Can't Find Source for Bit Coal in South Central TN

specialtee · Post by **specialtee** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 11:03 am

Anyone have a recent source for bit coal in southern TN? I'm near Chattanooga and the place were I used to buy coal has been replaced with a super Walmart and I cant fine anywhere to buy coal within an hours drive. I would drive further if need be. I am in immediate need of about a ton.

Can anyone refer me to a coal yard within central to east TN that has coal available? I've called every listing I could find when searching for coal on the internet but in tn they all say "sorry don't have any, or don't sell it anymore, or they don't answer their phone or its been disconnected. HELP!! I've spent two days searching and no luck.

Thanks for any help

bksaun · Post by **bksaun** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 12:59 pm

Pemium Processing in Middlesboro, Ky Ph # 888-248-2215.

Bituminous coal $80.00 ton most sizes.

Bill

DOUG · Post by **DOUG** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 2:22 pm

I use to frequently visit Chattanooga, Tn. I wonder if you could possible buy some bituminous lump coal off of the Tennessee Valley Rail Road. I know they use it to fire their steam locomotive for passenger excursion tours on their line. Just a thought.

DOUG

specialtee · Post by **specialtee** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 2:37 pm

Bill, Thanks for the response. I just called them and the only thing they have is "Stoker" which is smaller than what I wanted but at this point I can't be to picky. I'm going to head up there tomorrow morning (200 miles) and see if I can pick through whats left in there empty block pile.

Thanks again for the response. This website is great! And people like you are what makes it so great!
Greg

specialtee · Post by **specialtee** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 2:41 pm

Doug,
Thanks for the response...great idea, I'll give them a call. By the way I see you've got a Clayton, do you burn lump? Have you ever used stoker and if so how did it go with the small stuff?
Greg

DOUG · Post by **DOUG** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 2:58 pm

Yes, I've used bituminous lump coal, anthracite stove, nut and buckwheat sizes in my Clayton and I have a stoker too. Check out some of my posts. Slow Blue Dancing with Red Dresses Ladies in a Clayton, and Clayton Furnace with Dual Reading Stokers. This should be some interesting and informative reading for you and give you some hope that your Clayton can burn like a Professional.

What I burn really depends on what time of year, how cold it is, how long I'm going to be away from tending the stove and the price of the fuel. I never turn down good hard wood either. The smaller bituminous coal did fine. Bituminous coal fuses altogether anyway, so it's all the procedure of burning the particular type of fuel at the time.

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have regarding a Clayton. I'll be happy to answer them. I love my Clayton and think it is still the best furnace made out there.

Doug

bksaun · Post by **bksaun** » Wed. Jan. 14, 2009 4:14 pm

Doug,

I was there just two days ago and they had two sizes of Stoker coal and I am sure they had lump also. Look around when you get there.

Bill

specialtee · Post by **specialtee** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 9:06 am

Bill,
Im on my way to KY. I'll give you a full report tonight when I get back. Thanks again for the source.
Greg

specialtee · Post by **specialtee** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 9:10 am

Doug,
I read in amazement your post on burning Buckweat in your Clayton. The pictures really make it easy to follow. How would the process differ if you were to burn Bit Coal?
Greg

DOUG · Post by **DOUG** » Thu. Jan. 15, 2009 7:02 pm

I, Greg. I've yet to run a post on burning bituminous lump coal. It burns different than the anthracite. It burns with smoke and a yellowish orange flame until the volatiles are burned off. To give you a short description without any pictures, you start a wood fire and get it going good with the ash door open and the draft baffle rod out. That way it has a straight shot to the chimney. Then add a small amount of bituminous coal, about a square shovel full spread out over the fire with the ash door open and the draft baffle rod out. The fines in the coal will catch very quickly. Give it some time with the ash door open and the combustion blower draft flap open but not running and the feed door closed. This will supply a good amount of air to the fire to ignite the bituminous coal. After the smoke has burnt off, repeat it until the coal is mounded to the height of the fire brick making sure you don't over fire the stove. The coal may want to fuse together and crust over. To keep the air flowing, you may have to poke at it but don't stir it up. After all the heavy smoke has burnt off, it is time to close the ash door, adjust the ash door spinner out to the desired heat output or firing rate and slide the draft baffle rod back in. The combustion blower draft flap will remain open and can be adjusted to the opening needed for the bituminous coal to have the right mix over the fire for complete combustion. Usually it's 80% under the fire air to 20% over the fire air supplied. Where you adjust it to depends on the amount of volatile gases the coal contains and the stage the fire is burning. I don't use the combustion draft blower fan when burning coal. The reason I don't is that when I do, it creates a forging effect and clinkers up the coal. I feel it is unnecessary if you have a naturally strong draft available from the chimney, .06 inches of water or more.

The combustion draft blower is a great option to have if you are going to burn wood fires. Have you been able to get any coal yet and where did you get it? I hope this will help you some and I'll try to get going on some pictures of firing bituminous lump coal when I get some. I'm fresh out. I'm ready for more questions.

DOUG