Coal Quality From Various Sources
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
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Pete, being dusty or damp doesn't have anything to do with how well it burns. The moisture in the blaschak bags is probably from having the pallets of bags stored outside.
Well, it seem that the quality of coal from various sources varies. This week I just got a couple of bags of Reading to experiment with my old Cannon potbelly, it seems to burn well. I think shortly I should have a Hitzer so I have been trying to figure out what best to burn, the Reading coal was nut and size varied. I need the bag coal becuase of storage and keep reading all the posts on quality. Mike
I believe this guy sells Blaschak bagged.mikeylhs wrote:I forgot to add that I live in Allegheny County so I might be limited as to what coal is available in my area. The search goes on, any help would be appreciated. Mike
KIEFER COAL & SUPPLY
5088 W LIBRARY AVE
BETHEL PARK, PA. 15102
Ph:4128357900
- Ashcat
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- Location: West Chester PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 983
- Coal Size/Type: Nut/Blaschak
Blaschak vs South Tamaqua Coal + Greenwoods
I've been burning bagged Blaschak nut, and yesterday got 5 ton of bulk nut of different coal. The delivery company (Country Meadows Coal, Honey Brook PA) uses Centralia Coal Company. When I asked him if he knew what mine(s) the coal was from, he said it's a mix of "South Tamaqua Coal and Greenwoods". There are several references here (with mixed reviews) on South Tamaqua coal, but none that I found via search for "Greenwood" coal. Any opinions on either of these sources?
My first impressions: my new coal appears harder/denser/heavier. Distinctly more "shine" that Blashcak. Harder to get lit (I leave the ashpan door open longer). I got it going well last night, having added to near the top of the firebrick, as usual. I was a little surprised that the stove temp dropped to about 300* overnight. With Blaschak I should have been closer to 375-400*, with the official verdict from wife and daughter: "We're cold". Nothing that can't be remedied with a little coal and patience.
What they're calling nut size is about 33% larger, on average, than what Blaschak calls nut.
I've been burning bagged Blaschak nut, and yesterday got 5 ton of bulk nut of different coal. The delivery company (Country Meadows Coal, Honey Brook PA) uses Centralia Coal Company. When I asked him if he knew what mine(s) the coal was from, he said it's a mix of "South Tamaqua Coal and Greenwoods". There are several references here (with mixed reviews) on South Tamaqua coal, but none that I found via search for "Greenwood" coal. Any opinions on either of these sources?
My first impressions: my new coal appears harder/denser/heavier. Distinctly more "shine" that Blashcak. Harder to get lit (I leave the ashpan door open longer). I got it going well last night, having added to near the top of the firebrick, as usual. I was a little surprised that the stove temp dropped to about 300* overnight. With Blaschak I should have been closer to 375-400*, with the official verdict from wife and daughter: "We're cold". Nothing that can't be remedied with a little coal and patience.
What they're calling nut size is about 33% larger, on average, than what Blaschak calls nut.
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I've burned South Tamaqua coal for years w/ no problems. Then I tried Harmony's coal last year and found it puts out more heat than ST.
I have 1/2 a bin of ST and 1/2 a bin of Harmony. I'll use the ST now till it gets really cold and then use the Harmony.
Like I said - I had no problems w/ ST coal. It has been clean and burned consistently, just not as much heat as Harmony.
Problem for me is that ST is 20 min from me and Harmony is 45 min - 1 hr.
I have 1/2 a bin of ST and 1/2 a bin of Harmony. I'll use the ST now till it gets really cold and then use the Harmony.
Like I said - I had no problems w/ ST coal. It has been clean and burned consistently, just not as much heat as Harmony.
Problem for me is that ST is 20 min from me and Harmony is 45 min - 1 hr.
Living here in N E Conn. Very few carry bagged coal. Last year it was reading then kimmels. This year Dondon coal sales . More $ and not as good. anybody know anything about this co. Anybody in these parts have another supplier they would recomend. Thanks BP.
- Ashcat
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- Location: West Chester PA
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- Coal Size/Type: Nut/Blaschak
Thanks for the feedback, stokerstove. My early impression of ST, compared to Blaschak, is the same as yours with Harmony--less total heat content. Maybe another way of saying this (I'm not sure) is that with ST in my stove, when it's spent, it's spent. Blachak seems to die a slower death compared to ST coal.I've burned South Tamaqua coal for years w/ no problems. Then I tried Harmony's coal last year and found it puts out more heat than ST.
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Thought I would share another learning moment from my first year burning coal.
This morning I poured a bag of Blaschak rice down my coal chute into the bucket in the basement. I thought I heard a strange couple of "clunks" I'd never hear before but since it normally sounds like marbles going down a plastic pipe, I couldn't be sure with all the noise being made. When I emptied the bucket into the hopper, I found some large pieces (photo) that probably would have caused problems once they reached the bottom of the hopper or the stoker.
Lesson is: all rice coal may not be rice. Check the hopper as you load it up.
Added note: this is not a complaint; I'm very happy with Blaschak rice.
-Len
This morning I poured a bag of Blaschak rice down my coal chute into the bucket in the basement. I thought I heard a strange couple of "clunks" I'd never hear before but since it normally sounds like marbles going down a plastic pipe, I couldn't be sure with all the noise being made. When I emptied the bucket into the hopper, I found some large pieces (photo) that probably would have caused problems once they reached the bottom of the hopper or the stoker.
Lesson is: all rice coal may not be rice. Check the hopper as you load it up.
Added note: this is not a complaint; I'm very happy with Blaschak rice.
-Len
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- Richard S.
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I've always recommended to my customers that had stokers to screen it. There *shouldn't* be anything in the coal but there is so many ways for a piece to get in there it's impossible for it not to happen. Odd that you had so many though. What I would suggest is screen about half way down the hopper from one side to the other. This way if you keep it half full the screen will be buried and won't cause much dust.
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I have been burning Hudson Coal in my Russo. If I stay attentive to the fire it burns well, but when I get it going good (450-500)before I go to bed at like 11pm or so I turn the draft setting to like 1.5 or so and at like 6am when I check it the temp is down to like 250 and the fire is barely lit and with the Hudson coal especially I have a stove full of white/red clumps and barely any ash. The superior coal doesnt seem to do it as much. Does anyone have any suggestions to prevent this problem? I can't seem to get it to burn overnight without attention. I personally think its the coal but I do not know.
That's one of the good attributes of Superior coal.It gives you a lot of time at the end of the burn to reload.From what I've learned about burning hudson coal it acts just like you said and I think that is normal with northern field white ash coal.But I'm sure coal berner will chime in,he's our resident coal expert.Of coarse our mayor knows a lot about Hudson also(he sold it for years).
DON
DON