Why does nobody talk about how coal quality matters more than your forge design?

I spent 6 months fighting with inconsistent heat on a brand new Rivendale forge until a guy in Alabama told me to switch from low-grade bituminous to Pocahontas #3, and my welds came out clean on the first try - has anyone else noticed the difference with different coal sources?

2 comments

2 Comments

christopher_west11mo ago

Switched from some random Kentucky coal to a cleaner anthracite last year and it was like night and day for my heat control. Had a buddy insist his forge design was the problem until he tried a different supplier and suddenly his blades came out perfect. Probably explains why old timers always fought about where their coal came from more than their equipment.

james6611mo ago

$20 says his buddy still has a bag of that Kentucky stuff sitting in his shed, refusing to admit it's the coal's fault.