Lighting a Stoker

I'm lazy. I used an oxy-acetylene torch. 1 minute or so.

Me too. See photo below I posted much earlier in this thread. I'll be doing in again soon, firing up for the season.

I just got my Harman magnum installed and started it up today. I had matchlight from last year so I used them and a torch. It probably took me longer than it should, but it was my first time. I probably still have to work on getting it adjusted right, but its lit and I'm happy for no more hand fired.

It's great that you Macho Guys have torches, but when the average coal stoker user, especially the beginners, need something more accessible, and ask for help on starting their stoves, torches are NOT the way to go . You are simply scaring off more and more people to go the "Coal " route for heat. We need more people using coal for heat, and we need to show them lots of the simplicity and other benefits.

By torch I meant a small propane torch as used for plumbing. I've started my old hand fired without one in the past, but the match light has been sitting around so I used the easier method. I used maybe 12 briquettes across the grate in 2 lines and once there was a nice glow in between I dumped on some coal and watched as the fire grew.

GeorgiePorgie wrote:It's great that you Macho Guys have torches, but when the average coal stoker user, especially the beginners, need something more accessible, and ask for help on starting their stoves, torches are NOT the way to go . You are simply scaring off more and more people to go the "Coal " route for heat. We need more people using coal for heat, and we need to show them lots of the simplicity and other benefits.

Georgie...This thread has gone 13 pages. If a beginner can't find something in there that will work for them, well I think they just don't deserve to burn coal.

Charcoal briquettes and map gas sure beat the old way of starting a coal fire. Give a try, no use paper and kindling.

Four Tablespoons of diesel in a cup or two of cheap wood pellets. Shake well.
Pour wood pellets into a 'valley' of rice coal, made on the top of the burn grate.
Pull the rice up the sides of the wood pellets, but do not fully cover them.
Light the wood pellets with a match or lighter.
Once they get red hot, the rice will begin to burn.
Simple

A bag of soft wood pellets ($5) will last 4 or 5 years, depending on how many times you need to start your stoker during the burn season. Just keep it sealed.

Lite stoker first time I have a hyfire II have switches on back of hopper I turn switches off for feed motors & convection blowers, leave combustion blowers on, use cowboy charcoal & propane torch, add a little coal on top, after about 5 min. turn on feed motors & convection blowers, Drink beer & enjoy the heat.

Hot Rocks wrote:Lite stoker first time I have a hyfire II have switches on back of hopper I turn switches off for feed motors & convection blowers, leave combustion blowers on, use cowboy charcoal & propane torch, add a little coal on top, after about 5 min. turn on feed motors & convection blowers, Drink beer & enjoy the heat.

That's the ticket! Especially the last part!

I use a piece of cardboard as a dam on the grate and pile up some rice coal behind it with a "coal rodent" buried in the pile. I then use some paper / cardboard to get a fire going in the ash pan so that it will heat up the chimney and get a draft going. Then Iight the wick, let it start, and plug in the stove.

I'd like to skip the whole ash pan fire bit cause it gets a bit smelly from the smoke, but I was told to do so by the installers. They said I have the chance of getting CO in the house if I just light the coal without having any draft first.

jacknanticoke wrote:........I'd like to skip the whole ash pan fire bit cause it gets a bit smelly from the smoke, but I was told to do so by the installers. They said I have the chance of getting CO in the house if I just light the coal without having any draft first.

Jack,

Several on here have suggested using a hair dryer to heat the flue. Try it you may eliminate the smoke part. All you need is to get some heat in the flue. For me, I just take 1/2 sheet of newspaper, crumble it to make a torch, remove the ash pan and hold the lit paper fire right in front of the flue. You will immediately know when the draft starts.

Rick

Hey I did it even easier-called my dad-he flew in from GB WI and showed me how to light it.Think he'll do this every year? haha Ok so he did use started logs broken up, and little pieces of wood and lighter.No torch. Threw on the blower and a little more wood and waalaaa. Fire scarecrow! Less than 10 minutes. I know I can, I know I can, do it my self. LOL

efo141 wrote:Hey I did it even easier-called my dad-he flew in from GB WI and showed me how to light it.Think he'll do this every year? haha Ok so he did use started logs broken up, and little pieces of wood and lighter.No torch. Threw on the blower and a little more wood and waalaaa. Fire scarecrow! Less than 10 minutes. I know I can, I know I can, do it my self. LOL

You'll get the hang of it in no time Paula!

The easiest way I found is the cheapest. Get yourself a bag of charcoal and some charcoal lighter (perfumed kerosene) put about 5-7 brickets in and squirt some charcoal lighter in let it soak for a minute or so then light it off. Now let it burn foe a few minutes then turn combustion air on. Let them get a full glow about them. Throw a shovel of coal on top wait about a 1/2 hour or so until you get a good burn then turn your coal feed on. Now your done sit back and be amazed at the flames. Remember don't go near the pretty flames