spread out the coals so they cool off a bit quicker. Thanks for the comment
For me Smithing coal is 50$ for a 40lb bag and anthracite is 4$ for 40 lbs. so I go for anthracite. I really like it but my forge always looks like I was melting stuff into it the whole time but it’s all the ash fused together
Unfortunately, I do not. I have the same problem now as well. If you are looking for a lot of the stuff, Blaschak Coal Corp (the supplier to TSC) does ship semi-loads of the stuff. However, that would be a minimum of probably 6 full pallets of 40 bags. It seems many of the locations out west do not have access to this coal anymore. There is coal in Decker, MT and Gillette, WY, but that is all Powder River Basin sub-bituminous coal, vastly inferior to PA Anthracite. It'll work, but nothing beats anthracite. Thanks for the comment - let me know anything else I can help with.
Anthracite is the top grade of coal with bituminous just below it. This is the coal that comes out of the PA, WV, and Oh hills. If you do your own smelting this is what you want because it burns so hot.
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Used the same bag this past weekend for the first time ever using my brake drum forge. Used about 5 match lite charcoal brickets to start with. Worked great. Lots of heat with very little to no smoke. Thx for the video!
Same here, the 5/6 briquettes make getting it started a whole lot easier. Tried other ways but this is by far the easiest.
Nice video. And I really like your closing statement: "Work hard and stay humble".
Thank you for posting.
Just got a bag of this at TSC myself. I didn't realize that it would get nearly white-hot from a hairdryer blower on high. It was almost as bright as the sun at the end of the tuyere. Plus, I was instantly pulled back to kindergarten 1989, our school was heated with anthracite. I love the smell of burning this stuff, and the sound is relaxing.
start checking TSC for clearance of coal in late February, I bought half a pallet for 1$ a bag
al miller Thanks for this info.
Really they were charging me 6.99 a bag in july.
@@Coopdeville0624 try in spring when it starts to warm up, I went to 2 TSC and they both had the same sale
@@almiller5682 they put it in the back and re sell it the following year if it doesn't sell during the winter months.
@@almiller5682 i think they discounted the rice coal but not the nut coal.
Great video. My local Tractor Supply only stocks rice coal. I've been using it and it seems to work just fine with a constant air supply. I start mine with a handful of cowboy charcoal, and it lights right up. Very affordable for a hobby that I'm not making any money off of..... Yet.
My wife asked me about this just a few minutes ago and then you showed up on my RUclips, thank you
thats because your phone was listening to you.
Thank you, this just answered a few dozen questions I have been struggling with. Great demonstration, I really appreciate it.
Thanks for watching!
Same, thank you!
I started a month or two ago with lump charcoal from the local hardware store, and my ‘dirt box’ forge definitely got hot enough but it ate charcoal like crazy. Then I saw this video and, after a 3-hour trip, ended up with a couple bags of this proper coal. Definitely liking it so far, it lasts pretty long and is much, much cheaper than my charcoal! Much easier to work with too, since I’m not constantly feeding in more fuel.
Thanks for affirming what I am thinking and experiencing. I am about as new as you can get to coal forging, actually to forging period ( haven't tried propane ). I have a local coal source less then an hour away, that sells bulk lump and stoker coal. It sells for $2.50 for a 5 gallen buckets. I've tried both, smokes light crazy, clinks pretty bad, and burns up fast. We have a TS so it tried anthracite mixed with stroker I can be forging in about 15 minutes. Lately I use kindling to to start using just Anthracite by the time I'm set up in about 15 or so minutes my forge is ready. I've read a lot about pro's and con's. With anthracite I have a good air supply to my fire pot once up to temp air gate set at about 1/2 good for most the day remove clinker after lunch add air starts right back up I'm forging or ( trying to forge ). As far as weighting the cost difference local about 80 lbs for 7.50 vs 7 bucks for 40 lb bag of anthracite. Anthracite last twice as long or more with very little to no smoke... Cost seems to be wash...
