What burns hotter coal or propane?

It has one indisputable advantage over gas: It gets much hotter. Glowing coals are at a temperature of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit; while gas burns at around 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, there's very little radiant heat from the flames.

Is a coal or propane forge better?

If you're interested in working smaller pieces of metal such as making knives, horse shoes, etc., a gas forge will be a good choice. On the other hand, if you're interested in traditional skills, and/or might want to forge larger projects — a coal forge may be right for you.

What is the best fuel for a forge?

Coal and propane are the most typical fuels used in blacksmith forges. On the East Coast, coal is readily available and therefore more affordable than on the West Coast. Coal burns more efficiently and hotter than wood. Because of its efficiency, the volume of coal needed is substantially less, too.

Can charcoal get hot enough to forge?

Solid fuel forges

Coal is a preferable heat source because it burns slowly and efficiently, while charcoal burns hotter and more quickly. Some blacksmiths prefer to make their own coal from wood by creating a hot campfire and dousing it with water.

What kind of coal do blacksmiths use?

Bituminous is the coal-of-choice for the blacksmith. It is a soft, mid-grade, black coal. Mined from deeper mines than lignite, it burns much more cleanly. When burning coal in the forge, we keep a “stock pile” of wet coal on the sides of the fire.

Choose Your Forge: Coal VS Propane | Making a Propane Forge Perform Better

How hot can a coal forge get?

Blacksmiths cook the coal until most of the impurities are burned off. The result is coke, a fuel that is almost entirely carbon allowing us to reach temperature of 3,000 to 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the core of the fire! Fire this hot can quickly get the metal up to welding temperatures at about 2,500 degrees.

What is the hottest forge fuel?

Coal typically burns the hottest of them all, so if you're looking to work with metals with high melting points, a coal solid fuel forge is ideal for you.

How hot will a propane forge get?

The combustion temperature of propane is 1,967 degrees F for combustion with air and 2,526 degrees for combustion with pure oxygen (The Engineering ToolBox). Typical forge welding temperatures for a propane forge are accepted as 2,300 degrees F, and common forging can be accomplished at a lower temperature.

Can you use coke in a forge?

Coal, coke or charcoal may be used as fuel. Charcoal is very clean and there is little to contaminate the metal. It is of low density, however, and greater amounts must be burnt to provide enough heat for bigger jobs. Little air blast is required, but it is still a very expensive form of fuel for the smith's work.

Can I use a BBQ as a coal forge?

A cheap barbecue makes a surprisingly effective forge. The tube is attached to a camp-bed inflator fan which pumps air through the charcoal to superheat it.

What is coke blacksmithing?

Uses. Coke can be used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. The carbon monoxide produced by combustion of coke reduces iron oxide (hematite) to produce iron: . Coke is commonly used as fuel for blacksmithing.

How do I make my forge hotter?

How hot does a forge need to be to melt steel?

The melting point of iron alloys and the melting point of steel, occur at higher temperatures, around 2,200-2,500 Fahrenheit (°F) / 1,205-1,370 Celsius (°C).

Does kerosene help forge welding?

A new method of fluxing is to use Kerosene. By soaking the pieces in Kerosene before heating, you coat the surfaces in the oily liquid. When the steel is put into the forge, the Kerosene burns off, leaving a layer of carbon coating the surface, which inhibits oxidisation.

What is the strongest metal to forge?

Tungsten, which is Swedish for "heavy stone," is the strongest metal in the world. It was identified as a new element in 1781. It is commonly used to make bullets and missiles, metal evaporation work, manufacturing of paints, creating electron and Television tubes, and making glass to metal seals.

What is the strongest steel to forge with?

Titanium. Titanium is the preferred alloy for applications where high strength is required. Titanium is an excellent metal for the forging process, and its high melting point makes it an ideal fit to work with other metals that melt at a lower temperature. Titanium is one of the strongest metals in the world.

Are propane forges worth it?

Propane forge is arguably the best type of forge for beginner blacksmiths. They are affordable, easy to clean, easy to use, and can keep a constant temperature at ease.

What is the best refractory for a forge?

Insulation Spun Ceramic Insulation (Kaowool) is the most efficient material for lining a forge. ITC-100 This ceramic refractory coating is one of key ingredients to achieving forge - welding temperatures. An application of ITC-100 is equivalent to an additional inch of insulation.

Why is propane better than coal?

When grilling with charcoal, more carcinogens, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), end up in your food. With charcoal grills, the fat that drips from the meat creates much more smoke than propane grills, coating your food with carcinogenic PAHs.

What kind of coke is used for forging?

Premium Metallurgical COKE burns much hotter and cleaner than coal. Especially processed and sized for use in blacksmith and farrier forges. This is the official coke of some of the best blacksmithing and farrier organizations on the continent, and a favorite for competition settings.

Why do you put coal in coke?

Coke, you see, is an ideal fuel for this industry. If you would burn plain coal in blast furnaces, you would produce massive amounts of smoke from all of those impurities that were burned off in the coke-making process. So coke not only generates intense heat, it is also nearly smokeless.

What PSI should I run my forge?

The burners can run efficiently across a pressure range of 3- 20 PSI.