You can't just go and forge iron with charcoal. It's not possible, so why would you even try to do something like this? Well, if you look at it from the right angle, it's actually a very interesting idea
You see, there are two types of metals: ductile and brittle. Ductile metals are the ones that can be forged into something new and useful, while brittle ones break easily. The difference is quite simple: if you want to make something out of an iron bar, you need to heat it up until it becomes red hot and then pour cold water on it. This will cause it to cool down instantly and become brittle again. But if you don't do that then all you'll get is some kind of lump that breaks easily when struck against another object (which is what happens when we use our hands)
So how does this relate to charcoal? Well, if you take a piece of charcoal and put it in a fire until it turns red hot then pour some cold water over it, what happens? You guessed it! You get a lump of metal!
can you forge metal with charcoal
