I use anthracite bc I can buy it at tsc. It burns HOT. One time I left a railroad spike in it a little to long. When I pulled it out I had half a spike left.
Hey hey Roy, just sharing my experience... I use anthracite exclusively and as you said I start it with charcoal to get it started and use a blow dryer on low to keep it going. I can adjust/ fine tune the air volume by adjusting the clean out gate opening. Overall, it works nicely and I appreciate the clean burn. In terms of temperature, it gets plenty hot and often too hot as I have burned a few billets:))). At $12 bucks per 50 pound bag and readily available here locally, it!s hard to beat -at least for me...take care and god bless
anthracite, is almost pure carbon, its denser and slower burning, there is a reason it is called heating coal, it burns slower lasts longer and burns cleaner, that said its also found in fewer places to be mined, and the need for high draft is why few railroads used it in their engines in the steam era, took a very shallow firebox to keep a good draft on the anthracite to keep it burning, and it takes forever to get going it was said.
No disrespect towards the rules of reality but the coal should catch on fire faster "Because" of its high carbon content and energy density. Lets have a chat with the gods of time and earth to change the rules of coal.
I am a novice back yard smith who just started. On the other hand, I have used anthracite to heat my home for many years. Anthracite fires must be started using charcoal, or there are specialized anthracite fire starter packs. Anthracite does not start with just a bit of paper as the guy in the video saw. Also, anthracite needs such a massive volume of air flow to get started and to stay lit. Soft coal needs far less oxygen. Rick and others (below) mentioned using a blow dryer and other things to solve the air flow problem. I hooked up an old shop vac on the exhaust side. Without that air flow, the fire goes out. In a home furnace, it takes a little less air flow, but a forge fire is much smaller in size than in a home furnace and the fire in a forge will go out quicker if the air is cut off. My home furnace used the size "rice" coal, but I have been using "nut" coal in the forge. I think smaller sizes of anthracite coal might have some advantages in staying lit, but I am not sure. I might try a small size anthracite in the forge.
Just as an aside I have been using a mixture of the 2 for years. I Had a hard time getting bituminous coal. I also have recently been making my own charcoal because it is getting harder to get coal near where I live.
Just tried my luck at making charcoal yesterday,going out to check on it after this cup of coffee.I started a fire in my new forge with some big chunks of coal from a 100 somthing year old delapidated house ,coal pile dreggs ,i dont know what type it is ,but i am going back with a rake ,and shovel for the remainder of it.Nice series of vids here,very informative ,new hobbyist here ,still working on my setup .
I tried anthracite since it is way cheaper and I can get it at the tractor store. It is a pain to light, the first time it went out after I had it burning. I don't like it either, but i have three bags so maybe it will get easier the more I try it.
Big Al try what he said in the video. Start your fire with real wood charcoal first. Use light air to start because the charcoal will burn out too fast to get the anthracite going. After a few minutes on low air turn it up to full air. An electric blower with good pressure (cheap 1/8 hp inflatable blower works amazing with a $7 air gate) will change the way you see it. Either way, the real trick is to start with low air and anthracite piled on top of wood charcoal. The real drawback is that you can’t create a cave with it like you can with bituminous. Also, you can’t bank your fire and come back to it an hour later and start it right up. The benefits are a much cleaner fire with almost no visible smoke and lots of heat. Also, you don’t need to control the fire with water on the coal. It will only burn provided you give it lots of air. If you reduce air the fire shrinks...if you increase air the fire grows. All fuels have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s what you produce with it that matters.
Purgatory Iron works has a good vid on making Charcoal for those who are interested, if your in the Atlanta area, specifically the East side, Sidney Lee Welding Supply in Conyers Ga sells smithing coal at a VERY reasonable price, even though they just went up on it.
I cannot for the life of me find anthracite coal for sale in canada. Anybody with a place or connection that knows where and how to get it, that would be greatly appreciated!
Anthracite coal is superior in every way. It is not Match Light charcoal. Perhaps consider contacting a blacksmith in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Better yet take a trip there.
@@grimcat27 Anthracite is harder and has less sulfur gas. It burns cleaner but it is harder to keep lit. You almost need a constant blower and therefore can burn more coal per hour. It is hotter in the center but cooler on the outside of the pile. Bituminous coal burns hot in the middle with gradients toward the outside of the pile, that's how you can coke more coal while forging. Think of Anthracite like a light switch, On/Off and Bituminous like a dimmer switch.
I use anthracite bc I can buy it at tsc. It burns HOT. One time I left a railroad spike in it a little to long. When I pulled it out I had half a spike left.
Hey hey Roy, just sharing my experience... I use anthracite exclusively and as you said I start it with charcoal to get it started and use a blow dryer on low to keep it going. I can adjust/ fine tune the air volume by adjusting the clean out gate opening. Overall, it works nicely and I appreciate the clean burn. In terms of temperature, it gets plenty hot and often too hot as I have burned a few billets:))). At $12 bucks per 50 pound bag and readily available here locally, it!s hard to beat -at least for me...take care and god bless
Now I am not a expert but the Coal was very small the Anthricite are ver large, being almost 20 x bigger. Would this not affect its ability to light?
