Blacksmith coke

[outofthefire]

Well if you manage to get some funds together, I can highly recommend Peat Oberon for Blacksmith courses. I was lucky enough to meet Pondman at one of Peat's courses, and I am sure he will agree with me when I say it was brilliant! I have done another one since then, and later in the year I hope to do another, but I think I need to put some more time in at the anvil before I spend anymore on courses. Practice is what is needed for me at the moment, and loads of it!

Another big vote for Peat's courses, I did his toolmaking course which pays for itself giving you wont need to buy anymore tools when you can make your own. I would love to do his damascus and mokume course and leaves and organic forms course.

 

[Windy Miller]

Another big vote for Peat's courses, I did his toolmaking course which pays for itself giving you wont need to buy anymore tools when you can make your own. I would love to do his damascus and mokume course and leaves and organic forms course.

I did the toolmaking course last November - very good indeed. As you rightly say, no need to buy any more blacksmithing tools! Peat emailed me the other day let me know about his 'leaves' course coming up in March. I'd love to do it, but its too soon after my hernia op, so ill have to wait till later in the year. If anyone is thinking about doing it, I'd REALLY recommend it, or any of his courses!

 

[pondman]

I did the toolmaking course last November - very good indeed. As you rightly say, no need to buy any more blacksmithing tools! Peat emailed me the other day let me know about his 'leaves' course coming up in March. I'd love to do it, but its too soon after my hernia op, so ill have to wait till later in the year. If anyone is thinking about doing it, I'd REALLY recommend it, or any of his courses!

Unfortunately the leaves and organic forms course has been canceled, I was hoping to do it, gutted!
I've found another good smithy in my area will be doing courses soon so I'm going to give that a look. Peats a great teacher though so worth the trips to his school.

 

[outofthefire]

Unfortunately the leaves and organic forms course has been canceled, I was hoping to do it, gutted!
I've found another good smithy in my area will be doing courses soon so I'm going to give that a look. Peats a great teacher though so worth the trips to his school.

Thats a shame, I have been thinking recently about trying to make the tall thin leaves from angle. I know the principals but it would be better if I could learn from the master. I dont do much hot work at the moment the coke forge is just too mucky for the neighbours, I keep thinking about trying charcoal but I think i'm going to end up building a gas forge.

 

[bogmonster]

Outofthefire,

I am new to blacksmithing, a complete novice. I started with a gas forge and I am now on a really simple bottom draft coke forge. Plan to build a better coke forge in the next couple of weeks. I struggled with the gas forge.

The stock gets very hot so you need tongs much more often. Awkward shapes are a PITA. Fire bricks crack quickly making it expensive. I have a single burner gas forge and I can imagine a real advantage using a multi burner for long heats.

I am surprised about the coke forge being too mucky? For initial light up of the fire it kicks out a lot of smoke but when it is hot it is not bad at all. I use coke from Rudrum in Avonmouth and this is approved for smokeless zones.

I do live in the country so people are not to bothered about smoke. I think a bigger issue is the noise, especially the angle grinder so I am woring on keeping that as low as I can.

BW, Chris.

 

[outofthefire]

Outofthefire,

I am new to blacksmithing, a complete novice. I started with a gas forge and I am now on a really simple bottom draft coke forge. Plan to build a better coke forge in the next couple of weeks. I struggled with the gas forge.

The stock gets very hot so you need tongs much more often. Awkward shapes are a PITA. Fire bricks crack quickly making it expensive. I have a single burner gas forge and I can imagine a real advantage using a multi burner for long heats.

I am surprised about the coke forge being too mucky? For initial light up of the fire it kicks out a lot of smoke but when it is hot it is not bad at all. I use coke from Rudrum in Avonmouth and this is approved for smokeless zones.

I do live in the country so people are not to bothered about smoke. I think a bigger issue is the noise, especially the angle grinder so I am woring on keeping that as low as I can.

BW, Chris.

Noise is an issue and I have to try and keep it to a minimum, but the problem with coke forges isn't smoke they give off a lot of soot and one neighbour in particular seems to have washing out drying constantly. I'm aware of the limitations of a gas forge but combined with oxy acetylene one would cover most of my needs at the moment.

