Did You Learn Anything New This Heating Season?

Learned a good bit, one thing ... don't read the political threads, stick to the coal.

acesover wrote:Learned a good bit, one thing ... don't read the political threads, stick to the coal.

LOL......Not a bad lesson to have learned! (unfortunately, I haven't learned that lesson yet! )

I just wanted to add a word of caution to my earlier post about removing the vent pipe from an oil boiler to avoid losing heat up the flue. If you do so, it's critical you do something to prevent the oil (or gas) boiler from firing. I disconnected a wire to the burner transformer. You sure wouldn't want there to be a condition under which the boiler could fire without the vent pipe.
ppppp=prior planning prevent piss poor performance

coalkirk wrote:I just wanted to add a word of caution to my earlier post about removing the vent pipe from an oil boiler to avoid losing heat up the flue. If you do so, it's critical you do something to prevent the oil (or gas) boiler from firing. I disconnected a wire to the burner transformer. You sure wouldn't want there to be a condition under which the boiler could fire without the vent pipe.
ppppp=prior planning prevent *censored* poor performance

i guess i'll have to look at this a little closer.

i disconnected a wire on the boiler (didn't want to burn any oil) but left the flue connected and don't remeber the pipe ever being very warm. the only time the boiler runs other than off the timer is when something is calling for heat.

what I did do this winter is ran the combustion fan off the other plug on the controller and have the fan set to run for three minutes after the stoker stops running. I use the other plug to run a fan blowing on the stoker motor to help keep it cool.

gambler wrote:I have learned that even scumbag lawyer types that always have to have the last word burn coal also. I always thought that coal burnin was for the not so smart country hick type.

:box:

I learned that, despite the terrible spelling and grammar here, you guys really have no clue what's going on in the world around you!

Seriously, I've learned how to clean the furnace and to fabricate all new flue piping (complete with manometer probe).

Operationally, I've learned that coordinating my flue draft control with my feed rate "balances" the fire, reducing unburnt coal and yielding even steadier heat in variable outside temps. In just my second season, I never lost the fire except when I had to for travel.

I'm still interested in ash solutions and the idea of full automation; if we ever find practical solutions to those issues, coal as home heating fuel will really take off.

Oh, and I've learned that a far greater percentage of Republicans than Democrats are "girlie men."

It also shows there seem to be more Republicans then Democrats on the forum...
Might be construed that the Republican way of life enjoys more popularity among coal burners.

stockingfull wrote:

gambler wrote:I have learned that even scumbag lawyer types that always have to have the last word burn coal also. I always thought that coal burnin was for the not so smart country hick type.

:box:

I learned that, despite the terrible spelling and grammar here, you guys really have no clue what's going on in the world around you!

If you are talking about my spelling & grammar, it was done like that on purpose in order to give you that nice warm fuzzy feeling that you are superior to all on this forum. It seems to be something that you crave.

I learned that the *censored* bickering is spilling over into the main threads form the political war zone known as General and Off Topic Posts. JK

I have realized though that as in all aspects of life, when you get a diverse (or is it perverse? ) group together there will be a lots a folks taking things personally and spewing bile.

On the other hand I learned that there is such a thing as too many coal burning appliances in your garage.

Thanks everyone for the education, I have to say that I have learned quite a bit about burning coal on this great forum.

Matthaus wrote:I learned that the *censored* bickering is spilling over into the main threads form the political war zone known as General and Off Topic Posts. JK

Just fooling around here, that's all!

gambler wrote:

stockingfull wrote: :box:

I learned that, despite the terrible spelling and grammar here, you guys really have no clue what's going on in the world around you!

If you are talking about my spelling & grammar, it was done like that on purpose in order to give you that nice warm fuzzy feeling that you are superior to all on this forum. It seems to be something that you crave.

Don't take it personally; it wasn't directed at you in particular. But you have to admit, English is a second language for many here. And it does raise an interesting question: are you guys really serious about that English in America thing??

I learned what coal stove was best for my needs. How to start a coal fire. How to shake down ashes properly. I have learned that I need a baro damper, and how to adjust it. That coal is bashful and does not like to be watched too closely. When the first warm days come, to adjust the "window-stats", instead of letting the fire go out or switching to wood. That we former wood burners need to NOT play with the fire (related to the bashful coal lesson).

I have also learned that there are a great bunch of guys here who I have relied on to get started in heating with coal. The knowlege and kindness here are seemingly limitless. Thanks to all for a most enjoyable first season with a coal stove.

stockingfull wrote: Don't take it personally; it wasn't directed at you in particular. But you have to admit, English is a second language for many here.

I object to that remark, Stocking.
Some people are not good spellers, or they don't know how to properly construct a sentence. They could have a vision problem, or are not good typists. Maybe they do speak another language and are struggling to learn how to read and write proper English.
I'm just obsessive about my writing, I check everything over several times. I also use Firefox instead of IE, I understand that incorporates a feature which underlines misspelled words.
You will find that if you look past the impression that you have about how someone's writing suggests that "English is their second language" you will find some of the friendliest and most good-hearted people you have ever met.

Wood'nCoal wrote:

stockingfull wrote: Don't take it personally; it wasn't directed at you in particular. But you have to admit, English is a second language for many here.

I object to that remark, Stocking.
Some people are not good spellers, or they don't know how to properly construct a sentence. They could have a vision problem, or are not good typists. Maybe they do speak another language and are struggling to learn how to read and write proper English.
I'm just obsessive about my writing, I check everything over several times. I also use Firefox instead of IE, I understand that incorporates a feature which underlines misspelled words.
You will find that if you look past the impression that you have about how someone's writing suggests that "English is their second language" you will find some of the friendliest and most good-hearted people you have ever met.

Objection sustained. I apologize.

Even though I was an engineer, language mechanics were always easy and fun for me. I recognize that's not true for everybody, and it often has nothing to do with the ability to think clearly. I meant the comment in fun, which is what we're supposed to be having here -- even and perhaps especially in the off-topic threads. But I see that it didn't look that way, and I apologize.

But it does amuse me that, for example, Geno's in South Philly (of cheesesteak fame) has a sign that tells their customers, "This is America. Order in English." Yet there probably isn't a single employee there who could post a grammatically coherent sentence up here. And they probably don't even realize how ridiculous that situation is.

I have to say the biggest thing I learned this year was what I have been missing for the last several years---THIS FORUM. I just happened to stumble across it one evening and it has become a favorite. What a great bunch of people, always willing to offer a hint or lend a hand to anyone who needs it. Anything from how to start a stove, to "come on down and I will show you around the mines." Thanks to Richard for all of his hard work on this forum and to all of the rest (I won't try to name them all, since I would surely miss someone) that chime in with help and just good times. I am only sorry I missed the first few years that this has been going on.

I learned about this discussion board when I started to burn coal again. There have been many posts and topics I've read that have helped me to make my stoker more efficient, and I'm saving lots of money. :punk: