Anyone still burn coal?
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SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
Are you sure about that? Maybe equal to 2-3 cords of poplar. A ton of anthracite coal is about 24,000,000 btu, about the same as a cord of oak (which does weigh more). Coal would only be worth it if you can't buy or physically deal with cord wood, or can get it for $200/ton. Might as well do wood pellets which don't have toxic ash or sulfuric flue emissions and cost the same.
Edit: I do get the appeal of not dealing with pellet stove electronics, I will concede that.
yeah, that is a general comparison. i ran across it doing a quick search. maybe there is a chart comparing different coal types with wood types.
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The only coal you want to burn is anthracite. But even anthracite varies quite a bit. Some will make allot more fly ash some has a higher sulfur content etc. I honestly can't believe you bought a coal stove without having an affordable coal supply lines up.
perhaps you misunderstand, the stove is set up for wood but has the coal kit as well.
Ok is you intend on using it for coal you will need either a clay liner or 316 ti or 316 l. L is a little better for coal but not common.
I don't like that for anything. I have yet to work on one that wasn't constantly shedding material off the inside
TSC nut coal for $6.50 a bag is high. They do have sales sometimes for $5 per bag.
Many complained about too many fines in each bag, or the coal being dirty or inconsistent in size. I can vouch for that to be true. However, what I bought was high volatile coal...lots of blue flames from the gases in the coal. It burned well, fine ash, and burned longer with more heat than both my “other” brands of coal that Inused that year. Last year I could not find it cheap so did not burn any.
Lehigh coal or Blashak coal are what I buy by the ton here. These are both premium coal from reputable companies. Both burn well and are relatively clean...very little fines in each bag. Both sell in bulk as well.
If you locate some TSC bagged nut coal here is what I would suggest you do. Buy 4-6 bags to try to get a feel for how it burns. Take note of how many bags or pallets your TSC store has. Buy these bags before a sale happens and burn them before a sale happens. This way, you know what to expect. Try to buy from the same pallet or buy a pallet or two from the same truck load. This will give a better chance of getting uniform coal in size and burn quality.
It’s a lot easier to just purchase bulk from a reputable company. I really like Blashak pea and nut size coal.
I also like the smell of burning oak and hickory as well.
I actually got much longer blue flames and more heat from the TSC coal I bought that year. However, that doesn’t mean I’ll get the same results next time I buy it. So I will buy a few bags and if I decide to buy more I’ll make sure the stores supply came from the same shipment that year.
Many complained about too many fines in each bag, or the coal being dirty or inconsistent in size. I can vouch for that to be true. However, what I bought was high volatile coal...lots of blue flames from the gases in the coal. It burned well, fine ash, and burned longer with more heat than both my “other” brands of coal that Inused that year. Last year I could not find it cheap so did not burn any.
Lehigh coal or Blashak coal are what I buy by the ton here. These are both premium coal from reputable companies. Both burn well and are relatively clean...very little fines in each bag. Both sell in bulk as well.
If you locate some TSC bagged nut coal here is what I would suggest you do. Buy 4-6 bags to try to get a feel for how it burns. Take note of how many bags or pallets your TSC store has. Buy these bags before a sale happens and burn them before a sale happens. This way, you know what to expect. Try to buy from the same pallet or buy a pallet or two from the same truck load. This will give a better chance of getting uniform coal in size and burn quality.
It’s a lot easier to just purchase bulk from a reputable company. I really like Blashak pea and nut size coal.
I also like the smell of burning oak and hickory as well.
I actually got much longer blue flames and more heat from the TSC coal I bought that year. However, that doesn’t mean I’ll get the same results next time I buy it. So I will buy a few bags and if I decide to buy more I’ll make sure the stores supply came from the same shipment that year.
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
Coal PRICE Today | Coal Spot Price Chart | Live Price of Coal per Ounce | Markets Insider
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With the last year of coal prices, I would not even bother. Pellets are a better deal at those prices.
Coal is still way cheaper than pellets here per ton and there are more BTUs per ton with coalCoal PRICE Today | Coal Spot Price Chart | Live Price of Coal per Ounce | Markets Insider
Coal Price: Get all information on the Price of Coal including News, Charts and Realtime Quotes.
With the last year of coal prices, I would not even bother. Pellets are a better deal at those prices.
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
At $160/ton market price you aren't buying sized anthracite for less than $200/ton for heating use. Retail price for a skid of pellets in Maine right now is in the high $200 low $300 range and a pallet of bagged coal (I know, not as cheap but more comparable to bagged pellets on a skid) is $324. I can't see coal really being any better of a fuel with prices so high, especially compared to wood pellets. Lumber is creeping down and I think environmental regulations are going to keep coal prices high. I'm also considering that high coal prices are part of the driver for high steel prices.
You can still have bulk coal delivered here for 220 or so and if you go to the mines and pick it up it's still under 200
Good nut coal has nearly double the btu’s of even the best hardwood pellets. So, that means near two pallets of pellets for every one pallet of bagged coal...which translates to much more work carrying bags not to mention needing extra space that is dry. Wet pellets are just that. Wet coal drys out by the stove and burns just fine. Everyone has their own specific needs and concerns to consider.