Kind of a wordy post...anyway point is thanks for reassuring my thought process.
Great video.
I am a team leader and I say you did a good presentation . . . thank you. Lowes has this on their internet site but they say they can't get it. I want it for my parlor stove which is ceramic coated under the fire chamber.
I’ve only ever had access to bituminous coal and have used it for years. Recently I ran into some of this anthracite at TSC. I concur with everything you said about it. I start it the same way you did, I love the heat and that it holds together, I do get some hella clinker, much glassier and harder than the bituminous coal but definitely lasts. This was 7$ @ 40lb bag, close to what I pay here for bituminous 16$ @ 100lbs. The guy that got this for 1$ a bag got a swinging deal.
I just tried this fuel for my forge I just made and boy was it hard to light. I finally used charcoal to get it started and that worked.
I know this is late but may be it'll help other people at least.
The first fresh light is the hardest. I just use charcoal igniter, fluffly sawdust, a carton or two worth of cardboard from 12 pack pop carton torn into 2x6inchesh strips. I make a pyramid like shape with that as a foundation and place some to the side, maybe a third of it.
Then I take some hardwood or whatever scrap I have laying around in 2 inch diameter, 6ish inch strips and lay it with the length pointed up one layer around the pyramid. From the bigger wood or a softer/fuzzier wood scrap make strips the same length, but quarter to three quarter inch thick to go inbetween the bigger stuff to help get it going, give that all a good soak in igniter, and then lay the extra kindling on top of that layer for spacing and to let oxygen flow through, you don't want the big stuff choking i out.
I kinda work two or three big handfulls of this coal into that breather layer so some of it is blazing hot later, then I do another layer of the big stuff, and lay another handful or two of coal on top of that.
Lastly I encircle the pyramid with more fuel, some close enough to catch fire at the base, and the rest further out to dry and warm it so it's easier to feed later. Give it one more soak in igniter, put igniter on a long stick incase I used too much, and light it at a distance.
After the saw dust has caught and it starts to burn decent I turn my air on a low setting to give it extra motivation and enough heat to help get the smaller strips going but not so much it burns the easier burning fuel before the big chunks and coal start. As the pyramid starts to collapse down into the pot I start pushing in more of the fuel I had parked around the edge careful not to smother it till all the woods gone and you got the desired amount of coal burning in the pot.
After that I like to smother out some of the coal if I have enough left after a forging session. I put this coal both in the starter fire, and to the side to cover over the starter first when it's going good enough. You wont need nearly as much wood fuel, or coal to start any fire after this since you have partially burnt, and what I call cooked coal around the pot from the last session that's been baked super dry and. You'll just kinda light a tiny fire and the partially used / cooked will light right up for you.
@@fantomlimbs Thanks for the amazing reply! I've just gotten into forging and this really helps!
@@fantomlimbs i'll also add that you be careful with the sawdust and bellows. You might end up creating a large fireball.
@@Daniel-ih4zh Verry good point. I use electric motors at the slowest safe speed possible, if any. I also trap it under wood or caedboard with slits between for airflow, then wood or coal from the sides of my last session. Most of the time with "cooked" coal I don't use air till after the wood or coal stars and the sawdust is gone.
@@altairb3975 You're welcome, check the other reply, something I forgot was pointed out.
I use TSC nut coal and I really like it. It hardly smokes, and since I live in a suburban neighborhood it keeps the neighbors off my back. It does take a little more attention to keep a good hot fire, but in my experience, only marginally. A big bag like the one used costs about $7 where the same size bituminous cost me $35 including shipping.
I start with a small charcoal fire and get the air flowing then pile a ring of coal around it, and it lights right up.
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I have one of those "hole in the ground" style forges. It's just a pile of creek rocks, with a mound at the top. I have best results when I build a basic camp fire, and then just heep it over the fire. After you get past the learning curve, it's good stuff to work with. When you're on a tight budget.
