Anthracite vs Bituminous

[Don]

Which is the better coal for Blacksmithing?     Or does it matter?       

[Razor]

Anthracite coal is the most valuable as it has a high BTU, usually around 15,000, but is normally not used in blacksmithing. Instead it is used to heat homes and other businesses.
Bituminous coal is the most plentiful fo coal sources. Used in generating electricity, bituminous coal is also used in blacksmithing. Its BTU ranges from slightly over 10,000 to about 15,500.
Subbituminous coal is relatively rare and has a somewhat lower energy rating. Still, its lack of sulfur and other contaminants makes it attractive to iron smelting, an important aspect of blacksmithing. Its BTU is around 8,300 to 13,000.
Finally, lignite, or so-called "brown coal," is the lowest value coal, having a BTU range of 4,000 to 8,300. It is used occasionally to generate electricity, but otherwise is not useful in blacksmithing.

[Don]

Bituminous coal would therefore be the best choice as it is fairly inexpensive as compared to Anthracite?   

[Razor]

If you can get both, try each one and see which works for you...
If the higher sulphur content and lower BTU is acceptable, go with Bituminous..
Forge welding, I'd go with Anthracite.
General forging, Bituminous should do it.
HTH

[Don]

Roger that.    My wife said that (supposedly) there is a place in W.Va which sells it by the bag.  Since W.Va is just about 30 miles from me I will try and find out where it is and post the info here.   

[Razor]

Yeah, keep us posted on how it works out for you..
I switched to Propane years ago...whole lot easier to find around here.
Faster start up time too, great for little or short jobs..

[Don]

I found a place here in Ohio that sells it.  The store is called Coalway and they are located in Apple Creek, Ohio.  PH:330-857-3096.  They sell Anthracite by the 40lb bag (about $8.50 for 40 lbs) or by the ton ($237.50).  Anyone care to check them out they are located in Amish country about 20 miles or so SW of Canton, Ohio; just west of Dover/New Philadelphia.   

[Red Badger]

only coal around me is 2 1/2 hours away.... gues i go for a propane forge....

[voyageur1688]

  I lucked out and had 2 1/2 55 gallon drums of coal given to me last summer.  Not much sulpher  smell or yellow in the smoke and seems to burn nice and hot.
Voy

[dsrtfox1942]

Just saw this topic. If anyone needs coal, I can pick it up behind my house lol. I live right in the middle of anthracite coal country and its laying everywhere. Coal is the preferred heating method for housing everywhere in this county.

[Ranger]

Don, you'll get dirty if you play in the coal! Lol!

[Don]

Thats why I chose the Anthracite.  I can roll around in it all day and still come out as fresh as a 5000 year old rose.         

[Tim Burns]

I found a place here in Ohio that sells it.  The store is called Coalway and they are located in Apple Creek, Ohio.  PH:330-857-3096.  They sell Anthracite by the 40lb bag (about $8.50 for 40 lbs) or by the ton ($237.50).  Anyone care to check them out they are located in Amish country about 20 miles or so SW of Canton, Ohio; just west of Dover/New Philadelphia.   

I  remember when my Paternal Grandmother was still alive, she found it shocking that coal was so expensive. Her memories were of buying good soft coal for $5 a ton and felt anything over that was highway robbery. but she also remembered when a trip from morges to malvern, Ohio was an all day trip, by horse and buggy. Just the ramblings of a bored mind while at work...

[Thumper]

I use coke (preburned coal), exclusively. I have no idea what kind of coal it started out life as. It's smokeless & hot but needs a constant air flow. I can give you an address and ph# if yopu want. The company's out of Georgia.

[Stumblin Wolf]

this is one of those cases where you have to think about how serious you want to be about it . Anthracite is cleaner but does not put out the heat for forge welding. Good for general bending and stuff if you like to swing a hammer; personally I have no use for it. I like pocahontas or sewell seam pea coal soft bituminus once you get it going theres no smoke and hot as he## and no coal smell. Welding temp is easily reached, very little clinkers-just the best.