Lighting a Stoker

coalkirk wrote:I've used just about every method known to light my stoker over the last few years. Without a doubt, the best and easiest method is cowboy or lump charcoal. Make a nice pile on the grate, hit with a propane or maap gas torch for about 20 seconds, then close the door and turn on the blower. Works great every time.

The only problem I have is about 5 years ago my friend always used Bernzomatic Propane Torch to light his wood pellet stove. Well one way something happened and the tank broke and the gas blow up in his face. He has lots of burns on his face and hands. Plus they think he breather some of this and burned his throat. Afterwards the tank had a crack in it, but no one knows what happen. But this blow the walls off the roof in his trailer and the door that opened in was blow out. We rebuilt the trailer and now he has a auto lighting stove.

What about an Brinkmann Electric Charcoal Starter?

I have a Keystoker KC10 Boiler and have always struggled to light my fire. One of my biggest problem is my starter fire slides off the grates. I've tried several methods of starters with no success.
Any keystoker boiler guys have a tip for starting a fire on grates?

James

A couple of fire bricks on the grate will do it.

I found from a suggestion posted here using some Cowboy coal soaked in some lighter fluid placed on the grate surrounded by Rice coal does the trick. No fumes if the door is shut and left shut until it gets going. Cheap easy and fast for me.

tinmanKC10 wrote:I have a Keystoker KC10 Boiler and have always struggled to light my fire. One of my biggest problem is my starter fire slides off the grates. I've tried several methods of starters with no success.
Any keystoker boiler guys have a tip for starting a fire on grates?

James

I have only fired up a Keystoker once, and I used a piece of cedar shingle to hold the coal on the grate. I lightly wedged it between the sides of the grate and once the fire was burning well it disintegrated. Also make sure the boiler is level.

sorry, didn't have time to read the 20 pages...so forgive me if on here already.

anyone try lighting with sparkler(s)?
I believe they're made of the same thing coal mice are???

I could see that working if you tied 6 or so together in a bundle, and jammed it right in the center of a coal pile in the firebox. Not sure if they'd burn long enough though ....

I took the bottom and top off of a metal soup can, drilled some small breather holes about 1/3 the way up. I push this into the coal pile on my Reading stoker ramp, not allowing coal into it. I put a small amount of wood pellets into the can, add a ball or two of tissue paper, light it and turn the fan on. Once the pellets take off, I add just a little rice coal. Once the can starts to glow, I use pliers to remove the burning contents of the can. Works every time.

I just wanted to contribute, because many of the methods in this thread are much easier. It's just what I do.

Here is my latest gadget for my stoker.
Add 1/2 sheet of crumbled newspaper, cup of crushed cowboy charcoal, 2 cups of coal. Light with torch in small hole in the bottom, turn on stove, wait 5 or so minutes, turn stove off knock steel cylinder into ash bucket for retrieval at next ash cleanout. Turn stove back on and you are in business.
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Going good

2001 Sierra. That looks mighty familiar to me!

FireFuzz wrote:2001 Sierra. That looks mighty familiar to me!

I know Right?? Hahaha, been using that method since I first saw that

Stoker Don had an arrangement like that at the meet and greet. It seemed quite effortless to light his stoker unit. I was very impressed!

I break up some Matchlight charcoal, some shedded paper, and a little coal, wrap it in newspaper or brown bag material, bury it in the coal about 3/4 up on the grate. works 99% of the time if it doesn't fall into the pan. LOL
I sometimes wedge a small piece of scrap wood at the end of the grate, thin piece, it'll stay there until the coal burns far enough forward and burns it up, by then it going pretty good.

I tried the sparkler route, it worked but took many sparklers. Being 67 now I was remembering when sparklers were well made & had a thick coat of material, still something that will work. I lost power a few nights ago & didn't realize it until the fire was cold so I just went on propain & back to bed. This morning I ran out & bought more coal mice, bury one towards the top & light, wait a little bit & plug the furnace in. No muss, no fuss & haven't failed me yet (knock on wood) 2 bucks for no hassles is worth it for me but it's always nice to know some other methods just in case.