Coal Size vs Quality

Hello all,

It has been a while since I last posted.

This is my first year burning my Leisure Line Pocono, and 'all in all' it is going very well.

What I have noticed is, that coal from different mines can be very different.
I got some coal at Jeddo Coal, near the LL store in Drums PA, and "by golly" that stuff burns hot!
I call it the "scarry hot coal"

Then I got some coal from Popels Coal, just off the Pittston Bypass, near Scranton, and that stuff burns ok, but certainly not "scarry hot"

What I mean by "scarry hot" is a really bright fire with flames that are more than a few inches high, more close to a foot high, and a hot metal smell, comming off the stove.

So, the only real visual difference between them, is that the Jeddo Coal pieces are slightly smaller in size on average, and perhaps a little more shiny.

So, is it that smaller coal burns hotter in a LL Stoker?, or does the Jeddo mine just have better coal?...or both?
I would be interested in hearing what you all think.

Thanks

Mark

Jeddo in general has great product.

Hudson Anthracite (Popple's) makes the best in the Wyoming Valley but it's also quite expensive because it all has to be trucked to the processing plant. You can get coal from them comparable in quality to anything available but it's a hit and miss deal. Overall it will range from Good to very good, chances of getting a bad product are slim to none. One thing to note about their product is that the sizing is so consistent its almost ridiculous.

Is Hudson and Popels the same place?...turn right at United Beverage?

The prices at the breaker were nearly the same between Poples and Jeddo for me this year, with my pickup truck.

Anyway, what I am wondering, is?
Does some coal just burn SINGNIFICANTLY hotter than others, or is it because the size is smaller, and just working better in my Leisure Line Stoker. I do notice that the fire band looks wider with the smaller coal. Can I expect an even hotter fire if I go down one size below rice?

Mark

markm4 wrote:Is Hudson and Popels the same place?...turn right at United Beverage?

Yes, I edited my post. Popples does or did have plant in Duryea, I don't know if it still exists.

markm4 wrote: Can I expect an even hotter fire if I go down one size below rice?

Mark

Leisure Line does not recomend going smaller than rice because it can get under the shovel and cause the stoker motor to fail.

Richard S. wrote:One thing to note about their product is that the sizing is so consistent its almost ridiculous.

Just to add it's consistent on the larger end of the scale. In the rice for example whereas with other breakers you might have some Barley its almost non-existent in their product.