Anthracite or bituminous? Help!

I think there should be a required subject in school science classes called "Principles of Coal Combustion". In this course, the instructor would repeat over and over "The combustion air must all enter the chamber from beneath, and flow up and through the grates on which a solid bed of fuel sits". While drawing on the chalkboard with directional arrows showing the air path.

I have tried to explain this to woodburners over and over, and they give me vague nods and blank uh....'s. They later tell me "the coal wouldn't burn". GEEZ LISTEN TO ME, I repeat "The combustion air must..."

Right now I'm using charcoal briquettes to light it. I've used the hardwood kindling but could never get a deep enough and hot enough bed to ignite the coals. Tonight the charcoal is not working.

Reading all these posts again I realize the front door gaskets must be replaced. There's a little, maybe quarter inch gap at the top which would definitely let air in through.

I'll replace the gaskets tomorrow, hopefully, and let you all know if it's worked.

Thanks again to everyone for your excellent advice and patience.

Jeanne

Have you completely emptied out the stove of coal/ashes prior to restarting the fire? When I first using this stove, that was a huge exercise in frustration until I figured from reading here how necessary it is. It would appear to get going but end up dying not long afterwards.

I've emptied and cleaned it out every day after attempting to get it going. I've started with a clean slate every time. The only good thing about that is, just about every pothole in the gravel driveway has been filled!

Jeanne

eebant wrote:The only good thing about that is, just about every pothole in the gravel driveway has been filled! :

COAL, its all about solutions.