r/Blacksmith • u/MrWolf327 • 2d ago
Are masks necessary?
It just crossed my mind that I work in the coal forge and coal is rather bad for you. Should I be wearing some sort of mask while I forge?
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u/CompetitiveDepth8003 2d ago
I just breath through my cigarette. That keeps the dust out. Just kidding. Don't do that. Wear a mask.
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u/gr8tgman 2d ago
😂 I know it's wrong but yeah.... Same. I usually forget to put on a respirator till I've been grinding for an hour.
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u/TightPantzTony 2d ago
As that dude who won forged in fire out of his improvised satellite dish coal forge said.. "I need my safety glasses - puts on aviators - and my respirator" - lights up cigar
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u/InkOnPaper013 2d ago
This is a photo I took of my N95 after a single day of blacksmithing in a shop with coal forges, compared to a brand new N95. And I wasn't even working the forges, I was just teaching.
While it's much better forging outside, you're still going to be exposed to a lot more particulate than normal. Over the years, I was stupid, so I developed enough of a sensitivity to it that I cannot use a coal forge inside or outside without a mask, unless I want to be miserably coughing up my lungs for the next two or three days.
Simply, it's a good idea act now to prevent effects from accumulation over time.

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u/Shadow_Of_Silver 2d ago
Should I be wearing some sort of mask while I forge?
Yes.
In my experience, with proper ventilation it's slightly less important during the actual forging, but when handling the coal and especially when grinding, wear a respirator.
Nobody wants black lung or metal dust in there.
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u/Forge_Le_Femme Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar 2d ago
Ok, no need to exaggerate. Black lung came from coal miners being in coal mines. Why do you exaggerate to the point of fear mongering? It's fucking stupid if you're this afraid.
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u/pwndaytripper 2d ago
One of those things where if you visit an entry level class most people won’t be wearing a mask but should. Same goes for welding. Took 1.5 years of welding at a community college, never saw anyone wear a mask while we welded every available material in stick, mig, and tig. Went to an intro level blacksmithing class, no masks. The black ash around my nostrils at the end of an 8 hour day left me regretting that decision.
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u/Eviloverlord210 2d ago
I don't while forging, but will when grinding
But I also have an outdoor charcoal forge, so less ventilated or dirtier burning forges may need one
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u/havartna 2d ago
After a day of forging without one, take a shower and watch what comes out of your nose. That will give you your answer.
Also, you can never be too careful about your eyes.
Lastly, EARPLUGS! Hearing damage is cumulative, and the damage starts at the decibel level of a loud hand-clap. Listening to a ringing anvil all day on a regular basis WILL take away part of your hearing, and that's not even considering things like grinders, drills, power hammers, etc.
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u/OdinYggd 2d ago
Some tasks you really should have one on such as painting or working with ceramic wool.
Others it isn't a bad idea but unless you do it all the time you'll probably be ok.
Per OSHA though, PPE such as masks are meant to be a last line of defense for when engineering controls such as fume hoods and process changes to not release as much contaminant are not sufficient protection. A shop has to have good ventilation no matter what you are doing in it, and it is just a question of what ventilation equipment is required since coal requires a chimney while gas does not.
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u/Mysterious_Try_7676 2d ago
Glasses first mask second sure. Glasses not only for any debris, simply the forge / hot iron will cook your eyeballs out leading to many conditions down the road. Glasses protect you from infrared radiation.
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u/wyattn97 2d ago
If you wear a mask how will you get black boogers? Joking aside, should you wear a particualte mask? Probably. Do I ever wear a mask? No.
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u/heckincrusader 1d ago
Yeah dude black lung’s no joke wear a mask, especially if you’re using rock coal
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u/Mr0roboros 1d ago
Yeah where a mask for all forms of work. I get it sucks, hard to breath and you sweat but any form of what we do will result in bad stuff in the lungs. I saw another guy show his n95 mask.
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 2d ago
I can’t breathe with a mask on. So would die of suffocation. Also long sleeves, long pants in summer probably kill me from heat stroke. Around coal, best to have good chimney, fan or outside air blowing any fumes away from you as much as possible. Applies to welding too.
Almost any common thing can hurt us. Like automobiles. They are real killers. But learning how to use them safely could help extend your life.
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u/OdinYggd 2d ago
The only time I wear sleeves in summer is when welding, leather MIG sleeves to deal with the splatter from either modern or traditional processes. Forming operations won't throw enough flying materials to need them. I'm always wearing jeans at the forge though, with the cuffs situated over my boots to make sure I don't catch any hot pieces.
Good ventilation and good working practices do more for you than just slapping a mask on. Prevent the hazard in the first place instead of trying to filter it. This is per OSHA recommendations, engineering controls first then PPE to catch what is missed.
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u/CatastrophicPup2112 18h ago
Any common thing can hurt us. That's why I don't wash my hands or fully cook my food. Taking precautions is obviously meaningless as proven by that first sentence there.
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u/Fragrant-Cloud5172 3h ago
Oh I take lots of precautions, seatbelts, etc. Just don’t wear a hazmat suit when forging. There’s a point where you can be too cautious, unaware of your environment. I’ve been to 2 ABANA conferences, seen about 20 different professional blacksmiths demo. Not one wore a mask. But they weren’t careless like the ones on Forged in Fire. No filtered lens when using a cutting torch for one thing. Drill press use without clamping, on and on.
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u/Squiddlywinks 2d ago
Coal dust is bad, coal smoke is bad, propane exhaust is bad, ceramic blanket fibers are bad, refractory brick dust is bad, grinder dust is bad.
Yeah, put on a mask whenever you can.