Easiest Way to Light Coal!

1 Cut a piece of wood to fit snug in grate, 2 wrap charcoal in paper 3 place handful of coal on top 4 lite and walk away. 5 Relaxation

davidmcbeth3 wrote:wonder if you could just soak a few coals in kersosene and start it with 20% of these soaked ones scattered throughout for first layer?

Never tried it .... have no idea .. brainstorming

charcoal with the clear unscented lamp oil. Works better than kero if its in your living area, no odors are produced. just have to pour on good and slow so charcoal soaks it up. I fould layin some newspaper in the bottom on the grates also prevents any excess from dripping into the ash pan area.

I get "lighter" packs at Bloom Supply in Sunbury. I don't know what's in them but they are a 2" box with a fuse. You heap coal around and on top if it, light it, shut the door, and turn on the stoker and in a few minutes you got a nice fire. My son uses a Surdiac and they did not work well for him...needs kindling etc. to light that stove, but not my Keystoker. I bought 2 packs I think of 6 starters...$18 or so...will last more than this year.

Build a wood fire, throw in coal. Be sure to do this only once/season by not letting your fire go out!

2001Sierra wrote:Here is my latest gadget for my stoker.
Add 1/2 sheet of crumbled newspaper, cup of crushed cowboy charcoal, 2 cups of coal. Light with torch in small hole in the bottom, turn on stove, wait 5 or so minutes, turn stove off knock steel cylinder into ash bucket for retrieval at next ash cleanout. Turn stove back on and you are in business.

I've tried the exact same thing, but for some reason, the coal keeps going out. I manage to get about half a cup of anthracite nice and hot and burning with a blue flame, but as I start adding a little more anthracite , the fire eventually goes out. Any suggestions on how to proceed ? (this is the first I've had a coal stove)

I read somewhere its magnesium shavings, you can find bags on eBay for 1.99$