Wood/Coal Stove

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paving2007
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Location: South Jersey, Hammonton

Post by paving2007 » Mon. Feb. 05, 2007 6:28 pm

Well today I bought five bags of Anthracite nut coal @ 6.20 per bag
I just wanted to make sure I am doing this right since this is the first time I am burning coal (hope to stay with it)

My stove is wood/coal burner cleaned out ash pan first to get excess wood ashes out, shook all loose ash down into pan and removed,
made a nice coal bed with remaining embers (about 5 inches thick) that was left up top made a hole scooped about 6-7 scoops of coal put in hole with surrounding embers, closed both top vents that feed air to top of stove firebox opened draft vent all the way on ash pan door opened top flu vent all the way to get the coals started.

If I am doing this wrong please let me no the proper way, by the way the stove is a fire boss wood/coal burner

Note: I tried some pea coal and when I put it in hot embers I got a lot of crackeling so I didn't put anymore in (maybe damp)

Thanks,
Tony

 
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LsFarm
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Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Mon. Feb. 05, 2007 6:53 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum, The crackling is normal. There was a thread a while back discussing why it makes the noise, I don't think we came to a conclusion about the noise...

If your fire is starting, and burning, the method is sound. If you have a bed of burning coal, I just open the air draft control under the fire [usually the ash pan door or vent] and let the fire get hot, then add coal to the fire, and leave the air open under the fire untill the new coal has blue/white flames coming up. Then close the air to the normal position.

So whatever is working for you and your stove is fine.

From reading your description I wouldn't have bothered with making the hole or depression in the embers, I would just add the coal over the top, about 2" thick, let the blue flames appear, then add enough coal to come up to the top of the firebrick in the firebox.

If you make too large a hole in the embers, the coal in the middle of the depression may have a hard time getting burning, just go ahead an put coal right on top of the fire, it takes a lot of heat to start anthracite coal.

Enjoy the heat. Greg L

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bobkat
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Post by bobkat » Tue. Feb. 06, 2007 12:02 am

Tony,
I wouldn't worry too much if the coal is a little "wet". Many places wash the coal before bagging and / or loading it into trucks, depending on the weather. Unlike wood, coal will burn if still damp from the washing process or if it was outside in a pile before being sold. Enjoy the even heat.
Bob

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