The forge coke I would actually buy, and what it changes in the firepot
Where forge coke actually comes from, what the bagged analyses say, what freight does to the price, and what changes in your firepot and blower.
August 19, 2026 · 17 min read
Topic
Forges
Coal or propane, DIY or bought: the forge decides how your shop days go. These guides come from running both fuels for years, not from a spec sheet.
The forge welding flux I would actually buy, and the ones to skip
A gear guide to forge welding flux: anhydrous borax, boric acid and metal bearing fluxes, with published specs, welding temperatures by steel, and real handling risks.
August 19, 2026 · 16 min read
Kaowool: how much lining a forge needs, and how to seal it
What kaowool is, how thick a forge lining needs to be, how to rigidize and coat it, and why the fiber dust deserves a respirator every time.
August 19, 2026 · 17 min read
The blacksmith forge for sale I would actually buy first
A plain buying guide to the blacksmith forge for sale worth your money: single or double burner, propane or coal, and which one I would light first.
August 17, 2026 · 12 min read
The medieval forges gear I would actually buy to build one
A blacksmith's gear guide to medieval forges: the solid-fuel forge, firepot, hand crank blower, and anvil that recreate a medieval fire at home.
August 17, 2026 · 13 min read
The forge for beginners I would actually start you on
Picking a forge for beginners comes down to one honest choice: a single burner propane forge. Here are the picks I would start a new smith on, and what to skip.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
The portable forge I would actually start a home shop on
A portable forge buying guide from the forge floor: single versus double burner propane forges compared on published specs, owner reports, and real safety.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
The propane forge for sale I would actually buy, and the ones to skip
Shopping a propane forge for sale? Here are the single and double burner units I would buy, the budget imports to skip, and how to run one safely.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
The metal forge kit I would actually start a beginner on
An owner to owner look at the metal forge kit worth buying: single vs double burner, what a complete propane kit includes, and which starter kits to skip.
August 5, 2026 · 15 min read
The propane forge for beginners I would actually start you on
A working smith's honest take on the propane forge for beginners: single or double burner, the specs that matter, what owners report, and how to run it safely.
August 5, 2026 · 13 min read
The induction forge for blacksmithing I would buy, and who should skip it
An honest gear guide to the induction forge for blacksmithing: which units are real forges, which are bench toys, and who should stick with gas or coal.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
Bituminous coal for blacksmithing, explained from the forge floor
What bituminous coal for blacksmithing actually is, why it cokes, how to judge sulfur and ash, how it burns in the forge, and the real hazards.
August 3, 2026 · 11 min read
The blacksmith forge kit I would actually start a beginner on
A blacksmith forge kit is the gas forge and burners, not the whole shop. Here are the kits I would buy, what they include, and the safety the box leaves out.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
The VEVOR propane forge I would actually start a beginner on
An honest owner-to-owner look at the VEVOR propane forge, which kit to buy, and the ceramic wool prep nobody warns you about before you light it.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
The beginner forge I would actually start a new smith on
The beginner forge I would put in a new smith's shop: three propane gas forges compared on published specs, owner reports, and honest tradeoffs.
July 30, 2026 · 11 min read
The blacksmith forge diy build I would put in a beginner's shop
A blacksmith forge diy guide to the parts I would buy and the ones I would build for a small propane forge, with the safety that is not optional.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
The blacksmith forge medieval smiths would recognize, and what to buy
A gear guide to building a blacksmith forge medieval smiths would know: welded firepot, hand-crank blower, anvil, and charcoal or coal, from the forge floor.
