What Put My Coal Fire Out?

I had a great coal fire going; deep bed of coals, all glowing bright orange, no dark spots, freshly cleaned out with no ash, and with so much heat I thought; 'What a great time to get rid of some magazines."

So...

I tossed in (1) magazine and it fire balled nicely, but when I checked the fire 30 minutes later, the magazine really had not burned. It had ballooned from its normal 1/4 inch depth to about 3 inches, every page visible and glowing, and did so for an hour, but at the same time, it put my coal fire out. I mean out!

I burn a lot of trash, but have never seen this before. I know it takes a hot fire to consume stacks of magazines...typically bon fires are where I burn my magazines, but as hot as this fire was, I thought it would work. I am just curious what put the coal fire out so quickly...the clay in the paper perhaps?

Interesting question...

Possilbility -

Coal fire has a light draft.

Magazine on top of the fire killed the draft before the magazine could be consumed.

Kill the draft, kill the fire.

Bonfires on the other hand have a lot of draft and sometimes a lot of draft beer!

Do you really need to know if it was the clay in the mags or just realize that it was probably not the best of game plans? Just curious. Come on NS, you're a ship builder, not a chemist. KISS PS--what the hell is clay doing in your magazines anyway?

Magazines burn like *censored* anyway - way too much ash. I don't throw any trash in the coal once I light it up for the season. The fire is very sensitive to airflow, and paper ash - especially what comes out of mags - will block that right up. I also found out that certain plastics are HIGHLY corrosive when burned. I save all that for the burn barrel.

If the barrel needs more draft, I make more ... with my .45 ..

I know with cars they make the prototype out of clay, maybe they do that with ships too?? So I could see why he has clay magazines.

With magazine paper they put clay in the mix to give the better a better shine when the ink is applied, that is why it burns harder, but also why it is glossy. They also use wax, but it is the clay glaze on the paper that really gives it that glossy look the magazine companies are after.

I was not trying to over-think this, it is just that this is about burning coal and well...after awhile there is only so many times you can discus the burning of black rocks. I just had never seen magazines burn this way before, and since it was different then what I expected, I thought I would post my experience of having a single magazine put out a blazingly hot coal fire.

I actually encourage people to try it, at least once. It was really cool to watch!

NoSmoke wrote:l...after awhile there is only so many times you can discus the burning of black rocks.

Horrors of all horrors...you can discuss the burning of black rocks forever.

My name is Larry and I am a black rock addict.

NS, That is something I never knew, I know clay is used for a lot of things, but I guess I will stop licking the centerfolds now

AND I don't think I'll be putting any on the fire, I already joined the muti match club....

Yo bd, clay won't hurt ya-- a little fiber in fact--soooo, no need to give that up--I'm sure not gonna, not with winter comin on the hill--hell, them sheep are only so good for so long Sorry about the sheep reference NS

I agree with Smitty about the paper ash blocking the air passage along with the over air fire starving the coal fire

You are right. I stand corrected. To coal burners everywhere I send 1000 apologies your way!

(No problem about the sheep reference Fred, I got thick skin!)

blrman07 wrote:

NoSmoke wrote:l...after awhile there is only so many times you can discus the burning of black rocks.

Horrors of all horrors...you can discuss the burning of black rocks forever.

My name is Larry and I am a black rock addict.

Blame the wife ! Likely an air flow issue ... amount of clay in paper is rather small (~5%) ...

freetown fred wrote:Yo bd, clay won't hurt ya-- a little fiber in fact--soooo, no need to give that up--I'm sure not gonna, not with winter comin on the hill--hell, them sheep are only so good for so long Sorry about the sheep reference NS

Fred... I am beginning to think of changing my screename, address, phone number....
LOL At least I'm learning which members to watch out for...

I have to agree with others; The magazine blocked the air flow through the coal fire. At the same time, the coal fire uses most of the oxygen before it gets to the magazine. This is why the magazine (or any other paper) doesn't instantly burst into flames from the intense heat of a coal fire. Of course, the tight pages of magazines are hard to burn anyways.

Plain and simple just BURN COAL Go outside with a few beers and burn everything else. Been there done that not worth the agrivation