Well after 24 hours of the TS Kimmels, I've found out that it sure does burn hotter then anything I've been able to get so far.
Granted, this is just one bag so far, but it noticeably lights quicker, and snaps and pops less than any coal I've ever tried. So, I can set the primary and MPD back to cruise that much sooner after each reload. I didn't time it, but the reloading wait times seem to be cut by about 1/3. I was having to do more to slow it down - even with the warm weather impact on draft.
Example. Yesterday afternoon it was 75 F outside. To slow it down, the range not only was damped down like I do for overnight, I had to open the check damper about double the gap I normally use in cold weather. Even at that, the stack temp was staying 20-25 degrees higher than it does with the bulk nut. The range was acting like it does when I've used Blaschak stove coal in cold weather when the draft is much stronger.
It responded more quickly to increases in damper opening when we wanted more heat, but it also takes more care to not get the range so hot that we're burning food.
I can see where this would have an advantage for those who are trying to get a bit more heat out of a small stove, or trying to bring back a dying fire, or have a not-so-strong draft condition. This burning hotter should help some without having to go to a larger size coal to increase the draft.
I notice this coal is duller, not as shiny as the bulk nut, or the bagged Blaschak stove size, I've been getting. Some of that dullness is from the wet dust coating when it dries out. But even at that, putting the shovel into it in the coal bucket it sounds duller too. Doesn't give the bucket and shovel the same hard ring that the shiny (also delivered wet) bulk coal, or the Blaschak bagged does.
Plus there was quite a bit of fines and small bits in the bottom of the bag. A higher proportion then I get in the bulk.
Ash seems to be the same color and volume as the bulk nut and Blaschak bagged stove.
For me, the real down side of this burning hotter, with the range having a small-ish firebox, is as I suspected, it had burned up more over night. There is no way that I can see a full firebox load of this lasting as long as the bulk nut I've been getting. After 9 hours overnight, this morning the firebox looked like it does when it's gone 11-12 hours.
And I goofed about the price in my post back on page three.
The Blaschak stove bags I've been getting are 40 lb bags, not 50 lbs. at $6.00 each from a local dealer. So the TS Kimmels works out to $50.00 a ton less than I can get Blaschak bagged.
In fact, if it stays at $4.99 a 40 pound bag and no sales tax, the TS Kimmels is cheaper than even the bulk from both of my two nearest dealers.
Paul