Finally got a clean weld on my first try with the new forge

I had to pick between using my old propane torch or trying out the new coal forge I built last month. I went with the coal, even though it takes longer to heat up. It took about 45 minutes to get a good welding heat, but the fire was way cleaner and easier to control. I was working on a simple leaf keychain and the steel stuck together perfectly on the first hit. No scale pockets or cold shuts this time. Has anyone else found coal to be more forgiving for forge welding than gas?

3 comments

3 Comments

violatorres1mo ago

Congrats on the clean weld. Your experience with the coal forge tracks with what I see a lot, where the slower, more hands-on method just gives you more room to feel things out. It's like the difference between a slow cooker and a microwave, where one forces you to pay attention to the process. That extra control time seems to prevent a lot of rushed mistakes.

leelewis1mo ago

Remember my buddy who kept burning through steel with his fast gas forge?

oscarw831mo ago

Yeah, that sounds familiar. I had to really dial back the gas pressure on mine to stop eating through material. Letting it run a bit cooler and slower gave me way more control over the heat zone. It's a pain to wait, but it saves the work in the long run.