Coal vs charcoal for my forge was a night and day difference

I always used charcoal from the hardware store because it was easy to get. Finally tried a 50 pound bag of bituminous coal from a supplier in Ohio last month. Heats up way faster and holds temp way steadier than charcoal ever did. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a big difference in their welding heat?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora_campbell6618d ago

Respectfully, I see it a little differently. In my experience, charcoal has its own advantages depending on what you're doing. For forge welding, yeah, coal gets hotter and holds temp more consistently, but for general shaping and getting steel up to a nice orange for bending or drawing out, charcoal works just fine and is way more forgiving if you're new. Coal can be tricky to get the fire right without clinkers and ash buildup messing with your airflow. Charcoal's also a lot easier to find locally without having to order a 50 pound bag from out of state. Your mileage may vary, but I've done solid work with both and it really depends on your setup and what you're making.

kim.stella18d ago

You ever had a buddy try to weld with charcoal soaked in lighter fluid? My friend Dave thought he was being clever saving money on fuel. Fire looked great for about ten minutes, then he had a forge full of sticky ash and a half melted project. He spent the rest of the afternoon chipping crud off his work. Swears he's still finding bits of charcoal grit in his shop floor cracks.