Coalpail.com Forum

Just curious. A friend of mine asked if I could burn corn in my "Keystoker" model K-2 coal boiler(not yet installed). So , my question is; Can I , or Can't I? Please explain , so that I will be able to answer his question. Thanks.

Hello Oliver, well I think the corn will burn, but it leaves behind a gummy residue that clogs the stoker's grates and is difficult to remove.

So yes it will burn, but I would never recommend it.

Do a search for 'corn' here and you should find another thread or two about it.

Here is one: Post by bksaun - Alternative Fuels for Coal Stoves

Hope this helps, Greg L

It may work but probably not very well as corn burns a lot like wood pellets. Stokers are coal specific, being tuned for it. Straying from the design fuel in any appliance generally will have issues, if not combustion then heat output would be a concern. I would think even if it worked, it's heat output would be in the 50% range compared to Anthracite coal.

I have a mini stoker 80. I have burned corn in it often. It certainly burns different than coal. Ie; air and shaking settings. I find it to be very efficient and cheaper than coal depending on my source of corn. I can burn corn that farmers can't feed so i can clean up the granary floor and such and get my corn for nothing, almost. The thing that is most different during operation is that corn will caramelize and bridge but a poke twice a day takes care of that.