Stove Coal

I was given about 500# of what I think is stove size coal and was wondering what you thought would be the best way to burn it in my handfired unit
It was in a basement for the last 20 or 30 years it is real black and very shiny so I guess it's anthracite But I don't really know what bituminuos coal looks like.

I have a been burning some chestnut and then covering it at night with pea and it seems to be working good.
I don't know if I should start the fire bed with the stove size or if I should just add it a little at a time when the fire gets rolling along.
Or maybe a few scoops on top at night.

So much coal,so many questions so litttle time

Tim

my $.02 would be to mix in a bit at a time. I think the bigger the size, the harder/faster/hotter the burn, so maybe throw some pea on top to keep the big stuff from taking off.

I would save it for those bitter cold nights, that stuff can crank out some heat.

I too have inherited about 2 1/2 tons of stove coal.
Shoveled it into 100# feed bags and carried it up and out of the basement of a house being remodled. Needless to say that was alot of work.

I use nut coal and wasn't sure how or if I could use the stove coal. My biggest concern is if it will burn well enough to be shaken through my grates without tearing things apart.
I asked my coal man for advise when he was here and he suggested that I mix it in when using the stove hard during very cold weather. We'll see how it goes. Can't beat the price.

If the stove coal is fairly low ash, and you load it in a deep bed of coal, it should not cause you any problems with shaking down the ash, or jamming the grates.

I'd mix it in with the nut coal, and see how you like it. I've used stove in my boiler when I was hand feeding it. the stove coal burns hot, and faster than nut. Mine had a high ash content, so I had issues with my grates. But it sure burned hot!! Which is what I needed.

All that free coal... I'm jealous...

Greg L