You should use clay around the walls of your forge to make it last longer
Dude!
Thank you soooo much for this video! Been studying forging for a while now, got a mountain of notes I even have a neighbor who is going to give me his small gas forge ready to go. But I'm a traditionalist and an armour maker I want a coal fire, and I now have my answer...I honestly do feel this video of yours is the single most valuable vid on forging period...I'm serious!
Checked with my local Tractor Supply and they can get it for me at seven bucks and some change for a 40 LB bag! So a pinch over $20 that's now 120Lb of forging coal!!! Not only am I sold...but I'm all in. As soon as I finish redesigning and rearranging my shop it's on buddy! Again sir thank you so much! This video was the missing piece for me. Oh yeah...I'm subbing as well so how do ya like me now!?! Very much looking forward to more great vid's...keep calm and hammer on my friend!
I am glad you enjoyed this video! How has your forging setup been coming along? Have you burned some coal yet?
Let me know of future topics you may be interested in.
@@IronWolfIndustrial Sorry for late reply (1 yr sheesh) really sorry about that.
Back on track with with both shop and forge (Wife had cancer scare last year) What is best way to send you progress pictures? Thank you sir.
I light anthracite rice coal (the chips) with news paper then cover with nut coal. you only need a handfull or two of rice to light and it lights nut. 45 minutes or so of smithing from nut and you pull out a baseball of clinker, push it back together and run all day on nut. clinker is the issue with this stuff.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm heading 70 miles out to the tractor supply co near me and couldn't figure out if I should get nut coal or the rice coal!
Great video and had the answers I was looking for concerning the stuff available through TSC. Thanks!
My fiancé and I started forging and found a landscaping company that sells Anthracite in both 40lb bags and by the truck load. We checked our area, and almost all the landscaping places sell it. So if it's hard to find at Tractor Supply or other stores like them, try looking at landscaping places.
I'd like to Thank you very much for all the Info you gave me with this video. Because I just built myself a forge to use and needed to know what kind and where to get the coal for it. Plus you showed me that I still need to put a damper on my forge to control the air blowed to the coal for the right temp.
I have used the stuff a lot. Much much better than any wood based alternative! Only downside is it's usually not in stock so you have to buy bulk
All I use is tractor supply coal! The packaging is different, but from everything you said it seems to be the same stuff. Only sold during heating season here, so I bought a whole pallet! Hope it gets me through the summer! Define Your Legacy!
I just saw your video. Very interesting. I have a question. How long can i expect a small coal fire to last? What do you do with the lit coal if you are done forging for the day?
Your forge looks almost exactly like mine and i use tractor supply nut coal and it works great
It’s the only coal I use and it’s awesome! Also pine wood really helps getting it started. Pine wood burns really hot.
So, I just started forging. Used to use a wood fire with a blower to stoke it up. Worked great, built several nice knives and door handles.... just bought/built a coal forge and have several attempts over the course of 3 days to get anthracite lit, but it will not light. I use charcoal, paper, pine wood and lighter fluid with different rates of air flow and it will not light at all. It seems like lots of people use anthracite for forging, why is it not working for me?
Just ordered my first 2 bags, only used wood since I recently started. Thanks for the tip!
My lighting method is to start with a few regular BBQ charcoal briquettes. Light as you would if you were going to cook a burger on the forge (I use regular charcoal lighter fluid). When the briquettes are happily cooking away in roughly 10-15 minutes, top with the TS coal and start up the airflow. Pretty quickly you have a good forge fire. No fiddling or battles involved. I do find that airflow control is much more fiddly at times...it's easy (on my system) to add too much air and start cooling down your fire instead of heating it up.
Thanks for the good overview. I will be trying this soon. Ive been using hardwood lump coal but it doesn't get quite hot enough to weld.
Aaron Robinson n)
I am a firm believer in using bituminous coal but one of my friends turn me on to anthracite it is a very hot coal hard to light but I only went through one bag of coal blacksmithing all weekend I wouldn't be able to do that with bituminous good video and happy smithing.
