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morrisman
26th Nov 2013, 08:03 PM
Hi

A question for the blacksmiths out there .

What would be a suitable and easy to obtain fuel.... don't know what is available around here apart from briquettes at the hardware ! The chap at the Coal creek heritage park used a type of coke . Sadly the steam train line closed here about 1959 ..just a tad too late for that source of coal .

Mike

code4pay
26th Nov 2013, 08:16 PM
Hi Mike, just starting out my self with a brake drum forge. I used briquettes for the first few times. They got hot enough to work some small metal pieces and temper a knife blade, but when I tried to work a larger piece I couldn't get it hot enough and the bottom of the forge filled with a sort of molten sludge that made it all hard to manage. I plan to use pure charcoal next I have read that this can work as well as coke but with more sparks. You can buy big bags of charcoal from bunnings but it is from Indonesia and I'm not prepared to burn rain forest for my hobby so plan to either make some ( google how it is done) or collect some from burnt trees.
Hope that helps
Mike.

th62
26th Nov 2013, 09:22 PM
As already stated briquettes just don't burn hot enough, charcoal works well and provides a very clean flame but burns up quickly, coke is the best by far but difficult to get in some areas. Best to get it from a blacksmith - lower sulphur content apparently I was told. Just as a matter of interest, I experimented with a two spout kettle contraption quite a few years ago, pumped air in one spout and a very hot flame came out the other spout similar to an oxy. It worked a treat and was excellent for spot heating.

steamingbill
26th Nov 2013, 09:51 PM
Hey Morrisman,

A mate of mine in Churchill makes charcoal for local people who want it.

Would that be suitable for you ? He has blacksmithing interests.

PM me if you are interested.

Bill

steamingbill
26th Nov 2013, 09:59 PM
................ and you might be able to get grus - not sure what the definition is - think its broken briquettes and briquette dust - from Morwell Briquette factory.

They used to literally have acres of it - not sure what current status is. A bloke I know used to get it, think he used it for some of his model steam engines and trains.

I could find out and drop some off when I next visit Warragul if you are interested.

Bill

morrisman
26th Nov 2013, 10:20 PM
Ok thanks to all

Bill, thanks for your offer but I think I will try the charcoal first ..........

regards ... Mike