Wet Coal or just more bang for my buck?
- michaelanthony
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Hi SDJ, I know the feeling about snap, crackle pop, against the glass. I don't want to buy new glass for my Vigilant $$$...so I dump my coal in before I rev up. I wait a few minutes then I do the shake down. the added weight of the new coal speeds up the shake down process. I open the ash door an inch or so at watch the blues. I think it helps with the "bombs bursting in air"...like FF say's "keep it simple"
Mike
Mike
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I have always assumed that it is internal moisture in the coal that makes a steam explosion.
- coaledsweat
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Doubt it's moisture, my coal is always dry as a bone because the Axeman feed tube does not like damp coal. She spits out flakes from the observation port like watermelon seeds.
- Sunny Boy
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+1coaledsweat wrote: ↑Mon. Nov. 27, 2017 11:28 amDoubt it's moisture, my coal is always dry as a bone because the Axeman feed tube does not like damp coal. She spits out flakes from the observation port like watermelon seeds.
I don't think it's water, either. I've got bulk coal that I shoveled into in buckets to make room in the bin for next season deliveries. It has had several years to dry out. It snaps and pops just as much as when it was delivered wet. Soaking wet, or very dry, it doesn't show any difference in how much noise it makes, or even how well it burns. Gotta be something else that causes all that noise when it starts to get hot.
Considering the increased sulfur smell during all that popping, I think it's the sudden heating of volatiles to gas that cause the coal to crack open.
Paul
- hotblast1357
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I’m burning bulk Lehigh, mine also pops and cracks, it is very dry too.
- coaledsweat
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Maybe captured methane?
- hotblast1357
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I think it’s more less just the characteristic of a rock like substance being exposed quickly to very high heat, and it cracks and splits and makes noise. Harder coal would do it more, softer would less.
- SawDustJack
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Awesome Feedback!! Thanks! I have used wet coal before as well and not had this much crackle. I still will let it sit open for a week or so more before using it, and also will try these suggestions you all have put down here. Last night and this am I didn't rev the stove up as much and it was less crackle effects, but it did need me to sit with it longer to get some nice blues before I set it to temp. I also will try adding coal before shakedown too. I am sure it will be a little give and take, but still got to love the heat!!
- Sunny Boy
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The range gets loaded through the 8 inch round covers over the firebox and the top of the firebed is only a couple of inches below the openings. When the stove is in direct draft it overcomes any tendency for exhaust to come out while putting fresh coal in it - one opening at a time.
But, if I have a cover off when the coal starts popping, the sudden force of it overcomes even a strong draft and I get a blast of sulfur fumes coming up out of the cooktop opening.
And, it's not the fart smell of methane either, it is just very strong sulfur.
Once the snapping and popping stop, so does the sulfur back-blasts, too
Paul
But, if I have a cover off when the coal starts popping, the sudden force of it overcomes even a strong draft and I get a blast of sulfur fumes coming up out of the cooktop opening.
And, it's not the fart smell of methane either, it is just very strong sulfur.
Once the snapping and popping stop, so does the sulfur back-blasts, too
Paul
Last edited by Sunny Boy on Mon. Nov. 27, 2017 4:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Sunny Boy
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- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Anthracite Industrial, domestic hot water heater
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood range 208, # 6 base heater, 2 Modern Oak 118.
- Coal Size/Type: Nuts !
- Other Heating: Oil &electric plenum furnace
As others have said in other threads about using wet coal, the only real problem with it is if it's sitting in a hopper it could cause rust.
Paul
Paul
- freetown fred
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S, never a big fan one way or the other with dancing blue ladies--Cute??? I guess. When I tend, my thermo stays the same & the HITZER just does what she's meant to do (periodically the ladies dance)--heat the house. Course I only shake around 4 good shakes--back & forth. Minimizes ash & gets much more coal BURNT then when I used to shake the hell out of her.
- SawDustJack
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FF, I tend to get puffback if I don't see those ladies dance on tending times. Once I set the stove primaries back down, unless like you say, heating the house, the blue ladies are gone. Hitzer....someday!!
- freetown fred
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Gottcha S. That stove you got is doin the job, it's just about that fine tunin process--yep, had to learn it with the old HITZER!
- coaledsweat
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Try banking your coal when you service it. The puffbcks will go away.SawDustJack wrote: ↑Mon. Nov. 27, 2017 7:35 pmFF, I tend to get puffback if I don't see those ladies dance on tending times. Once I set the stove primaries back down, unless like you say, heating the house, the blue ladies are gone. Hitzer....someday!!
- SawDustJack
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Little update... I opened a number of bags and let them sit out to dry. Didn't really seem to make much difference as many of you have said and experienced. I have found that if I don't rev the fire up as much its not so snap, crackle, poppy and I still avoid puff back. I just have to remember to check the door these days to catch any coal bits trying to escape when I open it up. The coal has been great! 19 oat temp tonight with a nice 77 room temp. Not running the stove much more than usual. I decided to turn the heat on in that part of the house a few days back just to make sure the zone circulator still worked...its been three years since its kicked on!
Burn on!
Burn on!