Hot take: New smiths skip the coal forge too fast

I see a lot of new folks in my local guild go straight to a propane rig. They think it's cleaner and easier. But I learned to weld on a coal forge in my grandpa's shop in 2008, and you feel the heat differently. It teaches you fire control in a way gas just doesn't. Anyone else still start their students on coal?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_andrew1mo ago

Yeah, you're spot on. I make any new student in my shop start with coal, even if it's just for a month. That deep, radiant heat and having to really manage the fire teaches you to read the metal itself. With gas, it's too easy to just set a dial and zone out. You miss learning that gut feel for when the steel is ready, which makes you a better smith on any rig later. Skipping coal is like learning to drive in an automatic without ever touching a stick shift.

riverreed1mo ago

That's a really good point from @the_andrew about learning the basics. I see it a little different though, in my experience. A modern gas forge with a good heat sensor can actually teach you to read color and temp just as well, because you can watch the steel change without fighting the fire. The key is not letting the student just set it and forget it, you make them call out the color and temp at each stage. Starting with coal is one good path, but it's not the only right one to get that gut feel.

the_zara24d ago

Oh absolutely, @the_andrew is just trying to make sure no one ends up buying a hybrid forge before they can even change a spark plug. Reminds me of that time I tried to weld with a map torch and a prayer.