Why I Use a Coal Forge Over a Gas Forge 

To the point, appreciate it. Makes all the sense in the world. Sometimes simplicity can create the greatest things. Nice looking shop

This is the first time i have seen a panoramic view of your shop work space. Looks nice how you have the room to spread all your work station out. God Bless

Coal forge is definitely the best option in my humble opinion...good stuff Roy

Yep! I have a two-burner gas forge sitting next to my coal forge, and I use my coal forge 98% of the time, for all the reasons you clearly stated.

I have that same blower on my forge. I love it. I do not have access to coke though so i forge with hedge also known as osage orange.

Good info. I just dont own enough space or have the setup to support a coal forge. Maybe some day.

Very helpful and definitely useful video. Thanks so much Roy. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge On. God Bless.

For sure! Just trying to put a odd big piece in a propane forge opening and when it doesn’t fit after you bent it you wish you had a coal forge. I wish I had coal from time to time.

oh Roy I see your surprised me with the Splat bowl video😁

Just picked up a coal forge from centaur forge. Can't wait to get it set up!

Totally true about space restrictions on gas forges. It is also hard to get to welding temperature, but in the city, it is all I can have. I got the Artist Deluxe gas forge from Majestic, it has an opening for larger work. I have a small coal forge at my parents' house because they are in the country.

Well said, seems to me to always be right tool for the job at hand. 👏

I have both Roy, a simple single burner cylinder type gas forge that works very well and a charcoal coke forge thats my workhorse! I love both , they do the job they are capable of but just enjoy using the solid fuel forge so much more! Having extreme hearing issues also plays a part, solid fuel is just so much quieter!

Not having a home shop (live in an apartment) I use what ever I can, when ever I can, and plan my forging around that. Remember to all you newbies, all it takes is a heat source, a solid block of steel work surface to pound it on, a good hammer and a way to manipulate the material

Thanks for the introduction to Holland Anvils. I pulled the trigger and ordered a stump anvil from them. They were out of the 66lbs swage so I guess when my wife lets me out of the dog house I will start saving up for that. 🤣

Nice shop! great open layout. Thanks for the mini-tour. I continue to consider the use of a solid fuel forge. I have to consider neighbours that are less than 50 ft away...

Once I got a coal forge I have never been back to my propane much unless it’s a situation that requires it. And my propane forge is a chili 🌶 habanero.great forge , but the coal is so much better !

Great advice Roy thanks

Good stuff roy, im still at the mercy of the weather if i use my coal forge. I'd rather use it primarily but as winter goes the heat off my gas forge makes it cozy in the shop period but I agree the versatility of the coal Forge is second to none

Speaks truth. Good vid.

Thank you Roy!

I love my gas forge but I’m working on a new coal forge for all these reasons I need it for a bunch of things

Thanks for sharing. Life is not as absolute as people seem to like to represent.

I use both. Just depends on the project that I’m working on. I use gas mostly but I have the option when needed.

Do you have a video on how to use a call forge properly? I would love to see one!

Totally agree. Being able to really focus high heat in small areas is key... not only that, but a skilled coalsmith can "breathe" with a bellow or blower to make the burn fuel rich, and lessen oxidization. When i first started, i had made a coal forge from a cast iron pot, and a wheelbarrow. Other people told me that i couldnt do certain things in it like heat treat 52100, or forge weld stainless sanmai... i did all of the things they said i couldnt, and more. That forge eventually died, but it taught me a lot. Mainly that the gas forge is NOT always superior. I still miss that forge. I saved the handmade hotplate and it hangs above my gas forge to remind me where i came from.

