Opions on Mixing Coal Sizes
- coal-cooker
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- Location: Coopers Mills, ME
In all my years of burning coal, I have never tried mixing different sizes of coal. I have read several threads here where folks are mixing. Does this really help burning, what ratios do most use and do you pre-mix it or load it in layers? I have placed pea coal on top of a nut coal fire to help dampen it down a bit.
- Richard S.
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Guess it depends on your situation but if you want to better control the fire it will certainly help. I don't know if there is A ratio and would even doubt you're going to see significant difference between 4:6 or 1:1.
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You are now an EXPERT on the subject.coal-cooker wrote: I have placed pea coal on top of a nut coal fire to help dampen it down a bit.
- EasyRay
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- Location: Central Connecticut
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman TLC 2000
- Coal Size/Type: Pea,Nut or Stove
I've been burning nut since the early seventy's until this year,I decided to try pea size. Started burning pea on November 2nd and burned a ton and then switched over to a ton of nut which will last for another eight days. I have a ton of pea left which I will burn to the end of the season.
I figured I would use the nut in the middle because it burns a little hotter for the coldest part of the season. In my opinion, I think mixing is a waste of time.
I'll have a difficult time trying to decide which size to buy this summer,because they both burn well in my stove.
Maybe I'll do the same thing next year and get two pea and one nut. The smaller ash size from pea is nice though.
If I were you I would try mixing to see if you think it is worth the effort.
Good Luck
I figured I would use the nut in the middle because it burns a little hotter for the coldest part of the season. In my opinion, I think mixing is a waste of time.
I'll have a difficult time trying to decide which size to buy this summer,because they both burn well in my stove.
Maybe I'll do the same thing next year and get two pea and one nut. The smaller ash size from pea is nice though.
If I were you I would try mixing to see if you think it is worth the effort.
Good Luck
- Dallas
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- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Modified Russo C-35
- Other Heating: Oil Hot Air
My experience has been: My stove is designed for nut, nut burns nice and makes a faster heat, I think. However, nut doesn't seem to be processed that good, meaning there is a lot of stone, etc. in it, which won't go through my grates. As a result, I had to dump the fire every 10 days to clean the trash out of the firebox. ... not worth it. Pea works better in my stove, as it will go through the grates, ash or not. If it were all coal and would go to ash, the nut would be my preference.
I would try a small quantity first, rather than have a bunch, which is a PITA.
I would try a small quantity first, rather than have a bunch, which is a PITA.
im wondering does the pea size burn faster than the nut size and if it does will it create ash higher up in the bed is that the reason for the slower burn? cause if it is, my grandfather told me that his father (my grate grandfather ) was a guy who ran the boiler and used coal of course he said to put a fine layer of the coal ash on top of the bed at night and it would give a nice steady heat all night long. I havent done it but the (old timers) used to do that. who knows maybe thats a great secret reveiled .
- Dallas
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The larger coal allows more air through it, so probably burns stronger, hotter and not as long. Ash, should be the same for each, weight for weight, but the volume will be different. In other words, a ton of nut will take up more space than a ton of pea.
right, I was thinking that the little pieces would burn up faster maybe it depends on how its mixed say if a person sprinkled a layer on the top of the nut before bedtime. its interesting when I see the little pieces usualy at the bottom of the coal bucket and when I shovel them into the stove its almost like there is a mix already. I checked around where I live and for the life of me cannot find anyone who sells stove coal I would love to mix that with the chestnut. I suppose I will have to look harder.
- EasyRay
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- Location: Central Connecticut
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- Coal Size/Type: Pea,Nut or Stove
Pea does burn a little slower and it does require more air to to get the same results. Its a little harder for the air to get through the smaller pieces.
This was my pet mix for quite a while this winter:
First layer was straight nut.
Next was a layer of stove I got for free.
Then another layer of nut.
And finally a cap of really small nut, not quite pea but on the very small end of nut size.
I don't think it made any difference but I thought I was being clever.
Worked well too.
First layer was straight nut.
Next was a layer of stove I got for free.
Then another layer of nut.
And finally a cap of really small nut, not quite pea but on the very small end of nut size.
I don't think it made any difference but I thought I was being clever.
Worked well too.