 

[steve.h]

I know how you feel about the neighbours and washing, but when someone has a wood burner or an open fire in their house do you think they rush out to see if there is any washing out before warming their house up ?? I have a simmilar situation, but the old couple over the road have a coal fire so when its cold its fine, it is the same with BBQ`s, my previous neighbour seemed to think I was out of order becaus I liked to cook on my gas BBQ 2 or 3 times a week, no charcoal or smoke, just the smoke and smell from the food cooking, houw far do you go to be a good neighbour ??
I was surprised when I spoke to most of my meighbours that they thought it was great that I was learning to be a blacksmith, I think the odd little gift, house name or number plate etc here and there will also smooth the way, I am unable to work and look after the kids at home, I now have 3 four hour sessions on weekdays that I can get out and forge stuff, I dont see that anyone can complain about that as most are at work, the others are retired or old so I think they are more forgiving and actually are very interested in the olde worlde stuff we do...

 

[pondman]

Thats a shame, I have been thinking recently about trying to make the tall thin leaves from angle. I know the principals but it would be better if I could learn from the master. I dont do much hot work at the moment the coke forge is just too mucky for the neighbours, I keep thinking about trying charcoal but I think i'm going to end up building a gas forge.

He will do it if he gets enough students to justify it. he said there were onlt 2 registered so had to cancel it.

A gas forge would be perfect for that kind of job, no smoke no mess. I really like mine but I just need to get a coke forge for the bigger bits. As far as neighbours My workshop is in a great place in the country and the owner of the workshop is a press engineer so my noise is nothing compared to that crazing banging!!

Good luck with it!

 

[pondman]

This is the forge I got. I've found out a good coke supplier not to far away so I might try get there tomorrow. I can't wait to get her hot!!

 

[Windy Miller]

Nice forge there Shaun - I'll admin to being ever so slightly envious!

 

[steve.h]

I have thought about building a side blower orge, I have a bottom blower with a fire pot of around 3 1.2 inches deep and about 10" x 7", it seems good for everything I have thrown at it so far, I turn the blower off around every 45 minutes and the clinker forms into more solid lumps and that makes it a lot easier to manage, otherwise I find I end up with so many small bits of clinker and it virtually puts the fire out.

 

[steve.h]

Thats a pic of my forge the table is about 4 ft wide and about 2 ft deep with the firepot at the back, I cut up a little woodburning stove I made for the chimney, its only a 4" flue but it all seems to work well. I tend to fire it up with kindling and then bring in the anthracite/coke around the fire and cover it with more fuel once there is a good amount of red embers and it goes into full flow in less than 10 minutes now. Half killed myself the first couple of times of firing it, soooo much smoke and it went out more times than not, I just light it up, chuck the coke on and leave and it works more often than not.
I would like a big workshop, I would build myself a nicebig 4ft square brick based forge, proper old fashioned job, I have toyed with the idea of a gas forge but I find the fire half the draw (dont trustme with matches!!!). I will no doubt one day have a gas one but I love the smell of the fire and enjoy working it to keep it working well. It is all about the history of what we do that is captivating, it is a trade that has been around longer than most, I just wish I had found it 20 years ago..

 

[pondman]

Just another reason this forum is so amazing, I've got my coke and had my first go with my newly acquired forge, I love it!! Thank you for all the advice!!

I had my first go on it and while I was working it started to snow which made it a little magical And I have to say that working steel with a coke forge is so much easier than a gas one but you have to be careful not to melt your work, I did but it turned out to be a bonus in the tree. Overall extremely happy!!

 

[Windy Miller]

Shaun - I REALLY like the tree Mate - that's great!!!

 

[pondman]

Shaun - I REALLY like the tree Mate - that's great!!!

Thank you very much!!

 

[julianthegypsy]

That's a nice tree. Just a question, are you left handed? If not, unless you are standing between the anvil and the wall, it looks like you have it the wrong way round. You'll find it much easier the other way with the beak to your left when facing it.

 

[pondman]

That's a nice tree. Just a question, are you left handed? If not, unless you are standing between the anvil and the wall, it looks like you have it the wrong way round. You'll find it much easier the other way with the beak to your left when facing it.

Thank you very much I didn't even realise it but it makes sense, the anvil in my workshop has the beak facing the left.

 

[steve.h]

Nice tree fella. I know I go on a bit but you really cant beat the magic of the coke forge (or anthracite as it behaves very similalry to coke but half the price). My forge is in my semi open workshop with a 4" flu through the roof, it gets very toastie even in the middle of winter. With the coke forge I think it is very special, it is like you have a proper connection with the history of blacksmithing, after all how many people do you know that (a) have a coke/coal forge and (b) van actually use it to make stuff, it is a skill that has been around for hundreds of years but has been virtually lost these days.