Kimmel's Anthracite Nut, Light Gray/Tan Ash
- PC 12-47E
- Member
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Tue. Nov. 25, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: Mid Coast, Maine
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Estate Heatrola, Jotul 507
Over the last few years we have burned Kimmel's anthracite 90% of the time because of the price and distance to pick up (eight miles) . The ash content has always been high with a red iron color. The good heat output and quick response to a draft change has been much the same over this time.
The Three Jotul 507s that we are heating with on average, in the cold temps, take about 75-80 cranks of the shaker handle to shake the stove- three times a day with the Red Ash Kimmel's.
Now with the light gray/tan ash Kimmel's, the coal and bags are much cleaner with much fewer fines.
The ash content is almost half of the red ash Kimmels. Our Jotuls only need about 45-50 cranks to shake down. We may be able to shake only twice a day at this point.
With the gray/tan ash, the heat output is good but the coal needs a bit more draft air and is slower to respond to a draft change. Also the burn time has gone up about three hours per load....
Has anyone else seen this with Kimmel's??
The Three Jotul 507s that we are heating with on average, in the cold temps, take about 75-80 cranks of the shaker handle to shake the stove- three times a day with the Red Ash Kimmel's.
Now with the light gray/tan ash Kimmel's, the coal and bags are much cleaner with much fewer fines.
The ash content is almost half of the red ash Kimmels. Our Jotuls only need about 45-50 cranks to shake down. We may be able to shake only twice a day at this point.
With the gray/tan ash, the heat output is good but the coal needs a bit more draft air and is slower to respond to a draft change. Also the burn time has gone up about three hours per load....
Has anyone else seen this with Kimmel's??
- 2001Sierra
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- Joined: Wed. May. 20, 2009 8:09 am
- Location: Wynantskill NY, 10 miles from Albany
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90 Chimney vent
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Buderus Oil Boiler 3115-34
I believe Kimmel does not have any active mines, they just process coal from other sources. White ash or red ash coal will have different characteristics in hand fed stoves more so than stokers.
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12520
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
Sounds like they found a better source ...... for now.
Whatever I was burning from them was absolute garbage. That stuff had reddish ash too (and rocks ...). Bituminous would have been better!
Whatever I was burning from them was absolute garbage. That stuff had reddish ash too (and rocks ...). Bituminous would have been better!
- I'm On Fire
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- Joined: Thu. Jun. 10, 2010 9:34 am
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machines DS-1600 Hot Air Circulator
I'm still burning last years Kimmel's coal. I should be getting another ton either this or next weekend. I've never found rocks in it. Only the occasional piece of wood which I burn.
- Rob R.
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- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I bought a tractor trailer load of nut coal from them in 2008 and it produced a dark pink colored ash. Fast forward to last week when I burned 500 lbs of their rice...it produced a tan colored ash. I did not notice any foreign material, and it produced plenty of heat.
-Rob
-Rob
I've been burning Kimmel's nut all this season and had no problems. Seems to burn similar to the Blaschak I've tried. Gray ash, rather than red. Since I'm relatively new to this, I can't compare to other year's supply.
- CoalHeat
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- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
Burning it this week in the Harman, producing very light tan ash.
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- Posts: 6445
- Joined: Mon. Apr. 16, 2007 9:34 pm
- Location: Central Maine
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 1300 with hopper
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak Anthracite Nut
- Other Heating: Oil hot water radiators (fuel oil); propane
I have burned mostly Kimmel nut for the last few years. I haven't noticed any pattern of red vs. gray ash. The ash does seem to be coarse and scaly, rather than powdery, makes for lots of grinding noises when shaking down. Kimmel has always burned well, except one pallet that had so many fines they clogged the fire and I sent the pallet back. I am burning mostly Blaschak stove size this year. I don't feel I am getting nearly the heat that the Kimmel produces. But I don't know how much that is attributable to the different coal, and how much to the different size.
- I'm On Fire
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- Joined: Thu. Jun. 10, 2010 9:34 am
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machines DS-1600 Hot Air Circulator
Been burning th"new" Kimmel's since Saturday. I've noticed little to no fines in it. Seems to "catch" rather quickly, lots of yellow flames when you first put it in the fire. Found I can pack it in the DS too and I get Blue Ladies with no puff-backs. Noticed a little less ash too.
I did notice smoke coming out of the top of the chimney this morning though, don't recall Kimmel's doing that before. Anyone else get any smoke? It doesn't last long though, seemed to only do it when I filled the DS up for the day.
I did notice smoke coming out of the top of the chimney this morning though, don't recall Kimmel's doing that before. Anyone else get any smoke? It doesn't last long though, seemed to only do it when I filled the DS up for the day.
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- Member
- Posts: 6445
- Joined: Mon. Apr. 16, 2007 9:34 pm
- Location: Central Maine
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 1300 with hopper
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak Anthracite Nut
- Other Heating: Oil hot water radiators (fuel oil); propane
I have seen it with both Kimmel and Blaschak, right after putting a lot of fresh coal on top of a hot fire, and there is a good draft through the fresh coal. I assume it is un-ignited gases, the kind that can cause the stove to go boom under the right circumstances. Once I see the blue flames, no more dark smoke.I'm On Fire wrote:I did notice smoke coming out of the top of the chimney this morning though
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
Burning Kimmel's nut in the Harman since yesterday, so far it is burning very well.
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12520
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
I always got smoke with Kimmel's when first lighting up or loading. Also had a smell .... didn't know what the smell was until forum member Dungeon Master gave me a bag of PA bituminous -- was exactly the same smell, & had quite a few of the same qualities. I must've got a bad vein those 3 seasons I burned it.
- I'm On Fire
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- Joined: Thu. Jun. 10, 2010 9:34 am
- Location: Vernon, New Jersey
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machines DS-1600 Hot Air Circulator
Ok cool, didn't think it was anything to truly be worried about just never encountered it before. Thanks.