Lighting a stoker

Brand new to heating with coal and tonight was the maiden voyage with our new Leisure Line Hyfire II. I must say, this could not have been easier. I lit the stove on both burners using generic match light charcoal. I placed about 10-12 whole pieces on the bottom of the ramp, with the power off. I got the charcoal going with a quick blast of mapp gas and let it get happy for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, I opened the door, sprinkled on some coal and turned the power on. Within a few minutes, I was in coal heaven. I couldn't believe how easy it was. This surely is a testament to the design and build quality of the Leisure Line stoves. Looking forward to waving to the oil man as he drives down the road.

I went down to empty my coal ash. I'm in the habit of turning off the feed motor while I do it so ash doesn't drop while I'm working. So you guessed it, I forgot to turn the feed motor on again. Another out fire. Me too Came home tonite house was warm but something wasn't quite right. Yep forgot to turn Coal-trol on after emptying ash pan. 28 years with a hand fed that would never happnen. 2nd year with a stoker another rookie mistake.

HEAT GUN!!!!!!! I did not read all the post on here so I'm not sure if it was mentioned. I bought my first coal stove this year. Harman super mag. Power went out and I lost my fire. The company that installed it made building a fire look very easy. Add some wood pellets, squirt some blue goo on the pile, light and your done. Not the case. I didn't have any blue goo but purchase 3 mice instead. I burned them all up and no fire. I used kindling with no good results. After a couple of hours I did get the fire going. House full of smoke and my girlfriend laughing at me. The whole reason for replacing the wood stove with the stoker was to make life easier. She grabbed her laptop and found a blog. Wagner Heat gun 750-1000 watts $24.99. I purchased one. A short heat spell came through our area and a shut the stove down and cleaned it. Temps dropped and it was time to start the stove. Per the blog. I piled some rice coal on the grates. Put the nose of the heat gun up to it and turned it on. 3 mins tops I had a nice little fire going. Turned the stove on and I was done. Let me tell you this works and it is Easy, easy, easy. Thanks from Northeastern, PA

Using Ideas from this thread, I lit my aa130 yesterday with the cowboy (lump) charcoal and paper bag method. Works like a charm.

Thought I would post pictures as not too many are on this thread.

Continuing post

LsFarm wrote:Hi Yanche, I thought you used the torch from underneath at the bottom of the firebox/grate. And the combustion blower pulled the flame up through the bed of coal.

I'm kind of surprised the top of the coal will light from the inspection port, I'll have to give it a try when I fire up my AA boiler in a week or two [I hope].

Greg

I just make a small channel pit in the viewport area toss in 5-10 lighter fluid briquettes thru the viewport, hit them with the map, and then when they are going well in about 5 minutes i mix some of the surrounding coal, close the viewport and turn the blower on while keeping the ashing off.

The first few times i tried lighting it from the bottom with a giant map bottle and firestarter wood logs it was taking forever and made a smokey mess.

Steamup,
What the blue stuff some sort of cast/foam insulation?

Funny I got the same gloves at lowes. Less that 2$.

ValterBorges wrote:What the blue stuff some sort of cast/foam insulation?

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

I think I would have gone for some flat black or gray paint, but blue works.

The insulation was white. The blue was leftover paint from a previous painting project. I like to use leftovers before I buy new. Besides, not too many people see the boiler but me and those on this forum.

steamup wrote:The insulation was white. The blue was leftover paint from a previous painting project. I like to use leftovers before I buy new. Besides, not too many people see the boiler but me and those on this forum.

Same here. My EFM looks like a Woolly Mammoth with blond hair! (Wrapped with fiberglass bats).

Cherry wood kindle and a fire starting brick. Works every time

Rob R. wrote:

steamup wrote:The insulation was white. The blue was leftover paint from a previous painting project. I like to use leftovers before I buy new. Besides, not too many people see the boiler but me and those on this forum.

Same here. My EFM looks like a Woolly Mammoth with blond hair! (Wrapped with fiberglass bats).

Gotta see this Post a pic

I have made my own lighters using a good sized handful of planer shavings from my woodshop dust collector, a good sized handful of lump charcoal, both inside a narrow brown paper bag (like they put wine and liquor bottles in at the PALCB State Stores) fold the end and staple shut. place the bag on the grate, pile some coal over the backside, light the bag, close door, turn on combustion blower and go about my business. Works and cheap! Repurposing the planer shavings and paper bags!

I'm sorry I have not read all the posts. I have a older alaska stoker with the tri-burner carpet feed been using for 19 years. Back in the day I bought these mice starters on cardboard for about $.75 worked everytime no duds. Then a few years ago they changed to the little box mice and at first I paid $1.00 and I would get a couple duds and the coal man would throw in a couple extra because he knew there would be duds. Last year $2.00 for one so I bought 10 and 5 were duds with no extras from my coal man. I'm not paying $20 to $30 a season to light my stove. In the past I have used wood,charcoal,electric heating element for grills,blow torch. None really worked and smelled up the house with lighter fluid or keosone or a wood burning smell.
USE A HEAT GUN!!!! I saw this on the net and thought ya right. I tried it and it works great. Takes about 3 to 5 min. When you see the flame turn to a yellow white flame pull the heat gun back a little or it will melt the end of the gun-(don't ask LOL). I will never buy mice again unless they are dirt cheap and only for the wife. If the power gos out(no electric)I would use a coffee can or a charcoal chimmey grill starter. But if you have power a heat gun works for me. I used to leave my stove running early and late in the season cause I didn't want the hassle of starting it but no more that is how great it works for me.
HEAT GUN!
HEAT GUN!
HEAT GUN!

Tried everything this year wood pellets with paper over top, quickest fire yet. Only a large cup of pellets