Lighting a stoker

I use wood pellets and starter gel. I have a half moon ring made from stainless steel that I wedge at the end of the burn zone of the grate. I put about 1-2" of coal at the bottom then about a9 oz. cup full of pellets then coal the rest of the way up. I spread some gel on the top of the pellets light the gel and close the door. I then wait about 2 minuts and I turn on the combustion fan which I cover the air inlet about half with a thin piece of aluminum. I let it burn about 30 seconds then I open the door and put about 1/3 a fire shovel of coal on top of the pellets close the door and remove the cover over the air inlet. Within about 2 minuts you have a roaring coal fire.

For those looking for "mice" online...this auction is about to end, but I'm sure there will be more.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=020

I use a charcoal chimney, similar to the ones you see for bbq but I use a pound coffee can. I fill it with crumpled paper, charcoal and then top it with coal. Light it, let it get started then turn on the draft. The thing will get red hot in minutes. I then pull it out with gloves and pliers. Works good for me and have been doing it for three seasons.

Road flare's work great for me in my Alaska channing.

BK

Greyhound wrote:For those looking for "mice" online...this auction is about to end, but I'm sure there will be more.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=020

Thanks guys!!!

I always struggle to get my stove going. I bough soe of those firestarter logs, but they don't always get hot enough.

I just bought a 12 pack. I'm gonna give some to my dad also. He uses pieces of wood to get his going.

The coal mice are by far the easiest thing to use. I buy them directly from the Alaska Stove store in Bloomsburg Pa. $1.00 a piece.

Is there any place else that ships mice fire starters? That ebay auction above ended. Thanks.

If you check that auction listing for either seller's other items or his eBay store you could probably find some there.

jpen1 wrote:II have a half moon ring made from stainless steel that I wedge at the end of the burn zone of the grate.

Those half moon pieces are a great idea, I saw one for the first time at the Leisure Line Factory Store Open House a couple weeks back. Jerry gives one with every stove.

Gonna have to make me on of them.

My coal guy makes these fire starters in paper lunch bags. I get 15/$10 and he brought them with my first 3 ton coal shipment. All I do is bury them in the coal on the grate and light the bag. They work like a charm. If anyone wants his name and number I can get it for you. He might mail them if you paid postage.

Just make sure the ring is 316L or 310 stainless or it won't last but a few tries. It tried one out of 304L just for laughs and it pretty much destroyed it after one lighting. The 316L ring I used all last year and it looks great. If you can find 310 stainless it would work the best for this application. 310 isn't as resistant to corrosion but it has a continious heat rating of over 2200* F instead of 1700-1800* for 316L.

JpenI, what are the heat resistance numbers for 409 SS ??

Greg L

Hey guys, before I cut out a small ring out of a coffee can I was using the el-cheapo shims from Lowes and just jamming them in place at the end of the grate. By the time the coal fire was established the wood had burned through and I didnt have to touch anything. Of course I have said I use the mice exclusively now but I do still use the coffee can piece when lighting and fish it out of the ashes when I dump them in the front yard.

I'll have to look monday when I go into work I think it is about 1800* continous heat rating rating 2000* peak non sustained temp.. My metal spec. book I keep handy on my desk. I should make a copy of the stainless properties pages .

what is the half moon ring and does it get pushed off into the fire box????i use coal mice to start my channing.