Anthracite is the best coal because it burns cleaner hotter and longer
anthracite, is almost pure carbon, its denser and slower burning, there is a reason it is called heating coal, it burns slower lasts longer and burns cleaner, that said its also found in fewer places to be mined, and the need for high draft is why few railroads used it in their engines in the steam era, took a very shallow firebox to keep a good draft on the anthracite to keep it burning, and it takes forever to get going it was said.
No disrespect towards the rules of reality but the coal should catch on fire faster "Because" of its high carbon content and energy density. Lets have a chat with the gods of time and earth to change the rules of coal.
Great visual comparison!
I am a novice back yard smith who just started. On the other hand, I have used anthracite to heat my home for many years. Anthracite fires must be started using charcoal, or there are specialized anthracite fire starter packs. Anthracite does not start with just a bit of paper as the guy in the video saw. Also, anthracite needs such a massive volume of air flow to get started and to stay lit. Soft coal needs far less oxygen. Rick and others (below) mentioned using a blow dryer and other things to solve the air flow problem. I hooked up an old shop vac on the exhaust side. Without that air flow, the fire goes out. In a home furnace, it takes a little less air flow, but a forge fire is much smaller in size than in a home furnace and the fire in a forge will go out quicker if the air is cut off. My home furnace used the size "rice" coal, but I have been using "nut" coal in the forge. I think smaller sizes of anthracite coal might have some advantages in staying lit, but I am not sure. I might try a small size anthracite in the forge.
anthracite is way more efficient, though it seems like on a small scale its tougher to handle. so anthracite for power generation, not black smithing
I use anthracite with a hand blower with a rivot forge you just need to get used to it
If you break the Anthracite up into smaller similar size pieces, it may work a little better. I have seen people use it successfully.
Have you tried using pinecones to start your coal?
I like the side by side view. Very col tool for learning. 👍👍
Just as an aside I have been using a mixture of the 2 for years. I Had a hard time getting bituminous coal. I also have recently been making my own charcoal because it is getting harder to get coal near where I live.
Just tried my luck at making charcoal yesterday,going out to check on it after this cup of coffee.I started a fire in my new forge with some big chunks of coal from a 100 somthing year old delapidated house ,coal pile dreggs ,i dont know what type it is ,but i am going back with a rake ,and shovel for the remainder of it.Nice series of vids here,very informative ,new hobbyist here ,still working on my setup .
Is it better to cook hamburger with coal or charcoal?
I tried anthracite since it is way cheaper and I can get it at the tractor store. It is a pain to light, the first time it went out after I had it burning. I don't like it either, but i have three bags so maybe it will get easier the more I try it.
Big Al try what he said in the video. Start your fire with real wood charcoal first. Use light air to start because the charcoal will burn out too fast to get the anthracite going. After a few minutes on low air turn it up to full air. An electric blower with good pressure (cheap 1/8 hp inflatable blower works amazing with a $7 air gate) will change the way you see it. Either way, the real trick is to start with low air and anthracite piled on top of wood charcoal. The real drawback is that you can’t create a cave with it like you can with bituminous. Also, you can’t bank your fire and come back to it an hour later and start it right up. The benefits are a much cleaner fire with almost no visible smoke and lots of heat. Also, you don’t need to control the fire with water on the coal. It will only burn provided you give it lots of air. If you reduce air the fire shrinks...if you increase air the fire grows. All fuels have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s what you produce with it that matters.
Bit choo muss containing bitumen? Not sure what you’re saying
bituminous not bimutimus is what you said???
Purgatory Iron works has a good vid on making Charcoal for those who are interested, if your in the Atlanta area, specifically the East side, Sidney Lee Welding Supply in Conyers Ga sells smithing coal at a VERY reasonable price, even though they just went up on it.
I cannot for the life of me find anthracite coal for sale in canada. Anybody with a place or connection that knows where and how to get it, that would be greatly appreciated!
I'm going to buy you a bag of Anthricite coal for your birthday to make knives with! LOL....
Thanks for the video...
Lol have I been that bad ??? Lol
what kind of coal do they extract gas from?
Cool video
Anthracite coal is superior in every way. It is not Match Light charcoal. Perhaps consider contacting a blacksmith in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Better yet take a trip there.
❤❤❤❤
I don't think it was anthracite coal, it should have had blue flame
2022
Anyone noticed camera's shadow 😀
The struggle is real LoL
People in NYC cook pizza with anthracite. I would not try that with bituminous coal.
"buh" + "TYOO" + "muh" + "nuhs
Coal is a great source of heat fuel.
repeat after me: *BUY-TOO-MIN-UHS*
By-toom-ah-nis,,,,,not whatever you're trying to say. Anthracite is far superior as a fuel. Needs a draft from the bottom.
^5
this guy is WRONG
And why is he wrong is the millone dollar question.
@@grimcat27 Anthracite is harder and has less sulfur gas. It burns cleaner but it is harder to keep lit. You almost need a constant blower and therefore can burn more coal per hour.
It is hotter in the center but cooler on the outside of the pile. Bituminous coal burns hot in the middle with gradients toward the outside of the pile, that's how you can coke more coal while forging.
Think of Anthracite like a light switch, On/Off and Bituminous like a dimmer switch.
So many problems with this video.
you don't pronunce it correctly
ruclips.net/video/eT5Yjp7XpuE/видео.html