Good to hear! It's great stuff
I've been using it almost exclusively, for around a year now. I use wood to get the fore going. It takes a little while, but it gets crazy hot. It's pretty nasty smelling stuff, so you've gotta make sure you have good ventilation. But I'm not a rich man, and it only makes perfect sense, when everything else is so much more expensive.
It's the hardest and the purest form of coal - should be the most heat. I really enjoy that it doesn't coke up, because then your fire is always a little more open/free. Thanks.
I am having trouble lighting the same coal in a small forge, what would you recommend to start a fire from scratch.
@@barroncohen295 I would recommend pine
Thank you for the infromation. I am getting ready to start building a coal forge and hopfully make a run at some blacksmithing.
Great vid. I bought much of my smithing equipment from a guy who's father was a pro smith in coal country. He spent his whole life burning anthracite and swore by it.
I had no idea that Tractor Supply sold nut sized anthracite until you mentioned it in your previous vid. I've been paying to get smithing coal shipped in, and often I'm forced to buy pea-sized which personally, I don't like. The nearest store that has it in stock is a bit of a drive, but I may just head over this weekend and pick up a bag or two to try; that price is crazy low; my mind can't process how cheap that is.
Give it a try - for the price it can't be beat! Thanks
I just use regular bbq coal
Tomaso Scalzo that’s charcoal
tsc does not stock it in lake worth,texas
@@edwardwhatley3968 I just moved from lake worth area lol
I haven't had much luck with tractor supply coal. I have tried mixing it with bituminous coal and that does seem to help but alone that stuff doesnt like to burn
Hi, thanks for the video. Saw it at TSC and wondered about it. Going to pick some up to help stretch out the bituminous that I have. One question though, what kind of blower do you have set up, I'm getting tired of cranking mine..thanks!
Great vid man. Your presentation is great.
Thank you!
I like it, my Tractor supply got a pallet by mistake so I bought a bag and I have Bituminous as well so as you showed I start the fire with Bituminous and add the nut coal. Tractor supply says they cannot get it cause its not on this regions floor plan, even if I buy the whole pallet. I think I'm gonna call corporate.
That's exactly the coal I use in my solid fuel forge. I agree that it is an excellent fuel especially when you consider the price.
Great video want cooking coal import in India but I don't find any supplier watch your video I liked & things its help for me
i live in pa and my tractor supply has year round but before that i got two truck loads of bit coal from a guy over a year ago that ill use first
Manuela & Mike Kucharczyk Lucky you! That bit coal isn’t as easy to find anymore.
Thank u for producing this video I’m just starting and experiencing and this is great to hear because I just bought two bags of it. And I dont know how much u got it for but I got it for pretty cheap
Works great, TSC usually has it $5-$6 per bag. Thanks!
If you have a side blast that pea works good .. and it ashes up nice it will clump up as it fires but again less klinkers and more ash ..
A cover works to prevent wind from causing problems
My area had two pallets of it (nut) left not sure if it would work well and being tight on funds I only bought one pallet which I got a great deal on for buying a whole pallet... After having used it for a bit I sure wish I would have got both as they were the last two they would ever get :(
I like the tractor supply coal, it works well, gets hot enough to weld with. Because it requires constant air, its also easier to shut it down. I have no problems getting it to start, but I also use charcoal and kindling to get it going
Good info. I just discovered your channel and subscribed. I've been looking for something like this to try forge welding a tomahawk. Thanks again.
This is KH BLACKSMITHING I just got done watching your video on anthracite coal. This is what I use I believe that I am getting a lot of clinkers. I am just starting out. Would you have any advice.
Is it good for cooking and home heat.
We heated and cooked on pot bellied
Stove in the late 50's long time ago.
I didn't know that there was but one kinda coal then, If you were hungry or cold you used it.
Now seems a dozen different kinds.
Only good for certain things.
