Let coal fire die gracefully

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nickdearing88
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Post by nickdearing88 » Thu. Oct. 25, 2018 12:52 pm

Are there any tips or tricks to let a coal fire burn out efficiently, reducing the amount of partially burnt coal left over? Are you best to continue to shake regularly without adding new coal, or better to leave the fire alone until it dies? I always re-burn any left over coal, but it would be nice to minimize the clean-out process.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Thu. Oct. 25, 2018 1:29 pm

Shake regularly--at least in my hand fired/hopper HITZER--takes at least 36 hrs on mine--not really sure on them thar girly stoves!!! LOL

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Thu. Oct. 25, 2018 5:24 pm

I'll clear ash at the final normal tending time, just not add any fresh coal. Then let it burn out from that point. As the fire begins to produce less heat, I'll adjust the primary combustion air wide open. This strategy seems to burn up most of the coal that's left, the quickest.

 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Fri. Oct. 26, 2018 9:30 am

Lightning wrote:
Thu. Oct. 25, 2018 5:24 pm
I'll clear ash at the final normal tending time, just not add any fresh coal. Then let it burn out from that point. As the fire begins to produce less heat, I'll adjust the primary combustion air wide open. This strategy seems to burn up most of the coal that's left, the quickest.
+1

I've tried it a number of ways and found that to burn off as much coal as possible, it needs more primary air as the heat volume drops and reduces the draft strength. You have to make up that heat volume/ draft strength loss by getting the remaining smaller volume of coal to burn hotter.

Remember that it's heat expansion of the gasses inside the stove that produces the pressure difference we call "draft". Once the draft strength drops below a certain point the fire will die quickly no matter how much coal is left.

No heat, no draft, no fire.

Paul


 
nickdearing88
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS AquaGem 1100
Coal Size/Type: Blaschak bulk pea/nut
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Post by nickdearing88 » Sun. Oct. 28, 2018 9:15 pm

Great, thanks for the info everyone! I'll give it a shot this week.

 
charlesosborne2002
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Post by charlesosborne2002 » Thu. Aug. 15, 2019 9:04 am

nickdearing88 wrote:
Sun. Oct. 28, 2018 9:15 pm
Great, thanks for the info everyone! I'll give it a shot this week.
Has anybody tried a few pounds of charcoal on the top? That would burn fine at lower temp and draft, yet hot enough with draft enough to keep anthracite burning? The charcoal would surely all burn up.

 
CorrosionMan
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Post by CorrosionMan » Mon. Oct. 28, 2019 8:50 pm

In my Hitzer82 FA, I perform a shake at about regular tending time... add no coal... wait another 8-12 hours or so and open under air wide open.

This seems to give it a last kick while there is still enough unburnt coal without any over fire concerns.

Then 8-12 hours later, I shake and empty 2 pans of complete Ash. Empty.

Your mileage will vary.

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