Bit coal in Central Illinois

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 11:46 am

Hey folks! I’m new here, thanks for letting me join.

I have an open fireplace and we had enjoyed burning wood, works well for that. But wood is pricey and takes up a lot of room. So I found an old coal grate, at least I think it is, online. Went to my local TSC and grabbed a bag of Ant. coal. Grinning ear to ear all the way home. Coal?! Who burns that anymore? I DO!! I was way excited. It didn’t last. I tried everything I’d read about. I just couldn’t get it to go in an open fireplace like that. So I kept reading. Come to find out, Illinois is Bit Coal central. Lots of it around here. But finding it, oh boy, a challenge it has been. I’ve called everywhere I can think of. Nothing. No leads, no hints. Nothing.

So, my 2 questions to you, the experts. Can I even get bit coal to burn in my fireplace? Is it worth it? Should I just stick with wood?

And-

WHERE CAN I FIND THIS STUFF!!!! I’ve had 4 people tell me just jump on to the rail cars and get it from there! Ha! No.... so please, any place I can get like, 100-200 lbs of this stuff is all I need. Nut or larger I think....

Thanks again!
Last edited by lrobb97 on Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 12:17 pm

How bout those pix of fireplace & hearth areas?? GOTCHA in other post. :)
Last edited by freetown fred on Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 12:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 12:23 pm

freetown fred wrote:
Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 12:17 pm
How bout those pix of fireplace & hearth areas??
Certainly! One is a log fire, the other is my second or 3 attempt at an Ant. fire.

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lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Sun. Nov. 01, 2020 12:25 pm

I should note, there is an ash pit below in the basement with an opening in the fire box. I’ve tried opening the pit door and removing the firebox pit cover to help with draft the the bottom. It didn’t work.

 
fig
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Post by fig » Sun. Nov. 08, 2020 3:46 pm

Viper coal mine in Williamsville Illinois. Don’t know if I’d want to burn it in an open fireplace. Definitely worth hooking a stove up for though. $70 a ton at the moment. 1 ton minimum.

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Sun. Nov. 08, 2020 4:41 pm

Is it Vonda who burns ant in a fireplace??? not sure on the name. Theres a topic on here somewhere about it.

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Sun. Nov. 08, 2020 5:37 pm

warminmn wrote:
Sun. Nov. 08, 2020 4:41 pm
Is it Vonda who burns ant in a fireplace??? not sure on the name. Theres a topic on here somewhere about it.
I’d be very interested in any tips on burning Ant in a fireplace.... it’s the most readily available thing near me


 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 6:56 pm

I have not burned anthracite only Ohio bituminous coal so keep that in mind. I think ant almost has to be burned in a stove where the air comes up through the bed of coals. If air can bypass the bed it will and the fire doesn't get enough air and it goes out. Bit can burn in a fireplace because it burns similar to wood in the sense that it has a two stage burn, volatile compounds burn off first then the coke(coal charcoal) burns.

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 7:02 pm

carlherrnstein wrote:
Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 6:56 pm
I have not burned anthracite only Ohio bituminous coal so keep that in mind. I think ant almost has to be burned in a stove where the air comes up through the bed of coals. If air can bypass the bed it will and the fire doesn't get enough air and it goes out. Bit can burn in a fireplace because it burns similar to wood in the sense that it has a two stage burn, volatile compounds burn off first then the coke(coal charcoal) burns.
I can find bit coal anywhere in Illinois. Do you know where I could find it?

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 7:03 pm

I’d even be willing to mail some to give it a shot. I can’t believe I can’t find any where near me...

 
fig
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Post by fig » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 7:56 pm

Where are you.

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 8:04 pm

I am in the Bloomington/Normal, ILL (Near Springfield) area.

We have several coal mines around here-yet I can’t find any willing to sell.

 
lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 8:06 pm

I did find Knight Hawk mines in S. ILL but that’s almost a 4 hr drive for me... I just want 100-200 lbs to burn in my open fireplace occasionally. I’ve tried ant coal with no luck keeping it lit....

 
fig
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Posts: 1137
Joined: Fri. Feb. 12, 2016 2:36 pm
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF360
Hand Fed Coal Stove: T.O.M (Warm Morning converted to baseburner by Steve) Round Oak 1917 Door model O-3, Warm Morning 400, Warm Morning 524, Warm Morning 414,Florence No.77, Warm Morning 523-b
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Clayton 7.1/DS Machine basement stove/ Harman SF1500
Baseburners & Antiques: Renown Parlor stove 87B
Coal Size/Type: Bituminous/anthracite
Other Heating: Harman Accentra, enviro omega, Vermont Ironworks Elm stove, Quadrafire Mt Vernon, Logwood stove, Sotz barrel stove,

Post by fig » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 9:54 pm

Viper coalmine in Elkhart by williamsville will sell it. That’s about as close as you can get. They have a one ton minimum. $70 a ton.

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lrobb97
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Post by lrobb97 » Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 10:00 pm

fig wrote:
Tue. Nov. 10, 2020 9:54 pm
Viper coalmine in Elkhart by williamsville will sell it. That’s about as close as you can get. They have a one ton minimum. $70 a ton.
Yeah, I 100% don’t need a whole ton.... I may give them a call tomorrow and see if they’d make an exception lol. Max, 2-3 hundred pounds would be it....


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