Can You Mix Bit W/Anthacite ?

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davidmcbeth3
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Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Oct. 26, 2013 8:54 pm

Just wondering ... I like anthracite and know that bit takes more art than science ... so can you mix a 75/25 antracite/bit mixture?

Or 50/50 etc...

 
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LDPosse
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Post by LDPosse » Sun. Oct. 27, 2013 12:31 am

You can do a mix, it will definitely burn. What kind of bit do you have on hand? Give it a go, and let us know how it works out!

If you haven't tried bit yet, You can always burn it by itself. I've successfully burned bit in my DS circulator. The downside is that you don't get as long of burn times since you can't put bit in the hopper. An upside is that some bit seems to have less ash than most anthracite.

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Sun. Oct. 27, 2013 1:10 am

Just don't bury the bit with ant ... at least not without keeping those blue ladies givin ya a lappie ... or you'll have an ►EPIC◄ explosion. :lol: Seriously! That's how I split the glass on the Mark III in 2 pieces! House-shaking BOOM on that one. My wife's face was less than a foot from it when it happened too. She hasn't touched the stove since! That's one way of firing the help ... :D :lol:


 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Oct. 27, 2013 6:00 pm

SMITTY wrote:Just don't bury the bit with ant ... at least not without keeping those blue ladies givin ya a lappie ... or you'll have an ►EPIC◄ explosion. :lol: Seriously! That's how I split the glass on the Mark III in 2 pieces! House-shaking BOOM on that one. My wife's face was less than a foot from it when it happened too. She hasn't touched the stove since! That's one way of firing the help ... :D :lol:
So Smitty does not recommend a random mixing of bit & ant. or blames his wife (she was closest !)

 
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Berlin
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Post by Berlin » Sun. Oct. 27, 2013 6:19 pm

Mixing bit w/ anthracite's fine, but it ends up leaving you with the worst of both. Higher ash, lower btu, and higher cost than straight bituminous; more caking tendency (if using high coke button bit), smoke production, steeper learning curve than (depending on the coal) than anthracite. Definitely can't mix both if using a hopper.

If the stove is appropriate, there's nothing wrong with using a GOOD bituminous coal, many people really like it; if you have very close neighbors and it's high vol, you're going to have some smoke and smell downwind that others (living close by) may not like with a hand-fired stove using bituminous coal.

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Nov. 03, 2013 12:43 pm

Berlin wrote:Mixing bit w/ anthracite's fine, but it ends up leaving you with the worst of both. Higher ash, lower btu, and higher cost than straight bituminous; more caking tendency (if using high coke button bit), smoke production, steeper learning curve than (depending on the coal) than anthracite. Definitely can't mix both if using a hopper.

If the stove is appropriate, there's nothing wrong with using a GOOD bituminous coal, many people really like it; if you have very close neighbors and it's high vol, you're going to have some smoke and smell downwind that others (living close by) may not like with a hand-fired stove using bituminous coal.
I know about the issue with a hopper ... the bit will burn up up up into the hopper and then major issues happen when you open the hopper .... any bit=no hopper.

My Hitzer 503 can burn both ... but they tell you to remove the hopper if burning bit.


 
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oros35
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Post by oros35 » Mon. Nov. 04, 2013 9:08 am

I've been mixing in my Hub heater. Quite a learning curve but it is possible.

My Hub Heater is Anthracite or wood stove, and will Not work on straight Bit coal, I've tried and failed miserably. But I found that I can blend in about 25-35% Bit with the Ant and it burns pretty good.

The advantage is the Bit is over 50% cheaper. Disadvantage is if I do it wrong, I will fill the house with soot in a good puff back (but that's just operator error, and I'm getting much better!).

I'm in search of a similar stove that burns Bit coal, but haven't found one for the right price in the right condition.

 
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Duengeon master
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Post by Duengeon master » Thu. Nov. 07, 2013 7:46 pm

oros35 wrote:I've been mixing in my Hub heater. Quite a learning curve but it is possible.

My Hub Heater is Anthracite or wood stove, and will Not work on straight Bit coal, I've tried and failed miserably. But I found that I can blend in about 25-35% Bit with the Ant and it burns pretty good.

The advantage is the Bit is over 50% cheaper. Disadvantage is if I do it wrong, I will fill the house with soot in a good puff back (but that's just operator error, and I'm getting much better!).

I'm in search of a similar stove that burns Bit coal, but haven't found one for the right price in the right condition.
I do the same thing. It works well, but it is like you said, a learning curve. Usually bigger lumps work well and mixing it with anthracite on top but LEAVE A RED SPOT or you will get a nasty puff back!!!

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