England here: I use anthracite all the time - Welsh anthracite as it happens. It looks very similar to what you have here and the pieces a very similar size. They're called Anthracite Beans here in the UK.
Forge is a standard bottom draught firepot about 10 inches square. The air pipe is 2 inch diameter black iron pipe with a matching stainless steel pipe cap screwed onto the threaded pipe end. The cap is drilled with 5 x 5/16" holes.
How I light it: One full sheet of newspaper (just one) crunched into a loose ball, a palm-full of small sticks stacked as a wigwam shape onto the paper and light the paper with a lighter or match, with the air off initially, until the sticks begin to crackle. Then turn on a moderate air blow. As the sticks begin to burn and the wigwam collapses, arrange them into a neat burning pile (with the poker) and pile on just about a palm-full of lump charcoal. Then more or less immediately also carefully pile on a similar amount of anthracite. Keep the firepot around the fire filled up with fresh anthracite. Keep feeding in to the middle from the sides as the centre fuel slowly burns. The anthracite should have caught and be beginning to glow at about 5 minutes from first lighting.
Air blow: Anthracite will not burn without an air blast. However it will burn well with just a moderate air blow, even a fractional one (compared to some I see).
it's very economical. A 50kg (112 pound) sack of anthracite (about £17 or $25) lasts at least two weeks - say 60+ hours forging.
Blower: I use one of those air fans that are fitted under jacuzzi-type bathtubs. It was 2nd-hand on ebay for £30 (about $40 currently). It has a 2 inch outlet and is quite powerful on full speed - too powerful for a forge - would blow all the ash out of the pot. It is rated at 1/4 amp @ 230 volts.
I slowed down the air flow two ways. I fitted a 300 watt sliding dimmer switch in-line on the supply cable (that is just on a plug into the wall outlet). These dimmers are on ebay and are often used for domestic lamps. I have the dimmer on the lowest possible setting before cutting off, once the coal is lit and glowing. Also, I fitted an air choke (gate valve) on the iron piping below the forge. That is also set to a fairly minimum flow. The blower is still too powerful, even dimmed on the switch, without this choke.
I estimate the power usage over about 6 hours to be about 1 - 2 kw.
Finarfin I’m from the UK too, where do you buy it from?
Local coal merchant, here in the North West. Just Google for your local coal merchant. These anthracite beans are mainly sold for gravity feed domestic coal fires, so I believe.
Whereabouts are you?
I'm in kent, i just found a local coal supplier, thanks for the help
Good job. Kent used to have coal mines too of course, like the NW.
The anthracite would always have been South Wales anyway. Get anthracite beans, or sometimes called peas too. Don't get the large or even small nuts - they're too big for forges. The pieces are about the size of an end joint of one of your fingers, hard and shiny black.
Happy forging.
I am using the Tractor Supply nut coal. There are no coal sellers in my area so I tired this seems to work fine for me. I'm just an amateur blacksmith, however.
I like the rice sized coal over the nut coal. Works great in my forge.
Anyone in Michigan's Lower Peninsula would be well advised to also check out Family Farm and Home if Tractor Supply isn't in your area. They too sell anthracite coal, Blaschak brand. 40 pounds usually is around 6-7$. Sometimes the coal pops and crackles a bit more than I'd like, but all in all it's great stuff if you can't find genuine blacksmith coal.
David Meyer Pretty cool that you have Blaschak coal out there. I live about 10 mins from the breaker where it's mined. Burned their coal in my house for heat for a long time. I'm also real good friends with Tony Blashack the owner of the company.
Good deal thanks man!
West Mi here. Guess I’ll try to build ma forge soon. Have lots of detail needed in ma silo house build. Pease Out!
I had already tried it. And like you said: It is cheaper, it is easier to get, and it burns hot. Problem is, it burns too hot. I have antique equipment and forge in a historical manner for demonstrations. I worry about damaging my antique forges. I might mix in a bit but I'm not going to give up using bituminus smithing coal.
