Coal

[dodge man]

When I think of burning coal I think of the movie A Christmas Story.

 

[Doofy]

Heated with coal in the 90's and loved the consistent heat and extended burn times. I hauled it myself and used 3-5 Tons a year @ $52 per Ton. Beat the hell out of burning spruce. I did lose my eyebrows several times until I figured out how coal gassing worked. Fun Times!

 

[Cycledude]

Tractor Supply in my area sells coal in bags, I bought one bag last year to test burn in my wood furnace. I was not impressed and most likely will never buy coal again.

 

[LouNY]

There is a learning curve to heating with coal. Between hard and soft coal and then the multitude of sizes depending on the appliance it is being used in.
Within the coal burner community being a one match user for the season is a bragging point.

 

[ponytug]

@Cycledude FWIW: not all wood fireplaces or furnaces are built/designed to burn coal. The heat can be locally too intense.

While I don't miss using coal to heat, and I hated the smell of the smoke outdoors, the indoor coal fire scent makes me a bit nostalgic.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Tractor Supply in my area sells coal in bags, I bought one bag last year to test burn in my wood furnace. I was not impressed and most likely will never buy coal again.

Interesting. I'll have to check my local TS. I can always use a local source for small quantity coal. I keep my shop coal in a 25 gallon barrel, and a gunny sack full would be perfect.

 

[dj1701]

This is what I have been using since 2010. Harmon DVC-500 which they don't make anymore.

I use Charcoal Briquettes and MAPP gas to get the coal going. It's a learning curve to be sure.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've often wondered how a coal stove would be for burning wood chips.

It would give me another excuse reason to buy a chipper.

 

[bdhsfz6]

A decade ago, I worked with a guy who modified a 3pt chipper to make chips for his pellet stove. The chips had to be absolutely dry or the fire would go out. He was a part time carpenter and ran wood scraps through it. I never saw it but he claimed with a few adjustments, it worked ok. It didn't throw as much heat as the pellets but he liked the economy.

I thought about trying it with my Harman Stoker coal stove but never did for fear the softer wood chips might jam or damage the expensive feed mechanism.

 

[ponytug]

I've often wondered how a coal stove would be for burning wood chips.

It would give me another excuse reason to buy a chipper.

I've never tried to do it at home, though we have relatives who live in a village that heats the village with sawdust and scraps from local wood and furniture companies. Isn't there a biomass power plant in southern NH somewhere?

Based on what I know of those two, I think that drying the chips might be a bit of extra work for a homeowner. If you can get or make dry chips, I think that getting enough combustion air focused on the chips would be important for high burn temperatures.

I would bear in mind the higher ash content and lower BTU content of bark, so if it were me, I would plan on avoiding twigs or wood pieces with a lot of bark.

All the best,

Peter