Coal Fireplace Basket Suggestions/Comments

ASHDUMP · Post by **ASHDUMP** » Mon. Nov. 04, 2013 9:14 pm

I found a place not far from me that sells anthracite and bituminous lump coal. I might try burning some lump this year to see what its all about. I have a fire place grate that is about 5" up off the ground. Can I just pile a bunch of lump coal on it and see if it can burn? Or should I get a special coal burning basket? Stupid questions here but this is all new to me.

Post by **dcrane** » Mon. Nov. 04, 2013 9:17 pm

ASHDUMP wrote:I found a place not far from me that sells anthracite and bituminous lump coal. I might try burning some lump this year to see what its all about. I have a fire place grate that is about 5" up off the ground. Can I just pile a bunch of lump coal on it and see if it can burn? Or should I get a special coal burning basket? Stupid questions here but this is all new to me.

I never really tried it but I think cowboys used to use the stuff right in their camp fires on open ground so I don't see why it wouldent work.

Berlin · Post by **Berlin** » Mon. Nov. 04, 2013 10:20 pm

ASHDUMP wrote:I found a place not far from me that sells anthracite and bituminous lump coal. I might try burning some lump this year to see what its all about. I have a fire place grate that is about 5" up off the ground. Can I just pile a bunch of lump coal on it and see if it can burn? Or should I get a special coal burning basket? Stupid questions here but this is all new to me.

Take a look at that pic I posted, that fire is burning on a standard fireplace grate. Just place the lumps in the fire like logs (i like to use a welder's glove on one hand to do so). Just get a small wood fire with kindling or scrap going, then place the lump coal around and over it.

For a fireplace you want a large lump, free-burning, HIGH volatile bituminous coal.

DePippo79 · Post by **DePippo79** » Mon. Nov. 04, 2013 10:28 pm

ASHDUMP, Where did you find bituminous coal? Matt

ASHDUMP · Post by **ASHDUMP** » Tue. Nov. 05, 2013 9:35 am

A place in Braintree MA called Williams Energy. I sent them an email and they replied back saying they had anthracite in 40# bags and bituminous coal in 50# bags. I replied and requested pricing. Not sure what their costs are.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Tue. Nov. 05, 2013 10:39 am

Yo bro check this out....http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Cast-Iron-Wood-Co ... 4607929%26 it is in Hull, massashootit's!...Thanks to dc, this was a secondary item in Illinois bargain thread doug just posted.

DePippo79 · Post by **DePippo79** » Tue. Nov. 05, 2013 5:05 pm

Thank you ASHDUMP. Might have to take a ride. Mike A. nice link. To anyone who buys anything cast that has to be shipped make sure you get it insured. I know it saved me. I've seen a few coal baskets turn up in antique stores. They are usually hidden under shelving or furniture. Matt

ASHDUMP · Post by **ASHDUMP** » Fri. Nov. 08, 2013 4:26 pm

Well I went down to Williams Energy to pick up a couple bags of anthracite and a bag of bituminous coal. They said it was blacksmith coal and really ground up and wouldn't be good for a fireplace. So I passed on that and only got two bags of anthracite for the weekend. Now, these guys were great and let me take a small box of larger anthracite coal home to try in the fireplace. I'm a little leery to put this in the fireplace but might give it a shot. The pieces are about 6"x3"x2".

DePippo79 · Post by **DePippo79** » Wed. Mar. 05, 2014 7:24 pm

Hello guys. Got my hands on some bit. coal today. Stuff is cool. Think my friend and I are going to take a trip to PA. He wants fireworks and I want a p/u load of bit. coal for the fireplaces. My friend says the fireworks for sale are better in PA. than NH. Different class of explosive. So if anyone knows of a mine/breaker that I can drive a p/u truck to and get a loader bucket of coal please chime in. He already did his research on the fireworks. Starting burning at 1830. Curious to see how long it goes. Take care. Matt

Berlin · Post by **Berlin** » Thu. Mar. 06, 2014 8:02 am

Great! Where did you find it? in NH?

Closest to you I know of with high vol bituminous lump coal is Valier - $85/ton for their "oversize" (lump) coal. call before you go, a lot of places are real low on house coal this time of year.

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Thu. Mar. 06, 2014 4:54 pm

85 bucks a ton, for bit!!?? Wow! Why so cheap, compared to anthracite?

Berlin · Post by **Berlin** » Thu. Mar. 06, 2014 11:42 pm

joeq wrote:85 bucks a ton, for bit!!?? Wow! Why so cheap, compared to anthracite?

There's a LOT more of it and the major industrial users keep the supply stable and the prices low. Bit house coal, lump, or stoker can go for between $35 -140/ton at the source depending on quality, size, and other variables; there are a lot more variables with bit coal than anthracite. Many of these variables are neither "good" or "bad", but one or more variables may make the coal desirable for one use and not another - for example, blacksmiths like a high coke button low/mid volatile bituminous coal, but for a fireplace you want a high volatile low/no coke button bituminous coal. With bit coal, unlike anthracite, you need to undertake more effort to find a coal quality, type, and size that's suitable for your specific application.

DePippo79 · Post by **DePippo79** » Sat. Mar. 08, 2014 2:16 pm

Thanks as always. I'll look into Valier. Won't be till I get my tax refund anyway. As for the source it helps to have friends in Industry. I did try a guy in Mass. that fires his own bricks and asked him if I could buy a couple 5 gal. buckets frrom him and he started on this rant about if the EPA ever found out. Don't know if he was pulling my chain or not, but thats ok. I got some. Thanks again. Matt

Coal Fireplace Basket Suggestions/Comments

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