Where Can I Get Some Coal?

[Mike Ellis]

Seriously folks, I am trying to find a source of coal for my amateur blacksmithing - preferably somewhere around the DFW area. I have called farrier's supply shops, firewood purveyors, stone companies, looked on the net, you name it - nothing.



The farrier shops acted like I was a terrorist or something - "Why do you want coal? Everybody uses propane now. What are you planning to do with it? Don't you realize propane is safer / cheaper / cleaner and doesn't poison the environment? If you buy our $500 Mini-Jumbo propane forge you can..... "



Sitting at the railroad track, mile-long trains go rolling by with carload after carload of coal - if I was sure it wasn't lignite, I might try to heist a carload. I need the blacksmithing type coal, good heat output. I'd like to get a pickup bed full, or maybe even a horse trailer's worth - but a railroad car full is stretching it.



Also, if you have any old blacksmithing tools (tongs, etc) that you want to sell, please drop me a PM. I am getting ready to make a set but my technique still needs polishing. Basically I am still at the "Heat it red hot and beat the living crap out of it with a big honkin' hammer" stage...

 

[B.G. Smith]

There is a strip type coal mine at Mount Pleasant and a coal fired power plant just southeast of Corsicana, there are still some mines working around McAlester and Henryetta Oklahoma. Not much help I know. bg

 

[jponder]

I saw a blacksmith at a festival and he had coal. It was cool watching him

 

[Doc Tinker]

Here's something to read while we work on where to get your coal. It has to available, just have to find where.



http://www.elektricanvil.net/compendium/how-to-start.html



http://www.blksmth.com/tong_article.htm



Doc





PS...



http://pub84.ezboard.com/fcentraliapa54196frm2.showMessage?topicID=69.topic

 

[formula]

Up here, I use coal for heating during the winter. There are many coal dealers that sell coal for heating and will deliver it to my house. Also, the "country hardware/supply" type places usually carry coal. You may want to try calling some ag supply places and see what you can find.



Sean

 

[JPope]

Coal/Texas

From an old American Farriers Journal/1995 try:

-Across the Anvil Farriers Supply- Azle, Texas, 800-722-6845

-Alvin Farrier Supply- Alvin, Texas, 800-936-3636



Or maybe,

Cumberland Elkhorn Coal and Coke, Louisville Kentucky

502-585-5141, per their advertisement:

Blacksmithing Coal (special seam of high quality washed, eastern KY. stoker coal which gives maximum heat output with very little smoke), shipped almost anywhere in 50# bags or bulk,50# sample shipped almost anywhere in U. S. via UPS, $30 delivered, remember these are 1995 prices!!!!!!!!!!

discounts for large quanities.



If none of these work for you, there are about 25/30 more I can give you.



"... The farrier shops acted like I was a terrorist or something - "Why do you want coal? Everybody uses propane now. ... "



Propane forges are more convient especially for moving around from farm/ranch to farm/ranch, but the highest heat for forging like you may be doing is COAL!!!!!!!!



Remember: black iron is what will burn you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Boomer II]

This outfit sells smithing coal. I've done a little of that stuff many years ago, check em out.



http://www.centaurforge.com/index.html?target=dept_398.html&lang=en-us

 

[Rman]

Mike, I remember there being some iron works shops in Keller and azle, and one down in Fort Worth somewhere. Let your fingers do the talking and give some of these places a call. They'd surely have a source if they didn't carry some. I've seen it on the net as well. Like 22 bucks a 50 lb bag though, i'm sure it can be had for less, or atleast that price without the hassle of shipping. Good luck. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, haven't lived there in a while now. My dad might know, i'll be talking with him in the next few days, i'll ask.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Found this on the site that Boomer II posted. Maybe you can use one of your turbo take-offs for a blower in your forge.







#ad

 

[Mike Ellis]

Thanks for the leads guys, you fellas are great! A guy can find out anything on the TDR, just amazing.



JPope, I hear ya on the black iron bit. I am doing things barehanded and being extra careful, burnt myself pretty good in a pair of leather welding gloves a good while back - that old saying "Once burnt, twice learnt" is pretty darned accurate.



So far I have only burnt myself once at the forge, that was during some welding experiments with old horseshoes and charcoal. I had read on a smithing site that plain old 20 Mule Team borax was a good welding flux, and proceeded to sprinkle same on the ends of my scarfed horse shoe ends before pounding the living heck out of 'em. I was sadly surprised to learn in rapid succession:



(1) 20 Mule Team borax melts quick

(2) When a layer of molten liquid between two scarfed (beveled) surfaces is subjected to an energetic blow, it will squirt out of the join at high velocity

(3) Due to Murphy's law, each droplet of that squirt will experience aerodynamic and gravitational forces exactly right to let it describe a complex curve and land on your tender pink skin

(4) Molten 20 Mule Team is sticky and attempting to wipe it off results in a "Yeowwww sunuva... " Fortunately I had my quenching bucket nearby and dunked my hand in it PDQ so I only had a few small blisters.



