14
Changed my coal forge setup after a workshop in Kentucky
Used to just pile the coal up and blast air. Figured more air meant hotter fire. Worked okay for basic stuff. Then I went to a workshop at the Appalachian Blacksmith Center. The instructor there, a guy named Carl, showed us how to build a proper firepot shape. He said, 'You want a heart, not a hill.' Started building a deeper, narrower fire with a good coke bed. Night and day difference. The heat is way more focused now. My steel heats faster and more evenly. Saves coal too. Anyone else switch up their fire management and see a big jump in efficiency?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
wesleyburns18d ago
@finleyk87 that deep coke heart made a big difference for me too. Carl really drilled into us how the shape of the fire changes the airflow and heat distribution. Did you notice it giving you a more even color across your steel, or was it more about how fast things heated up for you?
6
finleyk872mo ago
Oh man, same here. I used to just have a shallow, wide fire and it was so wasteful. Building that deep coke heart changed everything for me, way better heat control.
3