July 30, 2026 · 12 min read
The diy propane forge parts I would actually buy to build one
A diy forge propane build comes down to three parts: insulation, burner, and gas train. Here are the ones I would buy and the safety steps you cannot skip.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
The propane burners for forge work I would actually buy
A blacksmith's honest guide to propane burners for forge builds: naturally aspirated versus blown, budget to premium picks, tuning, and the safety that matters.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
The coal forge diy build I would actually put in a home shop
A coal forge diy guide from a smith who runs one: which parts to build, which firepot, blower, and coal to buy, and the safety that coal earns.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
The gear I would use to forge a bottle opener at home
The forge, hammer, tongs, and steel I would use to forge a bottle opener at home, with honest picks across budgets and the safety that matters most.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
The forge dies I would buy, and the ones I would make
A working smith's honest take on forge dies: which flat, drawing, and combination dies to buy, when to make your own, and what steel actually holds up.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
The hand crank forge blower I would buy first, and the ones to skip
A blacksmith's honest take on the hand crank forge blower worth buying, how to judge gearing and air, and when a used Champion beats any new import.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Smithing coal, explained from the forge floor
What smithing coal really is, why smiths burn clean low-sulfur bituminous, how it cokes, clinker, sizing, storage, and the carbon monoxide safety that is not optional.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
Blacksmith charcoal, explained from the forge floor
What blacksmith charcoal is, how lump differs from briquettes, how it burns versus coal, how to make your own, and the safety that keeps you alive.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
The blacksmith charcoal forge I would build before I bought
A blacksmith charcoal forge buying guide from a hobby smith: which firepot is worth the money, what to build yourself, and the fuel and safety notes that matter.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Blacksmith coal, explained from the forge floor
What blacksmith coal actually is, why bituminous coal cokes and anthracite does not, how sulfur and ash grade it, and how to burn it safely.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
The blacksmith coal forge I would actually build a shop around
A blacksmith coal forge buying guide from the forge floor: which welded firepots and complete units are worth it, and the coal safety that is not optional.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
The blacksmith gas forge I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
A blacksmith gas forge buying guide from an experienced hobby smith: honest picks across single and double burner propane forges, real specs, and safety.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
The Bufco forge blower, and what to buy if you can't find one
A working smith on the Bufco forge blower: what these vintage Buffalo Forge hand cranks are worth, what to check before buying, and modern blowers that do the job.
July 28, 2026 · 12 min read
The forge blower I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
A blacksmith's honest take on picking a forge blower for a coal forge: hand crank versus electric, real specs, owner consensus, and the air control that matters.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
The charcoal forge for sale worth buying, and the one to build instead
A blacksmith's honest take on every charcoal forge for sale: which welded firepot is worth it, which furnace to skip, and why I would build first.
July 27, 2026 · 12 min read
The coal forge for sale I would actually buy, and the ones I would skip
A blacksmith's honest guide to buying a coal forge for sale: firepot vs complete forge, real firepot depth, fuel, and safety before you spend.
July 27, 2026 · 12 min read
The homemade forge I would build, and the parts I would buy
A homemade forge is the smartest first build for a new smith. The parts worth buying, the ones worth fabricating, and the safety steps you cannot skip.
July 27, 2026 · 12 min read
The propane blacksmith forge I would actually buy first
Which propane blacksmith forge belongs in a home shop, what the published specs really mean, and where the budget kits cut corners, from a hobby smith.
July 25, 2026 · 16 min read
The diy forge parts I would actually buy, and the ones I would build
A diy forge parts guide from a hobby smith: which wool, rigidizer, castable, burner and regulator to buy, what to build yourself, and the safety rules to keep.
July 24, 2026 · 14 min read
The gas forge I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
A hobby smith's gas forge guide: chamber size, burner count, liner wear, published specs for four propane forges, and the safety setup that matters.
July 24, 2026 · 15 min read
The charcoal forge I would build before I bought one
A charcoal forge guide from a hobby smith: side blast versus bottom blast, which firepot and blower are worth money, and the safety rules that matter most.
July 23, 2026 · 16 min read
The coal forge I would actually build a shop around
A coal forge buying guide from a hobby smith: which firepot and blower are worth the money, what the cheap tabletop kits get wrong, and how to vent it safely.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The coal forge coal I would actually buy, and what to burn instead
What coal forge coal to buy: low sulfur bituminous smithing coal, published specs compared, honest owner reports on anthracite, and safe fire management.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The metal forge I would put in a home shop, and the ones I would skip
Which metal forge a hobby smith should buy: published specs, owner reports, and the ventilation and ceramic fiber warnings the listings leave out.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
The propane forge I would put in a home shop
Which propane forge is worth buying for a home shop, what the published specs actually mean, and the ventilation and ceramic fiber rules I will not soften.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
The propane gas forge I would buy for a home shop, and the ones I would pass on
An owner to owner look at which propane gas forge is worth buying for a home shop, what the published specs actually mean, and where cheap units cost you.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
The smithing forge I would actually buy for a home shop
An owner to owner smithing forge buying guide: published specs, real owner reports from the forums, and the safety details cheap gas forges skip.
July 22, 2026 · 15 min read
The blacksmith forge I'd actually put in a beginner's shop
A blacksmith forge buying guide from a hobby smith: propane single and double burners, a coal firepot, honest tradeoffs, specs, and the safety setup each one needs.
July 21, 2026 · 12 min read
Coal or propane: which first forge makes sense?
The honest tradeoffs between a coal forge and a propane forge for a first shop, from a smith who runs both.
July 17, 2026 · 5 min read