Coal and Chess

The more I learn about coal burning, the more I think it could be compared to a chess game. One must always be thinking ahead. Sure, situations could be dealt with on a daily basis, but with the advantages of knowing future forecasts, and the ability to adjust your stove with its settings "and" types (or sizes) of coal to be burned, because of a stoves "patient" response to adjustments, couldn't the operators ability to predict a future outcome, allow for better combustion by predetermining the outcome?
(I know, it's late, and it's not clear, even to me what I'm trying to explain.)
I think what I'm getting at, is because the heating of the stove isn't as instantaneous as other methods of heating, if we were to think not only hours, but days ahead, couldn't we benefit by a long distance setting or adjustments?
As of right now, my thought process has been to deal with the stove settings no more than 12 hours in advance. But I'm wondering if gathering distant weather conditions, and planning a method of heat settings, would further be beneficial.

Joe,
Days ahead ? I'd say there's no point in planning adjustments longer than the stove can run before it needs tending. If any long range planning is needed it's make sure you have enough coal on hand.

Get some sleep,..... the stoves will seem simpler than a game of chess in the morning.

Paul

joeq wrote:The more I learn about coal burning, the more I think it could be compared to a chess game. One must always be thinking ahead. Sure, situations could be dealt with on a daily basis, but with the advantages of knowing future forecasts, and the ability to adjust your stove with its settings "and" types (or sizes) of coal to be burned, because of a stoves "patient" response to adjustments, couldn't the operators ability to predict a future outcome, allow for better combustion by predetermining the outcome?
(I know, it's late, and it's not clear, even to me what I'm trying to explain.)
I think what I'm getting at, is because the heating of the stove isn't as instantaneous as other methods of heating, if we were to think not only hours, but days ahead, couldn't we benefit by a long distance setting or adjustments?
As of right now, my thought process has been to deal with the stove settings no more than 12 hours in advance. But I'm wondering if gathering distant weather conditions, and planning a method of heat settings, would further be beneficial.

Days is a waste. A good friend of mine well best friend and shooting buddy one of the only people can go shooting with and never wonder if they are going to have a brain fart and accidently shoot me. He is a graduate of Mass maritime and not retired freighter captain that has sailed all over the world and has seen it all from pirates wild storms calling in air support while hauling munitions to the Persian Gulf. In school he was taught and lives by never believe a weather forecast beyond 24 hours as just speculation. There might be a trend but forecast no. Maybe a day ahead and keep a trend in mind but forget specifics.

Joeq,

That sounds like the ramblings of a man on a psychedelic walk about. " Be the stove"

Joel- Wow you are really into it. Do not worry, it too will pass. I am safe and that is all I need to know. I don't even want to think about the stove. Shake her down and fill her up. Don't leave the door open.

LOL. Yeah, I guess I was over-thinking it last nite.
The more I thought of it, if I'm dumping the ash pan once a day, and putting in a bag-a-day, planning a couple three days in advance doesn't really matter. I guess all we can do is adjust the settings for the current day, or in the case of the stove owner who's stove will hold more, adjust for what's burning currently.
Because I've been alternating different sizes of coal, (stove and nut) in the same pot, I was thinking that it might influence the distant performance. I've been adding a layer of stove size to help with recovery after a long burn, but then covering that with some nut, once established, to keep the stove temps down, on the warmer days. I was thinking as these different layers reached the bottom of the pot, I would somehow "time" these layers, and adjust for them accordingly. But the more I thought about it....Nahhh.
Just thought I'ld throw it out there, and see what bounces back

See the stove, be the stove????

Oh no, there are strategies that can be implemented before a big chill out. For example, have plenty of coal on hand ready to put in the stove if you store it outside. Bring it in so it can at least come up to room temperature. You can plan when you are going to tend the stove around your work schedule to get the best out of it. ALSO, its important to hold the temp in the house up just before the chill down so that the house and the things in it can absorb some extra BTUs. Those BTUs will pay back when the stove isn't quite able to keep up.

Another thing I do is clean my air handler filter. In cases of deep freeze I'll even take the filter out to get the best possible volume of air flow.

Good points Lee, but I was considering the method or additions of types of coal, and stove settings, while tending/adding to an existing bed of burning coals, and trying to predict a certain outcome when implementing these adjustments. But as I mentioned, my stove goes through a pot-a-day, so I don't think any adjustments done on Mon. will be influencing a burn on Wed. or Thurs.