Brand name coal
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- New Member
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- Location: Argyle NY
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Nut
Alright guys what is the best type of coal to burn? I’ve tried reading, blaschak and tractor supply so far but really curious as to everyone’s thoughts and experiences
- joeq
- Member
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- Joined: Sat. Feb. 11, 2012 11:53 am
- Location: Northern CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: G111, Southard Robertson
If you punch in the search bubble above, you'll find lots of opinions on preferred brands. By far the most available and popular is Blaschac, along with LeHigh, and Kimmel thrown into the mix. Reading was selling to TSC a while back. Not sure what they're doing now.
My own personal opinion from what little experience I have, is that brands of coals don't seem to be as influential in heat out-put, as the size of coal is. But some brands are cleaner than others, with some being more inconsistent in sizing and fines. then there's the packaging. Think it was Kimmel a few years back, had these plastic twined bags,that were rotting and coming apart in storage. Then you have your 40 lb bags, as compared to the 50 lders, that a buddy of mine didn't like lifting. Lots to consider when purchasing coal. Guess a lot depends on your own personal preferences, and availability. I'm sure other will have more info to share.
My own personal opinion from what little experience I have, is that brands of coals don't seem to be as influential in heat out-put, as the size of coal is. But some brands are cleaner than others, with some being more inconsistent in sizing and fines. then there's the packaging. Think it was Kimmel a few years back, had these plastic twined bags,that were rotting and coming apart in storage. Then you have your 40 lb bags, as compared to the 50 lders, that a buddy of mine didn't like lifting. Lots to consider when purchasing coal. Guess a lot depends on your own personal preferences, and availability. I'm sure other will have more info to share.
- lsayre
- Member
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
Some big names not mentioned yet:
Jeddo
Stockton (Atlantic Carbon Group)
I'm not sure how the anthracite mines would rank by annual pounds mined, but I believe Stockton is the leader in this regard.
Jeddo
Stockton (Atlantic Carbon Group)
I'm not sure how the anthracite mines would rank by annual pounds mined, but I believe Stockton is the leader in this regard.
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- Member
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- Joined: Mon. Jan. 19, 2015 10:12 am
- Location: Greenwich, NY
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer fireplace insert
- Coal Size/Type: nut
- Other Heating: oil
As the others have said every vein and mine operation will be different.
That said of the brands available in my area I have formed opinions of which ones that I prefer.
I have used quite a bit of the Blaschac and was always satisfied with it.
I have used the Kimmel and the year I tried it, it seemed to have a bit more trash then others.
The Reading a couple of years ago had a ridiculous amount of fines in every bag, I had to resort to screening it on 1/2" hardware cloth before using it. I have heard and been assured that that's no longer an issue
Presently I'm using LeHigh and have been impressed with it, I think it's the best I've used so far.
Less ash, less debris, cleaner and more uniform and the dealer I have been using is decent on pricing for this area.
Always subject to change.
That said of the brands available in my area I have formed opinions of which ones that I prefer.
I have used quite a bit of the Blaschac and was always satisfied with it.
I have used the Kimmel and the year I tried it, it seemed to have a bit more trash then others.
The Reading a couple of years ago had a ridiculous amount of fines in every bag, I had to resort to screening it on 1/2" hardware cloth before using it. I have heard and been assured that that's no longer an issue
Presently I'm using LeHigh and have been impressed with it, I think it's the best I've used so far.
Less ash, less debris, cleaner and more uniform and the dealer I have been using is decent on pricing for this area.
Always subject to change.
- freetown fred
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- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
J, I been burnin BLASCHAK (nut--bulk) for 10 yrs & have been very satisfied. I deal with POSO Coal in Dryden, NY--close to Cortland. Not sure where Argyle is--OK Momma just said you're about 3 hrs from here!! If you go to BLASCHAK site & I THINK!!! put your zip in-- they'll give you info
- auntievintage
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- Location: Etna, ME
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Glenwood 116
- Coal Size/Type: Stove / Nut
- Other Heating: Oil forced luke-warm air
I burned Reading my first year, it wasn’t horrible but realized what I was missing as soon as I got my hands on blaschak. When my supplier stopped delivering bagged, I switched back to Reading for the ‘16-‘17 season. It was HORRIBLE! I cursed the stuff daily (morning and night). At least 1/3 of each bag were fines and the usable stuff ranged in size from chestnut to larger than my feet (I burn stove size). I thought the supplier may have just gotten a bad lot that year. I switched to Blaschak loose last year, still more fines than my liking but it’s definitely a harder coal with fewer clinkers and consistent size.
My supplier is late this year so I resorted to buying a couple of weeks worth of Reading and I swear it’s worse than before. This is what was unusable in tonight’s bag (and a 5gal pail I’ve filled in just 4 days)
My supplier is late this year so I resorted to buying a couple of weeks worth of Reading and I swear it’s worse than before. This is what was unusable in tonight’s bag (and a 5gal pail I’ve filled in just 4 days)
- freetown fred
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- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Yep, bagged is pretty much a crap shoot A.
- Rob R.
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Reading has very good coal...but somehow they manage to crush half of it during the bagging process. My local bulk coal dealer has Reading coal, and it is very nice looking stuff...nothing like what I have seen come out of their bags of nut.
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- Member
- Posts: 301
- Joined: Mon. Jan. 19, 2015 10:12 am
- Location: Greenwich, NY
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer fireplace insert
- Coal Size/Type: nut
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That's what I had a few years ago,
fortunately we have 2 Lehigh dealers here one in Granville and a new one in Schaghticoke,
also a Blaschak in Greenfield Center and another dealer in Cambridge.
fortunately we have 2 Lehigh dealers here one in Granville and a new one in Schaghticoke,
also a Blaschak in Greenfield Center and another dealer in Cambridge.
- joeq
- Member
- Posts: 5739
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 11, 2012 11:53 am
- Location: Northern CT
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: G111, Southard Robertson
All the bagged Blaschac I've gotten in the past were perfect. Clean and consistent. Sizes pea, nut, and stove. Never an issue. But I've never seen any of the bulk stuff. Wouldn't have expected it to be worse.
- auntievintage
- Member
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Wed. Dec. 12, 2012 10:07 am
- Location: Etna, ME
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Glenwood 116
- Coal Size/Type: Stove / Nut
- Other Heating: Oil forced luke-warm air
The bagged Blaschak always arrived perfect (both nut & coal). The coal travels by rail from PA to damn near Canada Before it is loaded on a truck, traveling 3 hours back south and being dumped by n my coal bin. I’m assuming the fines in the bulk are a result of the miles whereas the bagged didn’t get jostled as much.