Does the Ash Content Matter That Much With a Stoker?

I'm going to make a quick coal run in the morning (later on this morning) and haven't really decided which breaker, I have it down to three that are the closest to me since my pickup only gets about 12 Mpg downhill. From what I have gathered reading various post - Direnzo about 38 miles, while closest there doesn't seem to be much support for them here, Superior about 46 miles, burns hot but higher ash, and Harmony about 60 miles, burns good and low ash. It seems to me that most of what I've been reading are post from those that have stoker boilers and hand feed on the subject of ash content / klinkers.

So if I decide to go to Superior since from what I have read has a higher BTU output, but more ash, does it really matter with a stoker stove? I would think thing higher output would be preferred and ash content be lesser of a concern with a stoker. I have a Keystone Keystoker Stove.... older version.

Any thoughts?

Cntbill, I would agree with you, having the heat to keep the home warm is more important than how much ash you produce. Dealing with the ash is the down side of coal burning but, the low cost and wonderful heat output more than makes up for it. Once you have your methods down in dealing with the ash, it's not so bad.

SHouldn't matter with a stoker, just have to empty your ash pan a bit more often, I have used many different brands, they all seem to work good.

JB Sparks wrote:Cntbill, I would agree with you, having the heat to keep the home warm is more important than how much ash you produce. Dealing with the ash is the down side of coal burning but, the low cost and wonderful heat output more than makes up for it. Once you have your methods down in dealing with the ash, it's not so bad.

JB Sparks wrote:Cntbill, I would agree with you, having the heat to keep the home warm is more important than how much ash you produce. Dealing with the ash is the down side of coal burning but, the low cost and wonderful heat output more than makes up for it. Once you have your methods down in dealing with the ash, it's not so bad.

That's what I kind of thought...

Well went to Superior to give it a try, also figured it would be the easiest route on the truck since it has a little over 215,000 on it and there is really only one good hill on the way back on 501 just south of Pine Grove where the Appalachian Trail crosses, and the rest pretty much down hill from there

Picked up 2900 lbs... and the truck worked well

But one word of caution to anyone that goes to Superior, Be Cautious when crossing the road from the scale and the breaker, constructions vehicles and other trucks and cars come through at a pretty good pace.

Looks good cntbill, Can't make out if the dodge is a 1500 or a 2500. I towed 2 tons with my old 97 dodge 1500 with a 318 v-8. That truck never gave me any trouble, wish I hung onto it. Pick-ups are hard to do electrical work out of so I traded it in for a new Chevy van. Now it has become my coal hauler as well.

Thanks, the truck is a 96 2500, plan Jane with a 360 magnum, auto, but I added 17" wheels. Runs good, can't complain much except about fuel milage since it has 4.10 rears, but then I don't use it but every now and then as I have a company van that I use for work. At least now after this run I would not be afraid to put a ton of coal in the bed and still pull a trailer with a two or three tons of coal.

I hear you on the electrical stuff... I think the 97 came out with a more complicated computer system.

How do you like Superior coal so far?
DON

BIG BEAM wrote:How do you like Superior coal so far?
DON

So far no complaints, but I found I am going to have to adjust the stoker combustion blower flap / feed rate - I think.

I really haven't ran much of Superior through the stove long enough to give a good evaluation yet, but my observations so far and compared to what I was using and sorry I don't know where it came from as it was part of the deal with the stove and for the life of me I can not remember what the guy I bought it from said.

So compared to what I had the Superior is a little larger and more uniform in size, nice shinny black, and Yes, the heat output does seem better than what I was using. As far as ash goes I don't see where it is any much more than the other. It does seem to have more iron in it though as the little clinkers / little metal beads are more prevalent, but then that's where I need to make the slight adjustments for it, Although a much more through burn, with little or no unburned pieces. But what counts is that I am happy with it and even more so that I saved $70 or so and that makes the wife happy