Heads up on propane vs coal forges for new folks

I ran both a propane ribbon burner and a coal fire pot for a solid year on the same projects. The propane setup cost about $300 more upfront, but the control is night and day. I can hold a perfect welding heat on a 2-inch bar for over 20 minutes with the gas forge, something I could never manage with coal without burning the steel. For precision work like toolmaking, the steady heat from propane is a game changer. Anyone else make this switch and find they waste less material?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_smith23d ago

My buddy's scrap pile shrank after he switched to gas.

the_nina22d ago

Ha, my uncle's shop did the exact opposite!