Warning: My stop at a roadside forge museum showed me a common coal mistake.

I pulled over at a small forge museum on a drive through the countryside last week. The guide said many beginners use wet coal which causes poor heat and more smoke. What's the best way to prep coal for a consistent fire in your experience?

2 comments

2 Comments

lucas2061mo ago

What's the trick to getting the dampness just right without making it smoke? @beth_thompson52 is onto something with a little dampness slowing the burn. I wet my coal until a squeezed handful just sticks together, then let it sit for an hour. That bit of water seems to keep the heat steady, especially for jobs like drawing out long bars where you need even temps. If it's too dry, the fire jumps around and wastes fuel. But soaked coal just steams and chokes the fire out.

beth_thompson521mo ago

Is it just the type of coal you're using? I mean, dry coal is usually the way to go, but I've found bone dry stuff can sometimes burn too fast and hot for me. I actually get a more even fire if my coal has a tiny bit of dampness to it, not soaked, but just a little. Maybe it's just my old forge, but a consistent fire for me is more about managing the air flow than worrying if every single piece is totally dry.