STUFF I Didn't Know (About Coal)

RMA · Post by **RMA** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 1:54 am

This advertisement on Craig's List taught me a "BIT"
**Broken Link(s) Removed**I want some for my fireplace...

Bob

wlape3 · Post by **wlape3** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 7:39 am

Wow! Wish there was a dealer like that in my end of the state. I would be a little leary of running bitt in stove designed for anthracite though. I'd be more worried about long term tar or other deposits building up due to the higher amount of volatiles than the odor. Maybe some of the bitt burners can comment on this. From what I've read here bitt seems more temperamental than anthracite.

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 8:40 am

$305/ton lump/stoker KENTUCKY delivered bituminous (14,000btus/lb) <-----Excellent Coal For heating/fireplaces/blacksmithing!

$220/ton lump or nut size PENNSYLVANIA pittsburgh delivered bituminous (13,400btus/lb)

$195/ton any size OHIO Brookville/Clarion delivered bituminous (13,000btus/lb)

$185/ton nut size PENNSYLVANIA Kittanning delivered bituminous (12,500btus/lb

Seems expensive for Bit.

RMA · Post by **RMA** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 10:01 am

Wood'nCoal wrote:
$305/ton lump/stoker KENTUCKY delivered bituminous (14,000btus/lb) <-----Excellent Coal For heating/fireplaces/blacksmithing!

$220/ton lump or nut size PENNSYLVANIA pittsburgh delivered bituminous (13,400btus/lb)

$195/ton any size OHIO Brookville/Clarion delivered bituminous (13,000btus/lb)

$185/ton nut size PENNSYLVANIA Kittanning delivered bituminous (12,500btus/lb
Seems expensive for Bit.

That's what struck me too!
I thought that these types would be a fraction of Anthracite,something on the order 1/3 of the price of Anthracite...
I wonder what "his price" for Anthracite might be! I am also picturing a few large lumps of Kentucky in an open fireplace...

Bob

Stephen in Soky · Post by **Stephen in Soky** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 7:27 pm

Well, it's $75/ton down here:

rockwood · Post by **rockwood** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 7:34 pm

The top left photo in the craigslist ad looks like Berlin's avatar...?

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 7:53 pm

14,000 BTU bituminous, aye??

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 9:25 pm

Dunno about those BTUs, but I sure wouldn't trade my $54/ton stoker for whatever he's selling!

Berlin · Post by **Berlin** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 9:28 pm

Southeastern KY bituminous can exceed 14,500 BTU per lb, if it's low ash; southern west virginia Sewell or pocohontas coal can exceed 15,500 btu's/lb, surprising? well most anthracite averages 12,500, less if primarily from reclaimed or higher ash coal.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 9:43 pm

rockwood wrote:The top left photo in the craigslist ad looks like Berlin's avatar...?

Hmmmm... yep..... I guess we know whos ad it is

Berlin · Post by **Berlin** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 11:14 pm

Yup, that's me.

I keep a few tons of various coals on hand to sell as a hobby (and to save on a gym membership- I have no dump trailer, so I shovel it on and off

)
It's expensive because I can only pick up a few tons at a time when I have the time to drive to kentucky, penn, or west virginia. Diesel fuel, $$ of wear and tear on my truck and so on. People that are interested or have the space, I reccomend they call a coal broker or pick it up themselves for much less $$ - but many - especially hobby blacksmiths who only want a few hundred pounds, and the people that buy 1/2 or 1 ton of lump coal for their fireplace would rather pay more and not deal with finding/transporting it etc. My goal here is more to promote the use of coal, specifically bituminous coal in home heating (provided they understand how it burns, have a proper setup etc.) rather than be anyone's long-term coal supplier; and of course give myself an excuse to drive around the country and talk about bituminous coal w/ people.

The kentucky coal (which I pick up either from a coal prep plant in southeastern KY or Thompson bros. depending on availablity) is cost competative w/ anthracite for heating- but is primarily used for people that want really nice open coal fires.-the coal DOES NOT "swell and melt" together during combustion- very low coke button. (very low sulfur too if i'm buying from ky: .34%!) The other coals are in some cases significantly less $$ per BTU than anthracite - but one must have an appliance in which they will work well. Having said all that i'm not really attempting to have bituminous coal "compete" w/ anthracite- it's a niche and specialty market- and an opportunity for people to try bituminous coal while i'm able to give them advice, in person, on how to properly fire it.

Most people I talk to in WNY that are heating w/ anthracite are paying anywhere from $240-300/ton bulk to $275-350/ton bagged. apparently there is a wide range of price among sellers of anthracite, and, in some cases a wide range of quality.

btw, there's no "tar or other deposits" when burning bituminous coal. Completely tar and creosote free- just like anthracite. The only difference is that (depending on your appliance) there will be soft, fluffy, black soot deposits - these are non-flamable and pose no hazard.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Sun. Oct. 25, 2009 11:46 pm

Now I feel like a dickhead.

I didn't know bit had BTU's that high .... my bad...

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Mon. Oct. 26, 2009 9:01 am

Don't feel bad...
Someone working on a job grabbed a couple ton of 'Anthracite Coal'...
Dumped it in his yard...
Then brought a hunk of it with him to ask if we had ever seen as big a hunk of coal...
Seemed a bit lightweight for that big a piece of Anthracite...
Chipped off a piece and tossed it on top of the coal fire...
Big yellow flames...
But the bags said...

wlape3 · Post by **wlape3** » Mon. Oct. 26, 2009 9:10 am

Thanks for the explanation Berlin. I have only burned anthracite so bitt is a completely new world to me. Since bitt is much more common than anthracite I suspect prices will continue to be lower, in general. Perhaps yourself or someone else on the board would be kind enough to post a tutorial on bitt for the curious among us. I would think as long as my auger could feed it my furnace could probably burn it. Have to check with the manufacturer to be sure though.

By the way, were are you in WNY? I used to live on Grand Island back in the 80's. Probably pretty developed by now.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Mon. Oct. 26, 2009 7:22 pm

Berlin wrote: I can only pick up a few tons at a time when I have the time to drive to kentucky, penn, or west virginia. The kentucky coal (which I pick up either from a coal prep plant in southeastern KY or Thompson bros. depending on availablity) is cost competative w/ anthracite for heating- but is primarily used for people that want really nice open coal fires.-the coal DOES NOT "swell and melt" together during combustion- very low coke button. (very low sulfur too if i'm buying from ky: .34%!)

Theres a possibility we may be moving to Central North Carolina. I was wondering about the availability of Anthracite down there, and whether or not I should consider a Bit Stoker. I'm Definitely interested in learning more about bit.

This would make a great subject for a Coalcast, if you would be available as a guest speaker?