Coal vs gas forge debate: which one actually produces better steel? I got roasted for saying gas

I've been forging for about 8 years now, started on a hand-me-down coal forge my uncle gave me, then switched to a gas forge maybe 5 years ago because I got tired of dealing with clinkers and smoke. Lately I've been hearing old timers say coal forges give you way better control over the steel's carbon content, and that gas forges are just for hobbyists who don't know real blacksmithing. But in my experience, my gas forge has been way more consistent for heat treating knives and tools, I can dial in the temp way better. I've had a few sessions where the coal forge left hot spots that ruined a blade, costing me like $40 in steel each time. On the other hand, I see guys on YouTube getting amazing results with coal and saying gas makes steel brittle. So what do you all think, is coal actually superior or is it just nostalgia? Has anyone here tested both side by side on the same project?

2 comments

2 Comments

umaprice3d ago

My 5 year old propane forge has NEVER given me the same depth of color as my old coal setup.

bailey.sam3d ago

Is it the color of the steel itself you're talking about, or the color of the flame? Because those are two totally different things, and I've seen a lot of folks mix them up. I'm guessing you mean the steel's color, like that deep orange or yellow you'd get from a coal fire that just seems to pop different under the hammer. What kind of burner setup are you running on the propane forge, and how many jets does it have? Most of the time when people say they miss coal color, it's because their propane setup is running way too lean or rich and not really dialed in right for even heat distribution.