However, many coal stoves of older designs can burn wood rather well--the trick is to somehow control the air so it does not burn too fast and hot from air under the wood. The Vermont Castings cast iron stoves were all made to be used as open fireplaces (for wood) as well as stoves, even the coal burners, though (like real fireplaces), that is not a very efficient use of wood. I imagine it is better than a regular fireplace though--the iron is bound to radiate more heat into the house than a fireplace does. My VC manual says to burn wood for a couple of weeks, with small fires, to season the new stove, and all coal stoves will burn wood fires to start the coal burning.
Bituminous coal and wood burn in more similar ways (unlike anthracite), so if a coal stove is set for bit coal (which needs less air), it should also burn wood, at least better than an anthracite stove would. You could even mix them, Mine has a plate that converts from bit to anthracite. But I can't get bit coal here and don't want all that smoke and sulfur anyway. It reminds me too much of the afterlife. So I leave it set for anthracite and just burn wood on special occasions for the special effects.
bobdog2o02 wrote: ↑Fri. Jun. 08, 2018 6:45 pmHello and TIA for any and all advice.
I currently heat with cord wood using a catalytic stove, a Blazeking Princess Ultra. I use about 3-4 cords per year. I scrounge my wood and only pay to maintain my equipment; hydraulic splitter, 3 chainsaws.....
Recently we have found that we will be having a child and i'm not sure I will be able to dedicate the time to scrounge wood and process it.
The question. Are there any good coal stoves that can run cord wood efficiently and what is the difference between a stoker and non-stoker.
I do have a dump trailer and live not far,1.5hr, from Shamokin PA where i can buy anthracite at reasonable pricing....
Thanks again.