Year 2-Still Freezing
-
- Member
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 1:02 am
- Location: Armstrong County, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 617-B
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hot Blast 1557M
- Coal Size/Type: Bituminous nut (me and the coal)
- Other Heating: Propane Kerosene
I happen to have a little box just like that in my basement.
Many years ago when I was doing a little trapping, I made it to put fine dirt on my traps.
Just started using it again, yesterday, to get my worms out of my compost.
But it should be available in a couple days.
In the mean time, I have quite a bit of small lumps to use.
Many years ago when I was doing a little trapping, I made it to put fine dirt on my traps.
Just started using it again, yesterday, to get my worms out of my compost.
But it should be available in a couple days.
In the mean time, I have quite a bit of small lumps to use.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
THe forecast for Saturday night has just been upgraded to -10 F. I will be very selective with the sizing of my coal thru that duration carefully picking the biggest lumps for each reload.
Attachments
-
- Member
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 1:02 am
- Location: Armstrong County, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 617-B
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hot Blast 1557M
- Coal Size/Type: Bituminous nut (me and the coal)
- Other Heating: Propane Kerosene
Here is the size of the coal I'm using.
Tennis ball for comparison.
Tennis ball for comparison.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Those are decent size. If you can do a load of that without fines with it..
I still believe you need more primary air, don't be afraid of that 1 inch hole saw..
I still believe you need more primary air, don't be afraid of that 1 inch hole saw..
-
- Member
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 1:02 am
- Location: Armstrong County, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 617-B
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hot Blast 1557M
- Coal Size/Type: Bituminous nut (me and the coal)
- Other Heating: Propane Kerosene
Yes I do.Lightning wrote:Do you run the spinner on the ash door wide open to keep the furnace hot?
There have been times in the past, when I wanted to be like my hero, Ky Speedracer, when I grew up where I ran it in a little but for some time now I leave it wide open.
Last year he was running his open 4 turns and I did that for the balance of last winter.
However for the last while back, I've had it wide open trying to get more air.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
OKay, making progress, I think!larryfoster wrote:However for the last while back, I've had it wide open trying to get more air.
Do the 1 inch hole and try some loads without fines and lets see how it goes.
-
- Member
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 1:02 am
- Location: Armstrong County, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 617-B
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hot Blast 1557M
- Coal Size/Type: Bituminous nut (me and the coal)
- Other Heating: Propane Kerosene
As I've mentioned a couple times, I've been keeping the fines mostly out.Lightning wrote:Those are decent size. If you can do a load of that without fines with it..
I still believe you need more primary air, don't be afraid of that 1 inch hole saw..
There's some lumps a little bigger and some a little smaller but, with care, I avoid the fines
I'm a little nervous about that because it's irreversible.
What about this, instead?
What if I just adjust how much I open the ash door after I get it to temp.
Up until now, it's either been wide open or shut.
I suppose I could experiment with it starting open only 1", for example.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14659
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
I understand your concern but trying to prop the ash door open just right will be very difficult. Having it open just one inch for example won't be much different than it being wide open. Once the ash door passes a certain point of openness it might as well be wide open.larryfoster wrote:I'm a little nervous about that because it's irreversible.What about this, instead?What if I just adjust how much I open the ash door after I get it to temp.Up until now, it's either been wide open or shut.I suppose I could experiment with it starting open only 1", for example.
When I bought my furnace second hand it already had a 2 inch hole cut in the ash door (by the previous owner) beside the spinner with a "swing" door on it to regulate air.
- CoalisCoolxWarm
- Member
- Posts: 2323
- Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Western PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Oil Boiler
A quick read on this very forum can answer that. Just look at how many times people ask about or recommend coal suppliers- even for anthracite, which is more consistent in my experience.larryfoster wrote:How much difference would there be?
Start with the best you can get, make sure your installation and stove is all working properly and effectively, THEN you can start making substitutions and changes.
I've had some clients like that. Ask what I recommend, then start with, "but why can't I do this, I should be able to do that, it couldn't make that much difference..."
I tell them they don't have to take my advice, I get paid either way. I give you my best, it's up to you to choose to take it or not.
Each deviation from "best" is a compromise and each not only adds up, it can increase the others.
Ultimately, though, it is your system and your call. Not normally so adamant, but as your title says, it's been 2 years. We all need a nudge once in a while
- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
There is only 1 way to tell if good quality coal will solve the problem
-
- Member
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 1:02 am
- Location: Armstrong County, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 617-B
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hot Blast 1557M
- Coal Size/Type: Bituminous nut (me and the coal)
- Other Heating: Propane Kerosene
Sounds like all three are pretty comparable to mewindyhill4.2 wrote:There is only 1 way to tell if good quality coal will solve the problem
- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
You have burnt all 3 in YOUR unit ???????larryfoster wrote:Sounds like all three are pretty comparable to mewindyhill4.2 wrote:There is only 1 way to tell if good quality coal will solve the problem
- CoalisCoolxWarm
- Member
- Posts: 2323
- Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Western PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Oil Boiler
Yeah? What did you like or not like about the three different types when they burnt in your stove?larryfoster wrote:Sounds like all three are pretty comparable to mewindyhill4.2 wrote:There is only 1 way to tell if good quality coal will solve the problem
Which one had more coking, smoke, and heat output?
Which one was harder to light, lasted the longest? Notice any difference in performance between the three?
What about the fines and uniformity of size in each of the suppliers? Did one do a better job?
Which do you like best?
-
- Member
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 21, 2014 1:02 am
- Location: Armstrong County, Pa.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 617-B
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Hot Blast 1557M
- Coal Size/Type: Bituminous nut (me and the coal)
- Other Heating: Propane Kerosene
Only 2.windyhill4.2 wrote:
You have burnt all 3 in YOUR unit ???????
All three are Upper Freeport coal which will all have pretty similar characteristics, I believe, in BTU, sulfur and ash