Coalpail.com Forum

Hi, quick question. I start my stove with matchlite. I know... cheating. But then i start to layer nut coal on top, an inch or so at a time till it’s glowing. Then another inch, till it’s glowing. I have about 5 inches deep glowing but another 8 inches tonget to the bottom of the hopper. Do i do small layers the hole time?

Or do i just start piling the coal in at some point to raise the level then fill the hopper?

It’s a hitzer 503. Thanks. Bob.

I would fill another 4 inches leaving a little exposed glowing coals, when this catches load another 4 inches, have a cup of coffee then fill the hopper.

You're not cheatin with matchlight, just bein smart! When I've got a good 6" RED layer, I just do 5 gall. pails through the hopper till full & I'm good for the heating season. Why are you restarting so much?

I'll load coal through the front door until I can't easily get it around the hopper boot anymore, then I'll load from the top. Make sure when you are loading through the hopper you push fresh coal all the way to the back of the stove. If you're just dumping in the hopper, the back of the hopper and baffle plate are exposed to open flames all the time and I've seen a couple wear out quicker. Take a shovel or poker and get that fresh coal as far back into the firebox as you can.