Amateur Blacksmithing - Clinker removal from a coke forge

As you use a blacksmith's coke forge, the impurities in the coke will melt and stick together forming a vitrified mass that can stick to your workpiece and also obstruct the air flow into your forge.
Quite often you will have to shut down your forge and clear the clinker as you go.
Basically, whenever you go to light your forge you need to remove any clinker formed from the previous use.
The amount of clinker is dependent of the amount of impurities in the coke which can vary from bag to bag....

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Forge On
Keep Forge lit.
Keep Making.
God bless.

[@ForgingAheadArtisanBlacksmith]

I haven't used a coke or coal forge before, just propane and induction. At close look it seems the clinker has a look similar to putting flux on your work piece for forge welding. Flux similarly forms a glassy mess when I am smelting. I am wondering if it is a similar effect especially since you mentioned silica. I appreciate the close-up look at it. I have considered in the past building or modifying a smaller hand crank rivet forge just for quick localized heats on small or thin material. This information gets me closer to moving in that direction.

[@theamateurblacksmith]

A coke forge is well worth building - it is easy, all you need is a blower and some coke.
You'll find a coke forge is hotter than a gas forge, and as a result you have to keep a close eye on your work piece to prevent it from burning.