Just getting started myself need to get something to use as an anvil, already have the anthracite just need to build a dirt forge and go at it.
What do you think about the coal?mostly good or bits and pieces?
i bought a ton last year. i think it was 50 40lb bags. i agree about the heat. i would like to see more clinking but i wont complain. i did have an issue with 4 bags of the 50. Those 4 bags would not light or burn period. I even used them in an already hot fire and they didn't burn. Thats about 8% failure for this brand. i have 7 bags left and i would like to mix it with some Kentucky blue anthracite i got a few years ago. That stuff acted more like bituminous in some respects. i think they would pair well. nice video
WHERE CAN YOU BUY IT IN TEXAS?
No tractor supply within 100 miles of me has it.
I bought a bag of this as my first coal for forging and I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it to be a pain to get it to light. I will agree however that it burns NICE ....Once it burns ;D And yeah TSC is the place I was finding it for $6 a bag last year. Unfortunately, when I went back last week it's almost doubled in price. Guess I should have stocked up :D.
Thanks for the video exactly what I was looking for
Good to hear! Give a shout if you need any further assistance
Excellent demo. As much product you are going to sell Tractor Supply should send you a few tons.
Tank you . I'm now convinced to use anthracite
I can see where it would be nice for forge welding I'll have to give it a go
thanks for the info
Thank you for the video, it was helpful.
So if I have access to bituminous coal or coke to start the fire why not use that instead of anthracite is it cheaper or is heat control such a good advantage?
What forge billows/blower are you using?
I've got a squirrel cage motor from a furnace exhaust system. They are rated for continuous duty in hot environments. They work great for this sort of thing.
What blower do u use
I use a blower out of a furnace exhaust system. Rated for high temps and continuous duty. Can be found in any old oil heating system.
Thanks pal.. you may have saved me time and money and trouble 😉👍
Where have you been
i love working with anthracite. no smoke. and where i live, a 50lb bag of bituminous coal is $50-60. anthracite is $6.99 for a 40 lb bag.
So my forge lit up fine with a little lump charcoal and then fed coal to it. The coal got wet from being in my garage (frost). Now it won't light up... Any suggestions?
I use a hand crank blower for my forge, so unless I have a worker with me to just crank the blower, I’m gonna get tired out keeping it lit. So, I use lump charcoal with mine to help keep it going.
Perhaps the rice coal would be better suited for side blast forges?
I learned to and to this day work only with anthracite coal for my forge. Works well. but hes right, you have to be careful about your airflow
Does it form clinkers?
if you already have bituminous coal why would you use anthracite coal?
I use this all the time the only thing i disagree with is the clinks i get very few clinkers from this especially compared to the regular smithing coal
Trying to get a solid fuel forge up and running would love to use the anthracite, but I live in California and my tractor supply store won't sell or ship it, probably because of the environmental protection laws out here. Any ideas how I can get started without the coal? Or how I can get some here?
Natalia Grey yes. Get the hell out of that ch!tyy state
the coal i have access to is big as my fist and it is pretty flaky dull in color ,I was told it would make my steel fall apart . can i use this
Give it a try, and see what it does. Sometimes sulfur can really eat away at coal, but just give it a try and find out! Let me know how it works.
IWI... You are fortunate to have access to coal at such a great price. I only have access through mail order or drive 8 hours one way. it is not cheap.
Thanks for the video..
It needs a steady yet gentle draft, which will cause it to get hot and stay that way. Electric blower required, should the air stop it cools off quickly and takes a while to recover.
I've been using Anthracite at the forge for may years, since it was all I could get for the longest time.
