New here from Central Washington

[KevinT]

hi I am a 20+ year aerospace machinest who just aquired a buffalo forge #210 complete with hood... in good working order. I am very familiar with material removal technology, but new to blacksmithing... having taken only two classes 1 at the oregon trail interperative center for 3 days and another at fort defiance st park here in washingaton. SO I guess I will ask the only question that maters you know the one everybody asks first (where do I get coal). If I can not get coal then my intrest will soon fail.

[Neil Gustafson]

Good Morning,

A coal forge makes lots of heat and smoke. Some people can't work around coal forges because the smoke bothers their lungs. Quite a few people make/use a propane forge, there is no issue with smoke/fumes just carbon monoxide. Propane forge MUST BE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!!! A propane forge can be made with one high temperature fire brick and a propane burner from your local hardware store. A tiger torch and 12 bricks will also make a forge.

Coal is mined in the Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford area in BC. I'm sure a pick-up truck would be able to leave heavier than when it came. I am not sure who in the area to ask, but I am sure you can figure that out.

The Vancouver Island Blacksmith Association use this coal, but we get it from Roberts Bank, before it is loaded into the freighters going across the pond.

I know there is coal source in the Puget Sound area, but I don't know it. I remember driving through a town of "Black Diamond", south of Tacoma. They probably had coal at one time, I don't know about now.

Neil

[KevinT]

Hi Neil,

For my use doing historically accurate blacksmithing, a propane forge was not available in 1923 which will be our time period. The first electricity to the area came in 1922. I take it you are in B.C. Thank you for the suggestions. I will keep trying to find the coal I need. Black Diamond is south of Seattle. I know the area well. Hopefully someone on here will know the closest place to Yakima to find a supplier.

Gratefully,

Kevin

[Eric G]

i use coke (it was available) and prefer it over coke as it burns cleaner and longer....I end up buying it by the ton and having it shipped in ..for you you might try valley farrier supply beaver creek Oregon.i used to buy coal there... also used to be a charcoal supplyier in Idaho...for an occasional use any natural chunk charcoal will work .1920 is a interesting time for blacksmithing a lot of power tools on the market by then some run by line shaft some with seperate motors ..cars were the big thing at that time and required a blacksmith to fix um! oxy acyl welders were available but not electric welders yet....good luck

[Grant]

Hi Neil,

For my use doing historically accurate blacksmithing, a propane forge was not available in 1923 which will be our time period. The first electricity to the area came in 1922. I take it you are in B.C. Thank you for the suggestions. I will keep trying to find the coal I need. Black Diamond is south of Seattle. I know the area well. Hopefully someone on here will know the closest place to Yakima to find a supplier.

Gratefully,

Kevin

Well, I think it will never appear authentic, but I have a book illustrating gas, oil and even electric forges and furnaces at the turn of the century (1900).

[Tom Allyn]

I know there is coal source in the Puget Sound area, but I don't know it. I remember driving through a town of "Black Diamond", south of Tacoma. They probably had coal at one time, I don't know about now.

Palmer Coking & Coal in Black Diamond, WA no longer sells coal. They're a gravel pit now. This area was a rich coal mining area in the first half fo the 20th century. The area around Newcastle (just south of Bellevue) all the way down to Black Diamond was all coal country. There was a large mine in Maple Valley called the Cedar Mtn. Mine. Industrial remants of those operations can still be seen in the area. Low grade coal can still be found on the surface in certain areas.

But back on topic, the only coal supplier I'm aware of in western Washington is Central Fuel in Chehalis. They sell a usable blacksmith coal, though it's not of the highest quality. It's relatively inexpensive, I think my last batch was about $13 for 65# bags.

Lump charcoal is absolutely delightful to burn in my coal forge. The only problem is that it's expensive and it burns up very quickly. The nicest thing about charcoal is that it doesn't produce clinker. If charcoal was cheaper I'd never buy another bag of coal.