Gas forge vs coal: which actually saves you money in the long run?

I was reading a local metalworking newsletter last week and a guy from Ohio claimed coal is still cheaper per hour than propane if you know how to tend the fire. That got me thinking because I've run my gas forge for about 300 hours this year and my propane bill came to $460. A buddy of mine with a coal forge swears he spends under $150 a year on fuel, but he also loses a lot of time managing the fire and dealing with clinker. I switched from coal to gas about 4 years ago mostly for convenience, not cost, and now I'm wondering if I made the wrong call. There's also the initial setup cost, my gas forge rig with a blower and regulator set me back around $700, while a decent coal forge can be built for $100 if you scavenge parts. For someone forging just a few pieces a week, does the extra time with coal actually pay off, or is gas worth the premium? Has anyone tracked their real fuel costs side by side over a full season?

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morganhill12d ago

Gas savings vanish once you factor in that clinker time costs more than the $310 difference.