Announcing the "Cash-strapped and low on coal" sale

[Eric C]

My pleasure.

[Eric C]

Well, I lit my last coal fire for a while today. But I have some lump charcoal in the storage shed that I can use. Plus I'll pick up a bag or two from Walley world tomorrow. Then it's heat treat for a couple of knives that I'm going to make available and I am going to try something different with some coil spring that I have. I'll be posting pics so stay tuned.

P.S. As for using charcoal, I understand many knife makers prefer it.

[Eledhwen]

My experience has been that charcoal has fewer impurities and burns more cleanly due to its manufacture. As a result things like clinkers and other difficulties with coal don't come into play. The drawbacks are it takes nearly twice as much charcoal for the same amount of work as a given quantity of coal, or thereabouts.

Just how I've experienced it.

Siani

[Eric C]

Siani, my experience and my reading show that you are absolutely right. I burned through two large bags of lump charcoal in a short amount of time.

But an interesting thing happened. I was walking around our church and found a quarter-sized piece of coal on the ground. I and the pastor searched around and got maybe a quarter of a 5 gallon bucket full of coal. I checked the basement the following Sunday and have found the remains of an old coal pile. Our church was an old school as far back as the 20's I think and it was heated by coal. Of course it is stoker coal, but it will work. I have pulled out probably about 75 lbs so far. It is under some bricks from an old wall that was torn down, so it's tricky in bad lighting to pick through it. Some of the pieces are the size of half a brick. Then there's a lot of fines to filter through. But at the moment, I am no longer coalless. Still cashless, but aren't we all?

Anyway, hoping to have another piece up before too long. And I'm sorry I didn't reply to this much sooner.

[Peter Remling]

Just a question, Would mixing the coal and charcoal work ? The charcoal would give some heat stability and the coal: effiency and cost saving?

[R.D.Metcalf]

I've done this but the charcoal is still gone pretty fast however one benefit that does make a primtive set up a little more efficient is a coating of wood ash will retain heat and bring steel to working temp somewhat faster. I've done this quite a bit especially when hot cutting truck springs, by laying them on the fire and adding a bit of charcoal on top of them , but other than that it seems the coal just makes the charcoal burn faster.

[Eric C]

Good question. I have mixed a small amount of charcoal into my coal fire in the past, mainly for the ease of lighting the charcoal when there wasn't enough coke from the last fire or my outdoor forge got all wet. But if it gives any advantage to the fire, I can't say.

[R.D.Metcalf]

or my outdoor forge got all wet. .

Oh man, I know all about that The monsoons have set in here

[Taurthir]

Sorry for bumping but I didnt see year. Anyway

Good question. I have mixed a small amount of charcoal into my coal fire in the past, mainly for the ease of lighting the charcoal when there wasn't enough coke from the last fire or my outdoor forge got all wet. But if it gives any advantage to the fire, I can't say.

Do you send overseas at all. I am in need of a seax knife and I might consider a particular person on the board to do it for me. I also might be willing to pay 115% of the asked price if the knife doesnt explode or desecate my hands (I have high hopes by what ive seen) and also because I like helping people out. Besides Australia is a gluttonous money pig and these lazy doll moochers dont need it here. I cant tell you how many badly assembled blades ive held in my life (mostly swords though).

If you can but not right now id consider at a later date but when its time id need to know the details of money transfer, ect. Being 18 for only 6 days makes it hard to grasp the world's monatary exchange when youve never learned to use it.

[Kiriana]

If you can but not right now id consider at a later date but when its time id need to know the details of money transfer, ect. Being 18 for only 6 days makes it hard to grasp the world's monatary exchange when youve never learned to use it.

If you set up a paypal account, it would make things easier for you to make payments to Stateside merchants. And Eric, you should get one too hehe.. they are free. And much faster than mailing a check.

Just my 2 cents.

[Eric C]

And it's worth a lot more than 2 cents too! I'll be checking into it very soon.