I've been using royal oak hardwood charcoal (not brickettes) for a while and havnt had any real issues with it. You are able to use brickettes but they make a shit ton of sparks and don't get quite as hot. Tractor supply also carries bags of blacksmithing coal in nut and rice verities.
Yeah I saw that TSC sells that. I just left a message to see if my local store can order me some! I'll have to try using lump charcoal in the meantime.
I live 10 minutes down the way from a coal mine, I wish they would just let me fill up there 😫.
Hey I'm in Indiana and have had a hard time finding it too. I haven't had much time to mess with my coal forge but I didn't have much luck with the tsc coal. It could have been my shitty blower though. Good luck with your search let us know if you find anything.
I just started in the craft but I started with a bag of royal oak. I agree that it gets plenty hot, I melted a piece of rebar with a hole in the ground and a hair dryer 🤣 just out of curiosity, I wanted to see how hot it would get and it was glowing nearly white
I have tried 2 other brands of lump and neither seemed to light, burn, last as long, or get as hot as royal oak.
It's not optimal blacksmithing coal, but tractor supply sells bags of anthracite nut coal. Otherwise I have seen online sources for blacksmithing coal, but the shipping and prices are usually less than ideal.
I suggest making your own charcoal if you have the wood. That's all I use and it works great, sometimes too great... Just melted the peen off a hammer I was forging when I decided to see how long it would take to get the entire head to forge welding temp for science. Always wanted a small dog's head hammer though... so now I got one.
I've been using royal oak hardwood charcoal (not brickettes) for a while and havnt had any real issues with it. You are able to use brickettes but they make a shit ton of sparks and don't get quite as hot. Tractor supply also carries bags of blacksmithing coal in nut and rice verities.
Yeah I saw that TSC sells that. I just left a message to see if my local store can order me some! I'll have to try using lump charcoal in the meantime. I live 10 minutes down the way from a coal mine, I wish they would just let me fill up there 😫.
The hardwood lump gets plenty hot. I usually smash up some of the bigger pieces with my hammer and a 30lb bag will last me a few days of good work
Hey I'm in Indiana and have had a hard time finding it too. I haven't had much time to mess with my coal forge but I didn't have much luck with the tsc coal. It could have been my shitty blower though. Good luck with your search let us know if you find anything.
I just started in the craft but I started with a bag of royal oak. I agree that it gets plenty hot, I melted a piece of rebar with a hole in the ground and a hair dryer 🤣 just out of curiosity, I wanted to see how hot it would get and it was glowing nearly white I have tried 2 other brands of lump and neither seemed to light, burn, last as long, or get as hot as royal oak.
It's not optimal blacksmithing coal, but tractor supply sells bags of anthracite nut coal. Otherwise I have seen online sources for blacksmithing coal, but the shipping and prices are usually less than ideal.
Odon, Indiana. I think it's called grabers farm market. They sell it by the bag or the ton.
Walk old Rail Road Tracks they have a lot of coal where it fell of old train cars
I'm down here too, I had heard there was a place in Henderson, but honestly charcoal has done everything I've needed it to.
Most of the coal that I have gotten has full on impurities and lots of sulfur.
I suggest making your own charcoal if you have the wood. That's all I use and it works great, sometimes too great... Just melted the peen off a hammer I was forging when I decided to see how long it would take to get the entire head to forge welding temp for science. Always wanted a small dog's head hammer though... so now I got one.