Subject coal Date Thu Nov 6 2003 17:31 Author Gordon (gordon.fretwell@library.umass.edu)

Fifty years ago I had an introductoty blacksmithing experience as a 4H activity one winter. The instructor had previously been a blacksmith on on of Henry Ford's farm/estates. He taught us to make coke out of a slurry of hard coal dust (I believe it was called 'slack') and water. I have since revived my interest in blacksmithing and my current instructor uses soft coal nuggets (bituminous) and no water. Both seem to work, and my question is, which is better for working the metal?

Subject coal Date Wed Oct 20 2004 13:41 Author Uncle Clem (uncleclem@cvn.net)

To answer your interest, soft coal is the primary coal used for smithing. It makes a cleaner easier burning fuel source. Traditionally a smithy would fire the fire early in the day and work steadily from that fire. However a large portion of the work is not done in the fire and therefore a lot of time is spent not working the fire. Thus soft coal. Soft coal will continue a fire without the presence of a draft of air for quite some time. Then as you return your work to the fire to reheat only a few puffs on the bellows will revitalize your heat [or a few cranks of the blower]. The fuel source is the carbon in the lump of coal. Everything else is deleterious material. Thus the process of “coaking up” or making coak is a tool of the serious blacksmith whenever he needs a clean hot fire. This is especially true if you are using a lower grade of coal with a lot of impurities or perhaps you are trying to get a fire clean enough to forge weld or fire weld. Forge welding requires the cleanest hottest form of fire you can provide. The fire must consume all of the available oxygen before it reaches your work piece or scale will result causing a “cold shut” or deficient weld to occur. The old timer will always be “coaking” his fire, or working cold wet coal from the outside edges toward the center as he uses coal. This process causes the coal to burn off impurities before entering the working area of the fire. Whenever you take a break or stop for the day, “coak up”! Pull wet green coal to the center and heap it up somewhat so it will “coak”. When you come back you will still have a fire if the time is short or you will have enough coke to start a new fire easily [perhaps with just a newspaper page] if you were gone for a length of time.

Subject Rhythm Date Wed Oct 20 2004 14:14 Author Uncle Clem (uncleclem@cvn.net)

One thing I noticed while watching a young blacksmith work at a craft fair recently was that the rhythm of smithing seems to be lost on the younger class of smith. When I learned it was from the old timers whose arm never stopped moving while working on hot iron. That rhythm along with an anvil that had some life or spring to it is essential to your ease of smithing. If the anvil doesn't bounce your hammer or seem lively use it for a boat anchor. While hammering and stopping to study your work keep the hammer moving thereby saving energy and retaining momentum. Just tap the anvil instead of the steel while observing the work then resume hammering. Never let the metal get too cold while forging. Perhaps a lighter hammer is needed and shorter sessions at the fire. Sometimes a elbow brace can help. All these issues in combination can make your stay at the forge more enjoyable even with some degree of disability.

	Subject Other Date Wed Jun 24 2009 19:40 Author Rob Miller (ha_Miller1026@dangerbase.com)
Cools ite.

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