Coal vs propane forge, picked coal and my arms pay for it

I finally got tired of flip flopping and built a coal forge last spring after running a propane one for about 2 years. The propane was easy, flip a switch and go, but the cost of those tanks added up fast, maybe $60 a month for my hobby work. The coal forge cost me $140 in materials, firebrick and a hand crank blower from a flea market in Ohio. I love the heat control honestly, you can get a nice soaking heat for bigger pieces way easier than propane. But man, hand cranking that blower for 3 hours straight yesterday left my shoulder sore, and the smoke in my shop is something I'm still figuring out with a better chimney setup. Anyone else make the jump from gas to solid fuel, and did you find a way to cut down on the physical work without going electric?

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the_oscar12d ago

Coal is fine for big heats but you're trading money for a sore arm and black snot, that's just the deal. Build a side blast or a simple hood over the fire, most of your smoke problem goes away and you won't be hunched over cranking all day.

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