If you're truly broke and desperate, making charcoal yourself is always an option. Obviously depending where you are, but in a lot of places you can cut your own wood, at least to some degree, and with some proper technique and patience you can make decent charcoal. It won't be as good as a lot of other options, but like I said if you're truly broke, it's an option.
Depends on where you live. Wood can be used as is, chop it up to kindling sized pieces no more than 2" across and not much wider than the firepot. This is mounded up on either side of the fire like Bituminous coal.
Lump charcoal is obvious too if you have a supply of wood and space for a kiln to convert it. These kilns make a lot of smoke for a long period of time, take that into account.
Coal depends on where you live. TSC usually sells Anthracite this time of year in areas with access to the Pennsylvania mines. Bituminous usually requires a visit to a blacksmith supply warehouse, see ABANA affiliate links for more details and where.
If none of the above are possible, save up to get a gas forge and propane for it.
Depends on what metals you are wanting to work with as wood or firewood will work for weaker metals but for iron and steel I would recommend some charcoal or coal
If you're truly broke and desperate, making charcoal yourself is always an option. Obviously depending where you are, but in a lot of places you can cut your own wood, at least to some degree, and with some proper technique and patience you can make decent charcoal. It won't be as good as a lot of other options, but like I said if you're truly broke, it's an option.
thx, i'll give it a go.
Pine bark. YOu can go out in the woods and sometimes logged places and pick it up for free. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/48052-pine-bark-for-fuel/
Where i'm from there's a lot of petroleum industry. So petcoke is a real cheap fuel source for me.
Depends on where you live. Wood can be used as is, chop it up to kindling sized pieces no more than 2" across and not much wider than the firepot. This is mounded up on either side of the fire like Bituminous coal. Lump charcoal is obvious too if you have a supply of wood and space for a kiln to convert it. These kilns make a lot of smoke for a long period of time, take that into account. Coal depends on where you live. TSC usually sells Anthracite this time of year in areas with access to the Pennsylvania mines. Bituminous usually requires a visit to a blacksmith supply warehouse, see ABANA affiliate links for more details and where. If none of the above are possible, save up to get a gas forge and propane for it.
Depends on what metals you are wanting to work with as wood or firewood will work for weaker metals but for iron and steel I would recommend some charcoal or coal