Coal vs propane forge, picked propane and the fire department almost got called

Last month I finally bit the bullet and bought a cheap propane forge off Craigslist for $120 after years of fighting with my old coal setup. The coal forge kept throwing sparks that singed my eyebrows and my neighbor complained about the smoke twice, so I figured propane would be cleaner and easier. First fire-up, I didn't realize the regulator was set way too high and the whole thing shot a flame out the front like a small rocket. My buddy was standing there with a hose and yelled "put it out or I'm calling the station" while I was just trying to heat a 3/8 square bar. I turned it down, got the steel glowing nice and even, and honestly the control is way better for small stuff like hooks and leaves. But I still miss the crackle of coal and the way the fire smells, you know? Has anyone else made the switch and then gone back to coal because the feel was off?

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nancy_king291d agoMost Upvoted

Man, "small rocket" and all that drama over a $120 Craigslist find? Sounds like your buddy needs to relax. I've run propane for years and a little flame out the front is just Tuesday, you dial it back and move on. Calling the fire department wouldve been way more embarrassing than some singed eyebrows, honestly.