How long does it take to heat a metal in a charcoal forge? I've been asked this question so many times that I've decided to write about it. This isn't much of a scientific study, but hopefully you will find this article useful
The process of heating is the first step in forging metal. It's also called heat treating or hardening. When steel is heated with hot coals, the carbon melts and combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2). The carbon then forms into graphite or iron oxide (rust), which make up the outer layer of steel. When this happens, the steel becomes harder and stronger. In fact, there's no difference between heating and hardening unless you're dealing with an annealed piece of metal!
how long to heat metal in charcoal forge
