How to Light a Hand Fired Coal Stove

Wow, I just got my furnace restarted after being down for 10 days with the warm temps outside. I read about some of you using charcol so I tried some. I got a big bag of the Red Oak Natural Wood Charcol. Its only 10 pounds but the stuff is feather lite compared to coal. I layered up about 3 inches deep with the charcol, soaked it with some lighter fluid and let it soak in for a few minutes. I ignited it and let it get burning good for about 10 minutes. I added about 10 pounds of coal and in another 10 minutes it was starting to burn, I added another 15 pounds and now about another 15 minutes later, its burning awesome!

The charcol worked very good for me Cut my fire starting time half compared to using wood and I had much better control of the fire thru the ignition process!! I used 1/2 the bag but probably could of did it with a 1/3. I'm sure with practice I could get at least 3 maybe 4 restarts with a 10 pound bag. I'll never use wood again, unless I have to

When I light my boiler I use cowboy charcoal. I put about 2-3" of coal on grates then in the middle and on top I lay about 4 handfulls of charcoal,then douse with lighter fluid wait a minuite then light. open the ash door close the load door and turn on the draft inducer and foil the baro.Walk away for 10 minutes and put coal on top till I dont see blue flames,close the door walk away for 10 more minutes,after doing this 3 times I throw 30 lbs. on top, close the door turn off draft inducer remove foil and turn combustion blower on, and in 1 1/2 hours 60 gallons of water is 180 degrees. Total of 80 lbs. of nut coal.Very easy and you dont really need half a bag just make sure you see red embers from the cowboy charcoal.

No posts here for almost a year? Wow.

I started my Alaska Kodiak last weekend, and I've always been lucky starting it since I got it. I always use charcoal, and am getting better at it by LEAVING IT ALONE FOR 12 HOURS after starting it. My biggest enemy in the past was impatience. Coal fires like to be left alone, not poked and shaken until they're established.

This year, since we bought a chiminea for outside, I have an excess of store-bought fire starters. I think they're sawdust blocks with wax mixed in. Anyway, I used a few pieces of these under the charcoal to keep things burning until they gassed off, and to my surprise the long burning flame kept the soot from forming on the window.

When I started it, it was 28 degrees overnight. It's now 60 degrees overnight, and the windowstats are coming in handy. Cheap way to keep the chill out of the house!

You betcha

It's now 60 degrees overnight, and the windowstats are coming in handy

Aah, the old "double-hung thermostat" lol.

Where are you from, Hawaii ??? Oh hell, that was Oct 20---NEVER MIND