I still work with my dad in the woods also but typically we both cut then load our own trucks. I help him unload his then go dump mine and start over. He does not use as much wood as i do though he only needs 3 to 4 cord a year i am at 6+ but that is what i get for having a big old house.
Another reason I love coal!
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I hear ya there. I like doing firewood and so does my dad. And he's even more excited about it since I moved back into the area to play along. So I extract enjoyment from the activity (and health benefits, I've lost a good 10 pounds since moving from the city to the sticks). Those benefits are hard to put a dollar value on, its likely more than $150.00 though.
My dad is the same way with the wood. He's burning red oak right now from the fall. It was cut in the log yard for a year or so. Ive told him I'd like to get at least a year ahead with ash and throw harder woods aside for longer than that. He just looks at me funny and says they'll burn up too quick. He was surprised when I was thrilled with the three year old ash that was stuffed in the back of my shed. I can damper that stuff way down and it throws good heat for hours. Not nearly so with the fresher stuff.
I hear ya there. I like doing firewood and so does my dad. And he's even more excited about it since I moved back into the area to play along. So I extract enjoyment from the activity (and health benefits, I've lost a good 10 pounds since moving from the city to the sticks). Those benefits are hard to put a dollar value on, its likely more than $150.00 though.
My dad is the same way with the wood. He's burning red oak right now from the fall. It was cut in the log yard for a year or so. Ive told him I'd like to get at least a year ahead with ash and throw harder woods aside for longer than that. He just looks at me funny and says they'll burn up too quick. He was surprised when I was thrilled with the three year old ash that was stuffed in the back of my shed. I can damper that stuff way down and it throws good heat for hours. Not nearly so with the fresher stuff.
AmbDrvr253
Minister of Fire
I guess I have the advantage of having an older home in anthracite country. Already had space for coal and have it delivered to my door for $200 a ton. Usually only burn 2 ton a year. Can't beat keeping the house at 75 for entire winter for $400. Like many on here I refuse to pay for wood when I can, with a lil hard work, get what I need for free. That said when you include the costs, chainsaw's, wedges, splitter, fuel, time, etc..., there is no comparison.
That is what i had to but i did not like it but to each their own if you like it and it works for you so be it. I used allot more than 2 tons though
Holzstapel
Burning Hunk
I installed a coal fired boiler when the prices of oil skyrocketed. I bought my coal local and was paying about $250/ton. The boiler was self-feeding with a hopper than held 400lbs of rice coal. When the coal was great, the boiler performed great. When the coal was crap, the boiler was crap. The boiler was sized larger than my oil boiler, but could never perform as well as my oil boiler. When the temps dropped into the teens and single digits the boiler was never able to keep my house warm. Sold the boiler, my extra coal, and used that money to buy a woodstove. Never been happier or warmer.
I wasn't proposing that the wood blocks are cheaper per btu than coal. I said that the wood blocks are cost effective in reply to a man considering using a woodstove but with limited space to store cordwood. Coal seems to always be the cheapest fuel per btu if you can get it and if you have a burner for it.
I did burn some bit coal in my old Warm Morning 520 a few times when I had it in the garage, but was a bit harder to clean out. Heated okay, but switched to wood as it was free (but had to cut all my wood 8" long)...
Oddly enough I like the smell of burning coal though, along with the smell of burning wood. In fact, I did miss that when I switched over to the Englander, as it doesn't smell at all...
Oddly enough I like the smell of burning coal though, along with the smell of burning wood. In fact, I did miss that when I switched over to the Englander, as it doesn't smell at all...
And the crackling when you put fresh coal on. Don't forget the crackling!
As stated I don't smell anthracite. But like you I kinda like the smell of bituminous. Lived in CT most my life. Used to go down to Mystic where they have a coal-fired steamer. You can take a cruise out on the water on it. Love the smell, seeing the smoke come out of the stacks. (aware of pollution no need for comments lol) And love going downstairs watching the fireman stoke the fire.
I delivered newspapers as a kid to a couple houses that were coal heated. The warmth was welcome on collection day, but I did not like the smell. One of the places didn't have electricity so they burned kerosene lamps. The combined aromas plus 80F heat was stifling. On some low pressure days you could smell their coal burners all around the block.
Coal has not been $60 a ton for a very long time. Even if I went up to the mines i payed allot more than that
Not argument, debate! I think It's great to here different opinions and reasoning. I honestly can't say enough about how well members of this forum handle differences or disputes without resorting to mudslinging, in which case, nobody learns anything except how not to behave perhaps.
As a side note, it always amazes me how much where people are from shapes there thoughts. Sometimes I can read a post and guess where someone lives.
drz1050
Minister of Fire
AmbDrvr253
Minister of Fire
Peaked my interest there as well. While I can pick up coal for $160 per ton it is not worth the shoveling to save $80 a season. Stupid only hurts once if you have any intelligence whatsoever......LOL
The price for bit. I cannot comment on as I live in the heart of anthracite country. Tho it is cheaper, my understanding anyway, is it is lower BTU per ton. Is that correct?
The price for bit. I cannot comment on as I live in the heart of anthracite country. Tho it is cheaper, my understanding anyway, is it is lower BTU per ton. Is that correct?
Can't give an educated answer other then what I have been researching. It looks like it is much more difficult to burn but it is done. Lower heat, higher sulfer, softer, more volatile. From what I gather it's a good coal to use in a stove designed for wood or coal. The guy on the coal forum who turned me on to the Viper mine said it bridges very quickly when burning. I can only imagine what this means, maybe other coal burners could explain it further. I still am so very tempted because of the price and simplicity of obtaining it. I'm miles away. I can see a coal stove in my future.
Bit is easier to get burning than anth coal. Anth is also known as stone coal, extremely hard, is older coal and almost pure carbon. It burns with a blue flame and burns pretty steady throughout the whole burn....slow and hot, no or very little smoke. Bit on the other hand, varies ( in my experience), on burning qualities. It normally will light off fairly easy which in coal burning terms, means placing some chunks on a well established bed of wood coals for quick ignition. It goes through a process called coking which is similar to off gassing of wood in which the volatiles, sulphur and smoke are released. The bridging talked about earlier is also known as caking. Bit coal ( depending on what mine it comes from), will have different caking characteristics. As it starts into the coking process, it starts to melt together to some degree (caking) and good bit, will go through this fairly quickly and then, will kind of fall back apart and burn nice and completely. SOME bit though, doesn't act like this and will melt together and basically closes off all under the grate fed, primary air. You need a slicer bar or shaker grates to break this up until if finishes the coking process. Ash fusion temps vary with bit too. The better stuff, burns up to a fine ash like wood. The poorer stuff can have a lower fusion temp and will melt into what looks like glass .Even the good stuff can do this if not given and a couple of shakes during coking. The melted and fused ash is called a clinker and restricts air flow through the fuel bed. Ash content can vary also. Keep in mind also that coal ash ( at least bit), can be quite corrosive if it gets damp. Humidity is drawn to ash so make sure your system is well cleaned of soot and ash after the heating season. Coal ash can also contain trace amounts of heavy metals like mercury so,not good for gardens or disposing close to ground water supply.
Well said dmriggs I would like to add that although the ash from anthracite is not quite as bad as bit it is still really corrosive when exposed to moisture and contains lots of nasty stuff.
It is pretty nasty stuff. I can tell you it eats through stainless liners pretty quick.
So out of curiosity, how much longer are the burn times with a coal stove? Say in two similarly sized stoves. One wood and another coal. How much longer would the burn time be extended with coal?
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