Dipping Matchlight Charcoal in Wax (Special Circumstances)

Hi folks, new member here.
I am installing a coal kitchen range in my fishing boat. The stove will heat the living quarters, cook meals and heat the engine coolant via a Hilkoil.
We land every night by law. In the summer we will just use the propane side of the stove.
Since we don't need the fish hold anymore (only allowed to catch a few hundred pounds of any given species at a time)
I figure I can stow a couple tons in a pen or two. Moisture shouldn't bother the coal, but would reak havoc on firewood.

The issue is starting the fire.
We will have to start fires pretty frequently.
Having read a bit here I see that charcoal briquets are used by some. The problem is moisture on the boat. It is pretty much 100% humidity always.
I used to make firestarters by filling egg cartons with sawdust then filling with wax. 12 good fire starters.
I would melt a bunch of wax, then dip the briquets. Should make them waterproof and also add a bit of BTUs.

Anyone forsee any problems with this? I need it to be easy, fast and reliable. Too much effort for too little return as it is. We can't afford to run the diesel
stove anymore, and went through a ridiculous amount or propane this winter.

Appreciate any and all input, and especially other ideas as well.

My .02...It will an advantage in doing this if the charcoal is more warm or even near hot when the hot wax is introduced.

The warmer the charcoal the better the penetration of the wax. A wax shell will result with little or no penetration with cooler charcoal.

Might try some cooler and some warmer and see which you like better. Good Luck!

Please report back with your findings to share with others.

Why not get some heavy foiled pouch and just seal your charcoal for use when needed? Easier than putzing with wax.

One of the little rules in life you can count on, water always wins...

Having been a wood-start guy for years (wtf, there are always wood scraps around), I decided just for fun to try the match-lite charcoal technique this year. Boy does it work good. It is the fastest route to burning coal. You can buy small bags that are sealed-- they cost about $2 each at Wally's-- perfect size for starting a coal fire and you can just lite the up the bag and all. Why don't you give them a try on your boat? Coal stove on a boat in harbor is great. Good move. I thought about it for mine, but I get enough heat from the engine.

I think your plan sounds quite feasible. I would simply make some, try them out. You can do it on any stove around to see if it works before you do an install just to make sure. Make some up, bring it on your boat, try in friends stove or one you may have...The wax should work well to keep the charcoal dry for lighting. Frankly - its a brilliant idea! Do let us know how it works out for you.

dj

Great. The Glenwood club showed up. Thanks for all the input folks. Glad to see these wonderful stoves still have a place in the world.

For me it was a no brainer, just go to the stove shop, say what I want and buy it. http://www.barnstablestove.com/

Sounds to me like you're looking for a quick heat solution for your living/working space--I don't see coal being that baby. It takes time to get BTU's up to par compared to wood covered with a tarp to way-lay moisture. Just sayin. Yes, you got a great stove BUTTTTTTTT, not sure she'll meet your expectations. I'm sure that stove will do wood also.

The waterproof camping/backpacking matches I kept on a boat for emergencies, the heads of the matches were dipped in wax. My brother made his own by doing the same with a box of regular wooden matches. Never had trouble lighting the kerosene cook stove on his boat.

The wax made lighting those matches take a couple more scratches to wear off the wax to get enough friction, but they always lit and burned a bit longer than just regular wooden matches.

I think that if the bricketts are well coated with wax they should work fine. And the wax may take the place of starter fluid.

Paul

I must be missing something here, but did you say you have an antique cast iron cook top stove, installed in a fishing boat? I can't imagine how big a boat has to be, to be able to accept this size stove. There's another member who has a flat bottom houseboat, with a smaller coal stove. Think it's one of them "Belgium" box stoves. Some of us were curious, where you're able to store coal to burn, on a vessel with limited storage.

joeq wrote:I must be missing something here, but did you say you have an antique cast iron cook top stove, installed in a fishing boat? I can't imagine how big a boat has to be, to be able to accept this size stove. There's another member who has a flat bottom houseboat, with a smaller coal stove. Think it's one of them "Belgium" box stoves. Some of us were curious, where you're able to store coal to burn, on a vessel with limited storage.

Joe, He mentions "fish hold" and he has space in the hold for coal because he's only allowed to catch a few hundred pounds of fish a day now. It all sounds to me like a good sized commercial fishing boat.

Paul

Like the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words". (We like pictures)

Dune wrote:Great. The Glenwood club showed up. Thanks for all the input folks. Glad to see these wonderful stoves still have a place in the world.

For me it was a no brainer, just go to the stove shop, say what I want and buy it. http://www.barnstablestove.com/

The "Glenwood Club" does windows. Nuf said.