I was not impressed with the 20 Mule team routine, but I have to admit I did not get up to a good welding heat. I was using charcoal and in spite of cranking my forge blower until the barn roof started melting and my tongue was hanging down past my knees, I could not get a good sparking heat. On the positive side my right arm is now about 6" longer than the left

 

[Rebel_Horseman]

My ex's dad does blacksmith stuff. He built a pair of wagons by himself for the Old South trail rides down here. He taught me how to do it one day... I made a hoofpick out of a horse shoe. It was the coolest dad gum thing. I'm hoping to make me a little shop when I get into my own place. I think he gets his coal from a local supplier but I can't remember where.



Brian [><]

 

[QRTRHRS]

21.70/50lb, wow!

Always logistics huh? Around me, coal is maybe 115-165 a ton. Not sure since I have not bought any in years. Neat hobby to get into. I was allways enthralled watching the smithy's do their work expecially at the large shops set up in some of the historic villages here in the northeast.

 

[BarryG]

115 a ton! Wow. My grandparents have a cabin in Utah close to several mines and the cabin uses an antique coal stove for heat and cooking. There is a Coop mine about 30 miles away where (since I have a truck you guessed it I get to haul the coal in when needed) you can load your own for 28. 00 a ton (not sure why they won't use a loader to fill you up in about 1 minute but oh well). Nothing better than shoveling a load into the truck on a nice 90+ degree day with the coal trucks wizzing by and the wind blowing kicking up all that coal dust. Last time I did it my son was with me and when we got done I was laughing at him about how black his face was and he just as cool and matter factly looked at and me and said I don't know what your laughing at you should see yourself. Boy he sure was right I was a mess.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Well as luck would have it I have a few bushels of coal in my hot little hands right now! My brother in law works at a lime plant and they use coal to cook the limestone or such, so he brought me some chunks that had fallen out of the rail car.



These are some big chunks of coal, they are cantalope size or so. Guess I will break it up into manageable pieces and give it a try this weekend.

 

[jwdeeming]

I got some in my stocking here -

what's up with that?

 

[Rman]

I'll send you my stocking when it gets filled here in a couple days Mike. Funny I waited at train tracks yesterday and watched LOADS and LOADS of coal go by. I thought about your quest for it and thought it was kind of amusing, I mean there it was TONS of it.

 

[rbattelle]

Ask one of the members from Pennsylvania or upstate NY to dig a small hole in their back yard. They should find several nuggets under there!

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by BarryG

115 a ton! Wow. My grandparents have a cabin in Utah close to several mines and the cabin uses an antique coal stove for heat and cooking. There is a Coop mine about 30 miles away where (since I have a truck you guessed it I get to haul the coal in when needed) you can load your own for 28. 00 a ton (not sure why they won't use a loader to fill you up in about 1 minute but oh well). Nothing better than shoveling a load into the truck on a nice 90+ degree day with the coal trucks wizzing by and the wind blowing kicking up all that coal dust. Last time I did it my son was with me and when we got done I was laughing at him about how black his face was and he just as cool and matter factly looked at and me and said I don't know what your laughing at you should see yourself. Boy he sure was right I was a mess.

That's delivered. Pickup is 65-85/ton and they will gladly bring over the 988 just for the pleasure of seeing how much your little half ton pickup will hold.

 

[NIsaacs]

Old thread but it is still alive

Anyone use coal to heat with? Wood is getting really expensive around here. I was thinking about trying to market some. I think the hardest part will be training people to use it (dirty). Plus, I think the closest mine is 200 miles away, so significant freight involved. However, that is what I do (haul) so.... I think the best way to deal with it is with those big bags you see being hauled around with numerous products.

I haven't checked around here, but my brother uses stoker coal (Montana) in his hardware store/shop for only $55 per ton, he hauls it bulk. I understand that btu wise it is about the same as 1.5 ton of wood pellets @ $310 per ton.

 

[AH64ID]

I understand that btu wise it is about the same as 1.5 ton of wood pellets @ $310 per ton.

Those are some pricey pellets. We pay ~250/ton here for premium pellets that are 100% Doug fir and burn very clean.

Is it a new stove for coal? Or can you burn it in a wood stove?