Cant Get the Stoves Temp up This Year??

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xaos
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Post by xaos » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 12:15 pm

Ever since the temps fell all of a sudden I cant get my US Stove Ashley up over 325*.
It seems as though I am getting a lot of fines in my coal, using a chestnut size. its nut size and smaller pieces.
But I am noticing a lot of black dust when I shovel out to feed and also after I feed when I put the shovel down there is still fines on it. It would seem this is chocking off my air quite a bit. Is there a good / easy way of filtering or sifting this out?

 
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caesar10211
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Post by caesar10211 » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 1:00 pm

Recently I had the same situation with my supply. By no means am I an expert in coal dept. but I'll tell ya what I've been doing. I recently got a supply of bulk nut sized coal. (I usually buy bagged) I noticed the same problem. The stove just wouldn't go. What I did was screen it with a 1/2" shaker screen I made. I throw a couple of shovels on then shake over a wheel barrow. All the fines and very small coal pieces fall out and I'm left with a nice (cleaner) nut size coal. It's a pain and a little time consuming, but the stove is running normal now. Normally I buy bagged, which for the most part has been less labor intensive. However I couldn't turn down the deal I got. Hopefully some of the bulk buyers will respond and maybe we'll both learn something.

 
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I'm On Fire
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Post by I'm On Fire » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 1:40 pm

I burn Kimmels (bagged) coal and I too get a lot of fines from the bottom of the bag as I empty the bags into the tote next to my stove. What I do is mix the coal up after I pour it into the tote so the fines go to the bottom. I never let the tote go empty to avoid getting the fines. Although, after I pour a new bag in the coal is generally wet so I do get some fines. I haven't had much trouble burning the coal with the fines though.

This probably doesn't help you if you buy bulk though.


 
CapeCoaler
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Post by CapeCoaler » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 1:58 pm

I do SSM operations...
I relieve people of their unwanted coal from unused basement bins...
Total cleanout bin is removed floor left broom clean...
I have a screen of 1/2" hardware cloth on a 3'x4' frame...
The bin will have a natural sizing order so I get 3 sizings out of it...
All clean Nut is off the top of the bin...
Middle is 70/30 Nut/Pea range...
The bottom is Fines and a 50/50 Nut/Pea range...
The middle and bottom get tossed on the screen...
And the Fines are sifted out...
The screen setup drops both the good coal and the fines into seperate barrels...

 
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caesar10211
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Post by caesar10211 » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 2:29 pm

capecoaler, I would love to see a pic of your operation.

 
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xaos
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Post by xaos » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 2:44 pm

Thanx for the input.
I have been contemplating sifting it through a screen of sorts, I do have bulk and probably 2 tons left.
It was pretty frozen when I picked it up and now its thawed out in my garage coal bin..
Didn't have this issue last year, same supplier, I guess maybe he is getting it from a different supplier??
Bad enough having to watch my son shovel it off my ford :D now I will have to make a sifter.
CapeCoaler would love to see a picture of your setup :idea:
Oh well it could be worse, I could be using OIL :!:


 
rberq
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Post by rberq » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 5:32 pm

I had your problem last Winter with a pallet of Kimmel nut. After shaking down and reloading the stove, it would take a couple of hours before it was burning well again because the excessive fines blocked air flow through the coal bed. I tried screening, which worked but it was WAY too much effort. I wound up sending most of the pallet back to the dealer, who returned it to the distributor.

 
CapeCoaler
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Post by CapeCoaler » Wed. Dec. 08, 2010 6:39 pm

It is pretty simple...
Frame up on legs, 30 degree angle...
Two barrels, one at the bottom of the slope to catch the good coal...
Another barrel under the screen to catch the fines...
Shovel coal up on screen, let the coal roll down into the good bucket and the fines fall thru the screen into the other barrel...
The trick is when emptying the bins from the basement to sort the top middle and bottom...
Then you really only have to screen one third of the bin...
The screen is also a good tool for screening soil and compost...

 
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I'm On Fire
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Post by I'm On Fire » Thu. Dec. 09, 2010 10:21 am

Cape,

I may also have to try that with my bagged Kimmel coal.

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