I'm Offically an Expert on Lighting CHARCOAL

Please see the related title SWG Power Vent & Baro. Damper adjustment.

I got my baro. damper installed and set between 2 and 4 as instructed in the posting noted above.... got my SWG power vent up and running - she sure blows air nice!!!!!
...And have now gone through about 1/2 bag of charcoal and 1/2 bottle of fluid with absolutely no luck in getting my piece of crap coal stove to stay lit. Let us just say the frustration level has peaked.

No, I have not gone out and spent up-teen dollars on a manometer... again as instructed in the posting noted above. It's the weekend and the specialty stores that sell this stuff aren't open. (It still befuddles me as to how our parents and grandparents didn't freeze to death without this modern marvel of technology called a manometer that takes draft readings!!!!!!!) ... but come Monday, there I'll be.... at the local coal stove supply store spending a little more of my kids' Christmas present money on a piece of equipment to light my coal stove ... and probably have it still go out on me.

Although I grew up in the heart of the coal region - I am more than willing to admit I'm over 40 and absolutely friggin' clueless on how to light a piece of rock. I admit defeat to a piece of cast iron with a motor.

Look for a very slightly used Juniata coal stove from Reading Stove Company to be for sale soon... it'll make a nice Christmas gift under your tree this year and I promise to keep the sledge hammer locked up so I don't have to advertise a "slightly dented Juniata coal stove" for sale.

I'm really not asking for assistance in how to light my stove... I'm just venting. But that too shall pass as I suck at creating enough draft. Now please excuse me while I go order another few hundred gallons of heating oil.

Happy holidays all!

Charcoal doesn't burn as hot as good old wood. Build a wood fire (or thrown some wood on top of the charcoal) THEN add some coal....It'll catch! Happy Holidays to you too!

How to Light a Hand Fired Coal Stove

make sure coal bed is not to deep and I have luck using wood pellets soaked in kero

Hello mcddtony. I have the same stove that you are using. I bought mine a year ago. It can be frustrating to get a fire going. Are you able to get coal mice anywhere near you. They are the little brown paper bags, You cover them with coal on the grate light and wait a few minutes then start stoker and combustion blower on low till you have an even fire going. I wish you luck. Jpd

My wife picked up what I would assume to be the mice.... looks like little bits of charcoal with shreds of paper in a little brown bag.... First one fired up the stove nicely.... burned for about 30 min. and went out.
Just fired up the 2nd mouse... turned the blower/feeder on Low.... we'll see what happens.

A friend who also has a power vent told me to keep the vent off until the fire gets going. I tried that on the first attempt and pretty much started to push smoke out of the baro. damper into the basement... so I turned the power vent on low.

Observations:
1. The ashes did not fall into the bucket, they just sat there... I thought this stove was to push the ashes off the pad as it fed more coal.
2. The ashes look like the same size as the buckwheat coal being fed.... if the coal is burning, shouldn't it at least be smaller after being burned than when it's fed? (Maybe they gave me premium slate!)
3. From what I've been reading the stove piping should be hot to the touch, but not so hot that you can't wrap your hand around it. On first attempt, the piping was too hot to wrap your hand around.

I've got 2 more mice left. If this keeps going out, I'll just shut it down until tomorrow when I can get some more starter supplies.

Patience Tony, you can and will get help. Something is out of whack!

The feeder motor is working isn't it?

The charcoal should work fine, that is what I use in a stoker.

Call the dealer, don't give up, you are closer than you think.

Bk

My stove is hooked to a chimney,so I am not sure what to do with a powervent. The ash will look to be the same size, it will look gray and crumble if you squeeze it. There will also be a little of what looks like unburnt coal. As far as the exhaust pipe, the temp on mine is about 175deg, the hot air duct I am feeding into my FHA system is about 110 deg. My Juniata is a model RSFD-07 I believe. If I can give you any other pointers let me know. John

Did they recommend using Buckwheat in your stove?

Clean the end of the grate off a bit (if any ashes) I would semi-bury the coal mouse in the coal, make sure there is some coal on top of it, not too much maybe a handfull and it's right down on the grate, light it, let it burn for 30 secs or so, and then turn the stove on, make sure you don't have the the thermostat or stoker turned up until it gets going, then when you can see that it's burning okay, if it has enough coal to keep going, let it get burning for 15 mins or so, then turn up the thermostat/feeder.

funny thing about the word "assume".... and you all know the rest of that saying.

The fire was just about out after using the 2nd mouse... It appears I have found the problem... being a firefighter, I am accustomed to putting fires out, not starting them. But using my extensive firefighting knowledge (a bit of sarcasm here), I remembered the fire triangle and started eliminating the things that were working to find the one area that was not working.
Air flow/oxygen was not a problem... the fire had plenty.
Heat was not the problem... I had the coal burning.
Ahhh fuel.. the damned thing was running out of fuel. I ASSUMED the stove was adjusted properly... However upon closer inspection, I found the little armature that feed the coal was not adjusted.... the feed was not feeding.
After a quick adjustment, I am now pushing coal into the stove and pushing ashes out of the way.

As of this posting, I have been burning little black rocks for over an hour now - a new record!!

Thanks to all for your help. You've shown more patience than me and had it not been for my better half and her persistence (and the sheer weight of the stove), I'd have tossed the damned thing onto the sidewalk. But on the bright side, I have one helluva story to tell at the fire station.

Thanks again all and happy holidays.

I am sure you will like the heat that you get from your stove. Good luck
John

Tony said,

being a firefighter

Gad's, not another one!

Welcome Tony, told you it was not getting fuel! Guess thats why some of us wear gold!

Bk

BK,
I must have missed that in your earlier post. thanks!!