Anthracite in stoker

I accidentley aquirred (sp)12 bags of anthracite and my son loaded the hardin with it ,Is there anyway to burn this in the stoker. seems really hard to light and dont know if it will work any ideas please

is it the right size for the stoker ?
if it's hard to light, it simply means it will give you back more heat once it's lit !
Using Charcoal with proper draft should be considered a good option to light it.

Yes I think it s sized right. Its what the called nut. Around wallnut sized or a bit smaller. I will try the charcoal and see how it works. Thanks

Did you get it burning and making heat?? The anthracite will have different ash, and needs more time in the burn pot to fully burn.. You man need to adjust the feed.

Greg L

I have a hand fed stove (Warm Morning Model 400), so I don't have any hands on experience with a stoker. Nevertheless, my understanding is that stokers only burn rice or buckwheat sized coal. I think nut is too big! :-O

Thanks for replys. Does not make make any differencw cant get it to light. Have been burning a 5 gallon bucket full in old pot stove for 2 days now. Stuff is more like a rock than coal. lol

Dig out the burn pot except for a little coal on the bottom, take a short piece of either 2x4 or 2x6, cut or split it into splinters no larger than your finger. start a fire in the burnpot with paper and these slivers of wood, keep adding wood and pieces of coal, with the combustion fan running, this will really fan the flames, making a very hot fire to get the 'black rocks' to catch.. or you can start the fire with some bituminous coal and add the anthracite later after the Bit is burning well.

Sorry to hear about your problems.. with a surprise in a coal bag.

Greg L

Well really its my fault. They just said coal in a bag. Didnt think about what kind i was getting. Mabey i can find someone with a forge to sell it to,or buy a forge and start making wroughtiron things. At least i will be able to get some real coal Tomorrow $22 a ton self load at a local mine

'real coal' that's what you had in those bags !! If one of us put Bit coal in our anthracite stokers.. we'd have the fire department in, and have to repaint and reupholster the whole house !!!

Hope you get it burning soon.

BTW, don't toss out the
Black Rocks you can mix it in with that 'nasty' Bit coal and still bet some BTUs from it.

Greg L

wyowa wrote:I accidentley aquirred (sp)12 bags of anthracite and my son loaded the hardin with it ,Is there anyway to burn this in the stoker. seems really hard to light and dont know if it will work any ideas please

Where did you get the bags of hard coal?

I bought them from a place in casper called Porters,they sell stoves,hot tubs,etc. They never said what kind it was and I was at work had my son try to start stove.Im slowly mixing it in with the Bit to use it up. 12 bags at $10.86 a bag . It came from Blazshak (not sure how its spelled)in Pa.