Can Kentucky Coal Approach the Properties of Anthracite?

Berlin, what is the general size of "lump" coal?

I 2nd this about Ky. coal. If it wasn't for Berlin telling me about Ky coal, I would've given up my 1st year of burning coal, and put my woodstove back in.

glad to hear your new KY coal is working well for you!

the sizes of "lump coal" are between softball and basketball roughly. load it like firewood.

From a surface area perspective, a basketball sized chunk of coal doesn't seem like it would be the best choice. One or two of those would fill the entire firebox of even a large stove. The firebox on the DS-1600 is 16" x 20" to my knowledge. Would you break up the basketballs and retain the softballs?

That's absolutly right.It does burn like fire wood just alot longer burn.I get the blue flames also,but got to open the door,glass gets covered with soot but don't care about seeing the flame, i'm after the heat and longer burn times and no chimney fires.

lsayre wrote:From a surface area perspective, a basketball sized chunk of coal doesn't seem like it would be the best choice. One or two of those would fill the entire firebox of even a large stove. The firebox on the DS-1600 is 16" x 20" to my knowledge. Would you break up the basketballs and retain the softballs?

When you put the large lumps of coal in the stove, the heat quickly causes the large lumps to crack into many striations. All you do is strike the lump with a poker and it falls apart into a hundred pieces.
By the way, here is one of the best stoves available to burn Bituminous coal. This is a Hickory Glenwood with an indirect backpipe. It has a very large loading door and no windows to soot up. You can't get a better stove for this use.

I would like to get one of those old stoves in time.After watching your videos William on both of your stoves,which I enjoyed all the info about them, great job.It's amazing just how good those stoves were built back then.I would prefer old over new style any time.

Does eastern KY bit coal form creosote?

I don't know much about bituminous coal, but I do know that no coal produces creosote.

Here's a ton of Ky lump on a 6.5X16' trailer:





In my coal bin is a ton of egg on the right, and a ton of lump after I've broken it on the left:



As to the dirty burning myth, once my volatiles have burned off (about a 10-15 minute process), it's hard to tell I'm burning anything, much less coal:

How does the "egg" coal burn for you? Can it be burned by itself, or does it need to be mixed with Lump? What type of stove are you burning these in?

It burns great, and yes by itself. It's handy for days when I need to throttle back but wish/need to keep the stove running. I run strictly lump, usually over egg, at night as it burns longer for me. I'll probably buy strictly lump next time.

I just found a source that claims that "Lump" should pass through a 5" screen and "Run of Mine" should pass through an 8" screen. What I'm seeing in your photos appears larger than this for sure. How much larger is it? Is there an available size that sits generally between lump and egg?

Smitty, I`m not a coal expert either but I do know that creosote is made during the coking process of baking the bit coal to make coke, its one of the nasty by-products. I used to be able to take a 5gal. steel can down to the gate at Clairton works & they would come & get it, fill it with cresote & give it back still hot. Just had to show your USS ID badge, no charge.

lsayre wrote:I just found a source that claims that "Lump" should pass through a 5" screen and "Run of Mine" should pass through an 8" screen. What I'm seeing in your photos appears larger than this for sure. How much larger is it? Is there an available size that sits generally between lump and egg?

I wish I could get sized lump. I actually consider what I posted above ROM. But, the coal yard I use sells it as lump. BTW, it breaks up easily with a pole axe.