Wood Vs Coal for Quick Heat

i would like to ask an important question with my setup, my old vale oak cyl stove is in a cabin off grid mean it is the only real source of heat, when first opening up the place, inside temp is around 20 degrees, it seems to me the coal gives the longest heat, but when first heat the place up the wood is what really get the stove hot and heats the house up to temp, then I switch over to coal. can I get your guys opinion on this, you all have been very helpful so far with all my questions.

Most start their coal fire w/a wood fire. I don't see an issue with your decisions.

swattley01 wrote:i would like to ask an important question with my setup, my old vale oak cyl stove is in a cabin off grid mean it is the only real source of heat, when first opening up the place, inside temp is around 20 degrees, it seems to me the coal gives the longest heat, but when first heat the place up the wood is what really get the stove hot and heats the house up to temp, then I switch over to coal. can I get your guys opinion on this, you all have been very helpful so far with all my questions.

Don't worry no black sedans are going to show up to the cabin .........wood good, coal better.

Tahoes, Suburbans, Humvees Mike. They come all blacked out, swat gear, and a 5 gallon tub of 'his KY', because you just KNOW it won't be fun.
Slow and steady wins the race every time.....forget instant gratification. I like the steady, rock solid, repeatable performance of coal.
Yes, a wood fire is nice, but like a flashy Saleman, if feels good for a moment, then you are left without that warm feeling that lasts all day and night.....like eating Chinese......

Wood is good for starting and running, but you'll be spending alot of your time throwing wood in .

At the suggestion of others on here, I've switched over to charcoal and lighter fluid for starting a coal fire. I find that even faster then starting with wood.

The fastest yet - 35 minutes from bare grates to a full glowing firebox throwing heat, - was starting with charcoal and making the first fill all Tractor Supply Kimmel's nut. The Kimmel's lights much quicker then any other coal I've tried.

Paul

yes I started my last fire with matchlite and got a good solid bed of coals that lasted all night, but for some reason I could not get the place over 65 degrees, and it felt cold, I like the idea of burning coal and only dealing with the fire for every 10 hours, maybe I did not let the coal fire get hot enough, but is it going to faster to give quick heat with good season oak wood compare to a full bed of coals ?
one thing I have seen with wood is more ash that clogs the shaker

You want quick just throw some fist size bit coal in there and watch what happens.
Works every time

In my experience, wood fires create far less ash than coal. I'd run my old Defiant full time burning large amounts of wood and only needed to clean out the ash every week or so. With coal, you should be dumping the ash every time you reload. That would be twice a day for most of us.

It is possible that I could have more heat more quickly burning wood but in the long run, the heat I get from coal is so far superior there is no comparison. Unless you are letting every fire go completely before refilling the stove I can see no point in the fact that a wood fire might get going more quickly. My stove runs 24/7.

If you can't get your stove as hot or hotter with coal than wood, then you have issues with draft or settings of the dampers that control the draft.

Stick with it though, you'll get it sorted! (Some photos of your stove and installation might help).

When I was burning just wood in the range, getting well seasoned hard wood to the point of embers, which is the best state of wood to give maximum heat and the cleanest burns with the lowest stack temps (most equal to a coal fire), it would take longer then it does for me now using the charcoal and Kimmel's route.

But, I'd have to add more wood about every two hours at the longest interval to maintained decent heat output. With coal 6 hours during the day. Idled back, it will go 11-12 hours overnight.

Paul

I burn all wood in my stove it is more fire tending but ah its all good.

Had some coal to burn does last a lot longer and more even heat but hardwood is cheaper for me.