It's Time to Ignite the Anthracite
- Lightning
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Right after this week's warm spell. High of 49 on Friday with several cool days to follow. I can't wait to hear the snap crackle pop and to smell the aroma of that first batch starting to fire.
Who else is lighting her up?
Who else is lighting her up?
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Last edited by Lightning on Tue. Oct. 09, 2018 7:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Member
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Sat. Jan. 24, 2015 11:22 pm
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant II 2310
- Other Heating: natural gas central forced air
We are still in the 80's, but starting Thursday we will have 60's (lows in the upper 40's). I have a new iron stove, so I will be burning small wood fires for a couple of weeks to season the cast iron. That should be enough to handle the chill at night. So I will probably be into November before I start the coal.
But after I do start coal, I am not sure I want to keep it burning till Easter. If we have 10-day warm periods, I might let it go out--restarting is not such a big deal to me, and the natural gas is about as cheap as anthracite for me, maybe less. I have an electric blanket, too. Sometimes we do have a long, very cold winter, though. I like the radiant stove much more than the central forced air heat, which heats areas I am not using. I do still have a good bit of wood left from the wood stove, about 2 cords, fine for a night in the upper 40's. The doors lift off my stove for an open fireplace--not efficient, but cozy when it is not very cold, and suitable for roasting wieners or just coming in from the cold.
But after I do start coal, I am not sure I want to keep it burning till Easter. If we have 10-day warm periods, I might let it go out--restarting is not such a big deal to me, and the natural gas is about as cheap as anthracite for me, maybe less. I have an electric blanket, too. Sometimes we do have a long, very cold winter, though. I like the radiant stove much more than the central forced air heat, which heats areas I am not using. I do still have a good bit of wood left from the wood stove, about 2 cords, fine for a night in the upper 40's. The doors lift off my stove for an open fireplace--not efficient, but cozy when it is not very cold, and suitable for roasting wieners or just coming in from the cold.
- StokerDon
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
I fired up my latest coal burn'in contraption on Saturday!
Sorry you couldn't be work'in on your 130M Lee. It's no fun screw'in 1.5" pipe together with a busted up shoulder. I did that last December, I only had to put together a few connections and that made scream "Uncle!" a few times.
-Don
80's this week with oppressive humidity until Friday. Then Fall finally arrives!Sorry you couldn't be work'in on your 130M Lee. It's no fun screw'in 1.5" pipe together with a busted up shoulder. I did that last December, I only had to put together a few connections and that made scream "Uncle!" a few times.
-Don
- SawDustJack
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- Joined: Fri. Jan. 15, 2016 6:12 pm
- Location: Cape Cod
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Newcastle/Ironhouse;Warm Morning 617a
- Coal Size/Type: Stove/Nut
Saturday I heard the crackling of the coal and watched some blue ladies dance in the stove. I will let her go down tomorrow as temps are suppose to be in the 70's, but it was sure nice to warm the house up the past few days!! Fresh coat of paint and replaced the door seals over the summah keeping her looking and working fresh!
- mntbugy
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- Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
- Other Heating: Propain
FF and I been burning black rocks for while now. Window stats and door stats are getting a work out.
- lsayre
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- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
It looks like my thermostats will get turned on for the season this week on Thursday evening.
- hotblast1357
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- Posts: 5657
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
I lit about 3 weeks ago... heats on all the time, didn’t get over 50 yesterday and extremely damp with no sun, I’ve had 3 heavy frost so far, fall is here up in the adirondacks, it is suppose to warm up today to 75, but will drop like a rock again after tomorrow, I’m averaging 36 pounds per day for heat and DHW.
- freetown fred
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- warminmn
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- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Efel Nestor Martin, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Burning wood here, at least for a while longer. Got it so I'll burn it, but it isnt the same as coal.
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
The lighting of anthy this Friday is at least two weeks earlier than normal but that's what the forecast is calling.... My normal fire up time is inside the final week of October. I'd rather have the house warm, dry and comfortable instead of that cool damp and clammy feeling, yuck lol. If I have to crack a window the fresh air is a bonus anyways
- mntbugy
- Member
- Posts: 2041
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2016 2:36 pm
- Location: clearfield,pa
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: D S 1500, Warm Moring 400
- Baseburners & Antiques: Art Garland 145,GW114 ,Clarion 115, Vestal 20 Globe,New Royal22 Globe, Red Cross Oak 56,Acme Ventiduct 38,Radiant Airblast 626,Home Airblast 62,Moores #7,Moores 3way
- Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
- Other Heating: Propain
Lightning, Can you use the Riddler with one and a half arms?
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14658
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Actually I'm lucky to have changed over to this style of clearing ash. I would not be able to shake grates in my current condition. The riddle bar can be used with one good arm. If absolutely needed I should be able to do a tending by myself, albeit it will take longer. I have my daughter on standby to fill in as my left arm to make things easier which will be good for her too.
Normally I'll throw in 60 pounds all at once with my coal bucket that's been modified into a cannon. That part of the operation will need some modifications lol