I started with charcoal havent used coal but being able to spot heat and also forge oddshaped objects. For knife making propane is great if u have forced air. I do want to make garage set up for safe indoor coal forge.

personally i prefer my gas forge and i do have both. its much quicker to light which is great for a lazy teen like me. i can multi task and do big batch projects quickly and it also doesn't cover me with filth :)

I am ALMOST complete with my new forge built like that c shaped one you have. This past week I had to decide if I wanted reline "the hot sub" the one im currently using, if I wanted to move "one hot momma" which is my biggest forge from my home shop to my new building, if I wanted to use "little Pompeii" for a bit which is my coal forge, or if I wanted to build one that would accommodate scroll work. So I built new and it is all complete except for the burner. And I believe I will make a stainless steel ribbon burner without use of refractory for the burner. I'm on a fence here, but I think I will do some milling today and tomorrow and make a water cooled ribbon burner from a piece of 4" round stainless. I'll have to go get a pump today, and it will be a bit more of a project, but it would be nice if i could come out with a burner that never requires any maintenance for the next several years. Wish me luck. Gah so much to do today.

That's my next step. Not sure if I trust me building one. Lol It's going to hurt cutting a hole in my shop, for a min

Coal forge can use charcoal as well and you can make your own charcoal in a pinch.

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What are the dimensions of your coal forge? Do you have any recommendations on where to get a good coal forge these days? Thanks Roy for all your work.

I love coal but living in northern california it's harder to get good coal than in most other states. I've been burned one too many times ordering a ton of coal and getting the worst, nastiest, most sulfer filled coal imaginable. So I've been using my gas forge. Just easier to get the fuel for it, but I prefer coal for the reasons you stated. There's a blacksmith shop around here that sells coal but it's 45$ for 50 pounds, so I save it for special projects that I can't easily fit in the propane.

I use gas and coal but I much prefer coal. The gas forge is handy if I’m doing a bunch of small hooks or things because I can toss them all in at once and they won’t burn or get lost. But I use the coal more than gas. Gas is also handy if your heat treating things. It’s on and off with a couple turns of a valve and a blower

I personally use the coal forge more than the gas forge. It costs me a lot less. I use both because I have both. It is a lot easier to use the gas than the coal and you don't have to worry about burning the steel if you turn away for a moment. It is easy for me to get coal cheap here where I live.

Hi there Im planing on building a coal forge. How thick should the firepot be so it does not melt? Thank you for your time

How do you deal with the smoke in a enclosed space with no sort of hood vent type setup?

Can you offer some suggestions (or maybe do a video on) an entry level coal forge, similar to the ones you did on the Mr. Volcano? I spent 2 years working on coal forges with the Vista Forge group, but since moving to Ohio, I'm on my own. I really don't want to drop $1k on something from Centaur Forges, but I'm also a bit too spoiled to dig a hole in the yard and fill it full of Kingsford. Any suggestions?

has anyone tried a gas /coal or coke combo forge ? thanking about trying to build one just to see , what do you think ?

I 🖤 COAL!!!!

Where can you find coal for the forge?

Hey Ray do you have a video on how to use a coal forge efficiently? I struggle with exactly how to cover the steel and keep the fire controlled well. Also, do you think coal has bad health affects to your lungs vs a gas forge?

Question- can you use wood instead of coal?

Most (new smiths) use Gas Forges...Because they are easy to get going They're clean (er).... Easier to Learn on (coal takes time to master properly) .... Plus Propane is readily available..... Gas forges are used by primarily Farriers and...Knife Makers

Where would you get a coal forge like that?

Which is cheaper on fuel

Is it cheaper to use coal or propane? I don't really know where to get coal in my area and judging by the prices to order it online it's pretty expensive.

Will a coal forge get to hot to work under a deck with metal roof, say 8' away from coals?

good idea, however if you have a space smaller than a garage, you can't really go for one

I can't find black smithing coal out west any ideas

Maybe l'm weird, but l love the smell of the coal forge. Also, it's way guieter than my gas forge.

I'm down here in southeastern ohio, mind if I ask where you get your coal from? Im having issues finding it.

where did you get your forge?

Prefer my coal forge also

Wish solid fuel fires weren't illegal here!