How to Light a Hand Fired Coal Stove

I have a buildup around it already from the past 2 hours of atempting to get it lite. Should I just leave it where it is? Its about 2 or 3" deep

It's best to fill the fire box full. Coal likes a deep bed. Chris

zeeklu wrote:It's best to fill the fire box full. Coal likes a deep bed. Chris

But should I let it spread sideways before I keep adding to the top?

MidnightMadman wrote:I have a buildup around it already from the past 2 hours of atempting to get it lite. Should I just leave it where it is? Its about 2 or 3" deep

Thats fine just leave that where it is just keep up the good work on building on the fire.

zeeklu wrote:It's best to fill the fire box full. Coal likes a deep bed. Chris

Once you have a well established fire then you can throw 20lb or so on at one time with no problems but he is just stating to build it up.

Its spreading on its own real nice now! My heat reclaimer even kicked on.

My glass is coated with something that doesnt want to come off. It came off in little areas with a paper towel.. what can I do?

MidnightMadman wrote:My glass is coated with something that doesnt want to come off. It came off in little areas with a paper towel.. what can I do?

Leave the glass for now..... but fill your stove up completely!! (You don't have to wait for the sides to catch....Just keep adding coal to the whole firebed until you are at the top of the firebrick with the ash door open. When the stove is completely full, wait for the temp to rise to where you want it & then close the ash door with your air control about 1/2 way open. Then check the temp in about 30 minutes to adjust the air controls for the night. Top it off with fresh coal b4 you goto bed tonight.

Edit: Check with us tomorrow morning for you first very light shake down & refill. (the fire you just built should last the whole winter for you!!!....We'll help you keep it going....The hard part is over!!)

Devil505 wrote:

MidnightMadman wrote:My glass is coated with something that doesnt want to come off. It came off in little areas with a paper towel.. what can I do?

Leave the glass for now..... but fill your stove up completely!! (You don't have to wait for the sides to catch....Just keep adding coal to the whole firebed until you are at the top of the firebrick with the ash door open. When the stove is completely full, wait for the temp to rise to where you want it & then close the ash door with your air control about 1/2 way open. Then check the temp in about 30 minutes to adjust the air controls for the night. Top it off with fresh coal b4 you goto bed tonight.

Edit: Check with us tomorrow morning for you first very light shake down & refill. (the fire you just built should last the whole winter for you!!!....We'll help you keep it going....The hard part is over!!)

Ok. I just put the banking plate in. BUT im scared to add that much coal all at once. It wont smother?

MidnightMadman wrote:BUT im scared to add that much coal all at once. It wont smother?

As long as you leave a section still flaming well, you can dump as much as you want on the other part. Divide you coal bed in 1/2. Fill 1/2 full while leaving the other side untouched & flaming. When flames come out on the side you filled, you can level off the whole thing. Leave the ash door oopen until both sides are filled to the top & the temp has climbed to where you want it. Only then close the ash door .....with the air controls about 1/2 way open to start.You're doing great!

Cool. This is Exciting!

When can expect some serious HEAT to start building?

MidnightMadman wrote:Cool. This is Exciting!

When can expect some serious HEAT to start building?

With the ash door fully open I'll bet 10-15 minutes!

What stove are you burning?

I have a GIBRALTAR SCR

I have some blue flames coming up now!

MidnightMadman wrote:I have some blue flames coming up now!

If the blue flames are coming from the side you filled b4, then go ahead & fill the other side too. Leave the ash door open until the whole stove is full & flaming & at the temp you want. (Somewhere between 200*-300* should be good, depending on your house's needs for warmth.

Its flaming in the middle. When I filled it up more I dug a little out of the center. I dont have a themo. so I am not sure of my temps. I do know the heat reclaimer is supposed to click on at a certain temp. But it didnt say what the temp was in the inst.

Supposed to drop to about 12 degrees here tonight!! I picked a good day to finish this project.

MidnightMadman wrote:When can expect some serious HEAT to start building?

Right now your sending a lot of your heat up the chimney with the ash door open. After you close it and set your damper to 1/2 way as Devil said you'll start to feel the heat better. Just remeber coal is slow to react so when you change the damper you have to give it 30 or 40 min to see the difference.