Holy fines!!

I have been burning coal for about 5 or 6 years now and would still be considered in the eyes of some as a newbie. I have used a number of suppliers locally and made a trip to Hudson last year for a ton to try. Been using the same dealer now for 3 years with no problems. His coal is Reading. This year I cannot believe the fines in this stuff. Seems I have to pull the pusher block about every 3-4 weeks to clean it of the fines getting caught above and below the block. Needless to say, I'm quite good at taking it apart and cleaning it then putting it back together. Got it down to about 15 minutes. When it gets fines in there, it starts to groan and gets annoying not to mention the fact that the block gets hard to move cuasing the stoker motor to work much harder. Also It may be wearing the cam more than normal. I don't think there is much I can do about it except to live with it for this season. The coal burns fine and heat and ash seem to be about right. The coal I got from Hudson I really liked. It was white ash and seemed to be very clean. The coal I got locally this year seems to be a bit larger and inconsistant in size. Wish I could try some of the coal from further south like UAE or one of the more recommended brands. Going to try and find someone around here that has Blaschak and give it a try.

I had a pallet of Kimmel nut last year with so many fines it was impractical to burn it. Each time I reloaded the stove, the fines would clog up the coal bed so it took a couple hours of nursing the fire before it was burning well again. Just not enough air could get through the coal. Once I got it going again, the coal burned nicely. Fortunately the dealer was willing to take back most of the pallet.

ceccil wrote:The coal I got from Hudson I really liked. It was white ash and seemed to be very clean.

Hudson always had very clean and very consistent sizing on the rice.

If I had the means I would go back to Hudson for my coal. I would need to get my whole seasons worth in one trip to make it worthwhile though. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a trailer that would haul enough.

I always get fines ... but that's not the suppliers fault. By the time bagged coal gets to MA ... and especially when it gets to MA on these roads ... it gets the crap beat out of it. Bouncing off other cargo for hundreds of miles ... then gets forklifted around a dealer, bouncing the whole way. Then it gets hauled to my house. Then the pallet gets broken down, and my wife doesn't place them gently at the cellar window -- she sort of drops them there ... then I carry them over and drop them in a tall pile in the basement. Lots of rough handling & movement. It's a wonder there's anything left after that journey!