To Pea or Not to Pea, That Is the Question

 
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grizzly2
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Post by grizzly2 » Tue. Nov. 18, 2008 9:30 pm

Sorry to be away so long but my computer went ffffttt and didn't work after that! I just got the new computer fired up. Speaking of which, I fired up my Hitzer for the first time this year on 11/09. Last year I burned nut coal. This year I am burning pea coal. The Hitzer is made to burn either. It seems that the pea is slower to react to changes in draft setting, which doesn't make much difference to me. It also seems that to keep the fire from dieing down by itself, I need to shake the grates about every 8 hours instead of every 12 hours. I have also had to rake out the end of the grate from underneath occationally in orderto keep the coal burning at the ends of the firebox. So far I would have to say I preferred burning the nut coal. Any observations or comments from more experienced coal burners? From all the readingI did here last winter it seemed like more people with stoves simmilar to mine preferred the pea coal. I bought 4 tons of it last summer, so I guess I will get lots more experience with it, like it or not. :?


 
lincolnmania
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Post by lincolnmania » Tue. Nov. 18, 2008 9:37 pm

i never had any luck with straight pea......try a pea and nut mix

 
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Post by dbev » Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 7:10 am

I,m burning nut in my Hitzer 30-95. I would think that pea being able to pack closer together could restrict the air more than you may want. I'm burning Blaschak and some of the bags have pieces the size of an egg.

Dave

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dtzackus
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Post by dtzackus » Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 7:11 pm

What would you recommend for a nut and pea ratio? I bought some nut with J.C. up at the Harmany Mine and I got some "free" pea coal from this website as well (again thanks!).

I was thinking half and half or maybe 1/4 pea to 3/4 nut.

Dan

 
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Post by rberq » Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 7:34 pm

You have to experiment with pea vs. nut vs. mixed. In my stove nut does great, pea not so good, and stove coal (chunks the size of a bar of soap) not so very good either. And yet there are others on this forum with my identical stove who are very happy with pea but won't burn nut. It seems every stove / chimney combination is different. So you just have to try them all and see what works for you.

 
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Post by grizzly2 » Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 8:12 pm

At least I see that I am not the only one in a bit of a quandry over what to burn. The past 24 hours have been the coldest yet this fall. As I burn the fire harder, it does seem the pea coal burns more evenly around the fire box than it did at lower draft settings. Also shaking the grates every 8 hours instead of every 12 hours helps to keep the fire from dying down from ash build up on the grate. Unless something happens to change my mind, I will order nut coal next year. :?

 
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Post by RedRockHunter » Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 9:07 pm

i'm burning range coal, with a hitzer 50-93, I got to poke the edges to get rid of ash buildup. shaking about every 10 hrs. I think I am going to get a ton of straight nut coal to see the difference.


 
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Post by rberq » Wed. Nov. 19, 2008 9:13 pm

If you can, buy a few bags to try out, before you commit to a whole ton.

 
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Post by dtzackus » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 5:56 am

I added some pea last night and again this morning, it appears the pea size really explodes when I put it on the fire. I am probably going to stay with nut myself, but free coal is free coal...

Have a warm one....with a cold one,

Dan

 
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Post by Floydman89 » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 9:09 am

Last Friday we had installed a Hitzer 30-95, We live in Central NY, near Lake ontario. We took the advise from the local Coal supplier, He sells a lot of stoves & coal, he must know what he's doing.. right? He told us also, to get some of both and try them for ourselves. He said PEA works best for him, in the shop and at home.. So we went that route, Got 3 tons. He told us to shake every 12 hours, but waiting that long, the fire seems to die down too much. It also took a LOT of shaking .. to get any sparks to drop in the ash pan. We shake with the ash door open.. and look underneath the fire.. once we get a good ORANGE glow, and just a few small hot coals to drop. Seems we are shaking every 8 hours too.. We are starting to get ash buildup in the front.. near the glass door.. Not sure if its just ash.. or unburned coal?? Its NOT black so it could be ash.. seems to look like rock still?? Also, we took his word that a Baro Damper was NOT needed.. but in reading on this board.. I have decided to order one, and Install it myself.. I don't think we have a problem with draft, because the fire has been burning non-stop since Friday.. and we don't get any smoke when we open the doors on the stove.... but I wonder if we'll save on coal????

 
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Post by LsFarm » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 9:55 am

Hello Floyd,, a baro damper will not increase draft,, only limit it to a maximum amount.. so adding a baro is just a protection against too much draft from strong winds, or winds and very cold temperatures. Both of which you probably have where you live.. A baro may save some fuel if you have major increases in draft when you are not around to adjust the stove down,, it will burn too hot and consume more fuel, the baro will limit this.

You may try some nut coal, it may work better in your stove/chimney combination... Every install is different.

Greg L

 
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Post by Floydman89 » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 10:15 am

Thanks Gregg, I think I'll try some Nut coal, and see what happens :) Also, thanks for the info on the Baro. I'm looking forward to installing it.. :? :?: NOT! I'm debating on ordering a Manometer. Dryer 25... Does it really need to be dialed right in??? I see these posts with picture of the meter on the wall... my wife would probably NOT allow that... Even though I think its interesting.... I ordered a black Field control one... getting a magnetic temp gauge too... The wife thinks I'm going Coal Crazy. :lol:

 
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Post by dtzackus » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 5:55 pm

Well I noticed one thing about burning "pea" from nut that I am used to, some of the pea "explodes" and it isn't very nice when you are in your boxers filling up the stove and a piece of coal (hot from the explosion) lands on your leg. OUCH. Why is that? So small that is effect/affected by the heat?

Hmm, newbie here, lol

Dan

 
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coal berner
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Post by coal berner » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 6:35 pm

dtzackus wrote:I added some pea last night and again this morning, it appears the pea size really explodes when I put it on the fire. I am probably going to stay with nut myself, but free coal is free coal...

Have a warm one....with a cold one,

Dan
It is the type of coal some veins of coal burn up quicker then others and some like to Pop more on a hot fire.
exploding coal as nothing to do with the size of it. It is the coal itself Some of Summit Anthracite likes to Pop /
explode on a hot fire ;)

 
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Post by grizzly2 » Thu. Nov. 20, 2008 8:07 pm

dtzackus wrote:I added some pea last night and again this morning, it appears the pea size really explodes when I put it on the fire. I am probably going to stay with nut myself, but free coal is free coal...

Have a warm one....with a cold one,

Dan
I'd find a way to make rice coal work in my stove if it was free. I realy like free. :lol:


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