Is this good for steam application?? Is it smokeless
Pretty much all coal is smokeless
Hi, one bag of 25 kg , does for much runs ,or much time ? I bought one 25 kg bag today for 26 euros and i will run my forge who i build but i not have experiente in metal forge,thanks
Thats a lot of nuts. Wish I could buy in my area
i used to work with anthracite i loved it but it makes me so sick everytime i use it i've been told that it has alot of mercury in it so people told me thats why i was getiing sick but i think it's the sulfer dioxide i don't know but i can't use it so i've been useing good quality smithing coal and i haven't gotten sick so thats good but the problem is it so freakin expensive
one time i was sick for 2 weeks because of the anthracite it sucked i was vomiting and my head hurt so bad my lungs burned and i could'nt stop coughing it was awful
The Soviet Blacksmith that sounds like Co2 poisoning. I use anthracite without any adverse effects. I've never heard of anthracite containing mercury.
there is 0.25 ppm of mercury in anthracite but that should'nt be enough to make anyone sick so your right it must've been something else
Make sure you have good ventilation and verify it with a CO/CO2 meter near head level where you work. Thanks.
ok that sounds like agood idea also i subbed c:
when I get mine from local yard it is damp inside to where the dust is as a past almost. how can I dry this stuff up ? and just today took 3 hours to light. then only lasted 1hr. Friday took 30 minutes was going good then just poof burned out.. finally how do I know when the coal can not light no more as far as the color ?? son and I are lost...
mat a 55
I think i've got the same kind of coal, but when i start the fire it smokes like crazy. Do you have this problem?
I use the same coal, and like it but does make a lot of clinker. I have never used smithing coal so don't have anything to compare to. I have to find a new source my local tractor supply has stopped selling coal. I have seen a pile at a local shop its in huge chunks 20 lbs or so, gonna give it a try later this week. Wish me luck cause I dont know of any other source in my area.
Whereabouts are you from? My TSC has also stopped carrying it - they said it was a seasonal item and they only ordered a small quantity. Sounds like a similar deal for you.
Im here in somerset KY, Ya prolly seasonal but they kept it all last year in the back. il find some where aint gunna order online that shits crazy priced.
Yeah, hopefully they will get the coal back in - it's real nice to work with. Thanks for the comment.
Is propane or coal better can you please do a video on that, thanks.
Great question, and great idea for a video!
Noah Cercone price? No brainier, it's why coal is still used in undeveloped countries. Just lookup BTU per lb for cost.
Very informative thank you
How do you shut down the coal fire when you are done?
Coal fires are quite simple - turn off the air supply, and let them die down. If you have a table on your forge, like mine in this video, spread out the coals so they cool off a bit quicker. Thanks for the comment
thank you good info
For me Smithing coal is 50$ for a 40lb bag and anthracite is 4$ for 40 lbs. so I go for anthracite. I really like it but my forge always looks like I was melting stuff into it the whole time but it’s all the ash fused together
I'm a total noob. I've hammered a little rebar at my Nephew's place. How smelly is this stuff? Would the whole neighborhood smell it?
What does a bag cost on average
I use it and it works good but I have to keep air on it all the time. But her in Minnesota they only stock it in winter. Here its 4.99 for 40lbs
Thanks for this video. Great information.
I would love to try this but all 4 tractor supply shops in my area don’t have it, do you know of another source? Near Tacoma wa.
Unfortunately, I do not. I have the same problem now as well. If you are looking for a lot of the stuff, Blaschak Coal Corp (the supplier to TSC) does ship semi-loads of the stuff. However, that would be a minimum of probably 6 full pallets of 40 bags. It seems many of the locations out west do not have access to this coal anymore. There is coal in Decker, MT and Gillette, WY, but that is all Powder River Basin sub-bituminous coal, vastly inferior to PA Anthracite. It'll work, but nothing beats anthracite. Thanks for the comment - let me know anything else I can help with.
Anthracite is the top grade of coal with bituminous just below it. This is the coal that comes out of the PA, WV, and Oh hills. If you do your own smelting this is what you want because it burns so hot.
Nice video mr.!
Hmm didn't know about nut coal, I been doing experiment with pomagrant, I believe it has potential to be a coal alternative.
How did it work
How does itwork
Do you get it at TSC?
Yes.