Choosing between a propane forge and a coal forge for my first shop setup in Spokane.

I went with propane for the cleaner burn and easier temperature control, but I'm wondering if I missed out on the traditional feel and metal quality some say coal provides.

3 comments

3 Comments

henry3151mo ago

My first forge back in Montana was a coal setup, and I swore by it for years. After moving to a tighter space, I switched to propane and honestly the control is just better for most projects. You can still get a great heat on the metal without all the smoke and ash to deal with. That traditional feel is nice, but I don't miss the extra cleanup one bit.

jakeb251mo ago

My buddy's garage still smells like coal.

phoenix2927d ago

Does that cleaner burn actually make a difference in the final weld quality on bigger projects, or is it mostly about not choking on smoke? I've heard guys swear coal gives a better carbon atmosphere for certain steels, like when you're forging a blade or heavy duty tool. Have you ever done a side by side test with the same piece of steel, one in each forge, to see if you can feel a difference in how it moves under the hammer? Or is that just old timer talk with no real bite behind it?