Page 1 of 1

Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Fri. Jan. 10, 2020 9:04 pm
by Ultralume
I have been using anthracite for years and never had an opportunity to try bituminous coal. Not knowing where to get some, I got a few pounds of "blacksmith coal" to try it out in a Vigilant II 2310 coal stove. I cracked the doors open ever so slightly to allow for secondary air to burn off the volatile gases. I really liked the bright bit coal flames. Certainly nicer to look. However, after the gases burned off, the bit coal left behind a big blob of coke. It stuck to itself and rather difficult to break up. Is this common with bit coal? If so, it must make it difficult to clean if it fuses to itself into a big blob of coke. Is there a better grade of bit coal for heating that doesn't blob up?

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Fri. Jan. 10, 2020 9:26 pm
by freetown fred
Hey but look--it's cheaper!!!! LOL

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Fri. Jan. 10, 2020 9:29 pm
by corey
Ultralume wrote:
Fri. Jan. 10, 2020 9:04 pm
I have been using anthracite for years and never had an opportunity to try bituminous coal. Not knowing where to get some, I got a few pounds of "blacksmith coal" to try it out in a Vigilant II 2310 coal stove. I cracked the doors open ever so slightly to allow for secondary air to burn off the volatile gases. I really liked the bright bit coal flames. Certainly nicer to look. However, after the gases burned off, the bit coal left behind a big blob of coke. It stuck to itself and rather difficult to break up. Is this common with bit coal? If so, it must make it difficult to clean if it fuses to itself into a big blob of coke. Is there a better grade of bit coal for heating that doesn't blob up?
Kentucky coal does not stick like that some coals are worse then others blacksmith coal is the worst for home heating.

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Fri. Jan. 10, 2020 10:18 pm
by Ultralume
I wonder where I can get some good bituminous coal just to try it out. I’m in upstate New York. I found that Aubuchon Hardware sells in 50 pound bags, but I don’t know if it’s blacksmith quality or not...

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Sat. Jan. 11, 2020 4:10 am
by CoalJockey
Most bituminous coals will coke. When you do your firing just use your poker or a piece of pipe to bust it up. Add your fresh coal, don’t snuff the fire, and your back in business.

Some soft coals do coke more than others.

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 2:26 pm
by kirtsy420
im having the same problem. my bit coal came from the peabody mines out of southern Indiana. burns way to hot when first lighting. then once the gasses burn off there is hardly any coal left. cant keep a fire going unless im up all night messing with it.

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Mon. Jan. 13, 2020 9:35 pm
by Donb
Ultralume....don’t know where you are but Mulholland near Saratoga Springs, NY has bit nut in 40# bags. Pretty pricy though. We use it in the 7-1/4” gauge steamers out behind the house.

Don

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Tue. Jan. 14, 2020 1:33 pm
by Ultralume
Interesting.... have to look it up. Thanks

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Mon. Feb. 10, 2020 10:03 pm
by fig
The bit I burn does it as well. It lights off easy, burns real hot then settles down to goo. In about 3 hours it’s ready to bust up. It will then burn for another 3 hours. That’s in this Hotblast stove. In the Warm Morning stove it will burn for 12 hours. I had to change to anthracite in the Hotblast because the fire was always out when I got home from work. I burn bit on the weekends or whenever I can tend it more often. I actually prefer the bit. I get way more heat off of it.

Re: Bituminous Coal Sticking

Posted: Wed. Feb. 12, 2020 12:57 am
by BigBarney
One thing you can try to make the bituminous coal stick less

and fall down is to put a wood split in half way through the fuel

load so as to create a empty space as the wood burns and lets

the coal fall into that space. The wood will burn out faster than

the coal so this will work in some stoves.

BigBarney