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Posted by Anlon on March 27, 2008, 11:22 am
Please log in for more thread options I have tried using a torch and couldn't get my coal started no matter how
long I tried. I went back to my wad of newspaper and in 10 minutes I was
beating metal. Of course my favorite way is to use live coals from a wood
fire.
As far as coal vs coke I have tried to start fires with both coke from the
previous day and commercial coke and it is just too much work. so I start my
fires with coal and then swithch to coke. Besides by using coal to start the
fire the entire neighborhood knows "Melvin is at it again". Plus you ain't
blacksmithin' without a few lungs full of sulphur!!
I will be helping teach a basic blacksmithing class the next two Saturdays
in Kansas City. We limit it to 10 students. We have a triple forge in the
shop where the class is held (it's at the K.C. Ren Fest site), two are on
electric blowers and one is on a bellows. For the rest of the students we
set up an assortment of portable forges around the shop, haul out anvils and
vises and let them have at it. Our classes last from 8:00 until 4:00 both
Saturdays.
Melvin
> Aw Carl, you're making your life difficult.
>
> I was not a boy scout, and I can't light a fire for quids... the normal
> way.
>
> These days I use a hand held bottle mapp gas torch, how lazy is this the
> torch lights with the press of a button, and a solid fuel fire can be
> running in about 2-5 minutes.
>
> Sure it's a cheat, but I like to be up and running, quickly ;-)
>
>
> Regards Charles
>
> Carl West wrote:
>> If you can build and light a wood fire, you can learn to light a coal
>> fire.
>>
>> I run coal/coke forges, I can get four forges lit in 15 minutes just
>> using wads of newspaper.
>>
>> If the smith* brought industrial coke and he wasn't used to it, that
>> could explain his difficulty. When I used it in Pittsburgh, it was a
>> royal pain to light. Much denser than the stuff we make on the forge.
>>
>> - Carl
>
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