Buying coal in bulk in a pick-up truck, or even by the dump truck load still isn’t as cheap as buying by the tractor trailer load. I have a friend in Elkhart, Indiana that buys it that way...24 ton at a time. Each load like that lasts him about 12 to 13 years total and only costs him a few thousand dollars each time. He just remodeled his home with all new wall and ceiling insulation. Now he needs an even smaller coal stove and his giant stash of coal will last him literally until he’s old enough he won’t want to carry hods or coal. That is what he is saying. He’s also held off on putting in a new furnace because he first wants to see his coal use reduction before he commits to a furnace unit. He will obviously put the furnace in for his wife in case he dies, but meanwhile he’ll be saving more money now with much better insulation.
Buying coal in bulk in a pick-up truck, or even by the dump truck load still isn’t as cheap as buying by the tractor trailer load. I have a friend in Elkhart, Indiana that buys it that way...24 ton at a time. Each load like that lasts him about 12 to 13 years total and only costs him a few thousand dollars each time. He just remodeled his home with all new wall and ceiling insulation. Now he needs an even smaller coal stove and his giant stash of coal will last him literally until he’s old enough he won’t want to carry hods or coal. That is what he is saying. He’s also held off on putting in a new furnace because he first wants to see his coal use reduction before he commits to a furnace unit. He will obviously put the furnace in for his wife in case he dies, but meanwhile he’ll be saving more money now with much better insulation.
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
Did you guys look at the link? Coal as a commodity is 200% more expensive than it was when you last bought coal. You are not getting it for $200/ton anymore, there would be no profit for the people selling the coal.
If had trees I was willing to cut wood burning might be different for me. I used to cut a lot of wood with my dad. My saws are old, but they run well...albeit lots of vibration and no kick back safety like newer saws. I’d need a 4x4 and a wood splitter, new saws and safety equipment...all of which we used to have. Only thing I kept was the old saws. Right now those are additional expenses making buying wood an easier decision, money saved, time spent doing other things, and lots less work. Quite honestly it just takes a little looking for the right person with the right wood and it just makes better sense for me to buy it. Then there’s the 2-3 years drying time to consider as well for properly dried wood in this damp valley. No one has ever delivered me wood that is properly seasoned. They all say it is seasoned when it isn’t. When we cut wood and delivered years ago our storage pile was massive...big enough that we delivered 2 year seasoned wood to people back them. Good luck with that kind of service today.
All the thinking and figuring, planning to buy more equipment, find places to cut wood, handle it 6 times before it gets to the stove...all makes burning coal look so much better and easier. My only issue with coal is the ash...it’s a pain in the ash. It’s a big enough pain that makes that BK stove look all that much better with its deep fire box.
All the thinking and figuring, planning to buy more equipment, find places to cut wood, handle it 6 times before it gets to the stove...all makes burning coal look so much better and easier. My only issue with coal is the ash...it’s a pain in the ash. It’s a big enough pain that makes that BK stove look all that much better with its deep fire box.
Doesn’t matter to me. It’s why I already have a stash of coal...it’s why I bought a duel fuel stove...and it’s why I have had wood seasoning on the 3 year plan...been two years now. It’s why my fuel oil tank it full, and why I have my propane tank full, and why I have two big electric heaters, and two big kerosene heaters. Come heck or high water I am ready for whatever mother mature and the Biden administration can throw at me.
Everyone else is on their own...and I don’t care. My plan from the start was to be able to weather any spikes in fuel costs...which ever fuel that rises...then I move to the cheapest...whatever that is at the time. I’m not locking myself into anything.
If this duel fuel stove is burning too much wood. Out it goes and I’m comes a Lopi Liberty in its place...just off the new EPA regulations by .1 tenth of a gram.
Nope...I’m Golden...just as I have planned. Only thing else I need to do is add more insulation...and what I have isn’t all that bad.
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SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
I don't even like wood pellets, but the coal prices make pellets sensible if you can't do wood. Sure, less BTU and a bit more cost than coal, but no toxic dust, ash, or flue gases. I'm not talking about stockpiles of heating fuel, but the topic of the post, which is about burning coal today at today's prices.
Even at $300 a ton it is still cheaper than buying wood in my particular stove. If I need to burn wood I’ll use my Lopi and I’ll burn even less wood.
That said, getting ready to buy two more tons of nut coal from Hitzer...here in eastern Indiana. I even drive to get it.
That said, getting ready to buy two more tons of nut coal from Hitzer...here in eastern Indiana. I even drive to get it.
When you are buying from the people who are digging it out of the ground or one step away those people are still making money. You can buy commodity goods locally below commodity pricing pretty often.
I still don't like burning coal myself but if you are in the right area it can still be a very cheap heat source. Which is why I asked early on about the availability in their area.
Lots of folks around here seem to have a hard time buying quality hardwood pellets. So much so my cousin has considered becoming a bulk dealer.
Hi -- I'm interested in what you say here about the creosote and corrosion. I got a vintage Tirolia stove (kitchen/heat/water) that is coal burning. Am wanting to swap out a propane heater (since propane is getting so $$$$$) that is vented into a clay-lined flue. Currently, the propane unit is the only thing in this flue, however, previously an oil furnace, propane water heater, and very old wood stove were all in this same flue. Can I hoook up the coal stove without putting in a stainless liner?
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