My Christmas present to all who have trouble lighting your stoker...
I found a new method recently that seems to be a miracle. Been using stoker for 12 years and as years go by seems its been harder to light. I purchased an electric charcoal lighter at lowes 12bucks and in 20 min stove was lit running no fumes, fly ash, smoke. it was very clean and fairly easy just be careful when pulling out the lighter as it gets to 1000 degrees but cools quickly
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Thu. Sep. 18, 2008 12:15 pm
- Location: Central PA
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman ST8-VF8 / Frankenstove
I did this for a while, too, and it was fantastic. Word to the wise, however, make sure you get the lighter out before the coal really catches. A burning piece of coal burns a lot hotter than the lighter's coil and will burn a hole through it. Even partway through it will ruin it. Which is why I'm back to old ways.
Wasn't there a stove somewhere that had one of those built into the grates?
Wasn't there a stove somewhere that had one of those built into the grates?
-
- Member
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Wed. Sep. 10, 2008 10:22 pm
- Location: Montour Falls NY
ordered.. thanks.. local lowes didn't have one 550 watt is the one i got
-
- Member
- Posts: 5791
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 17, 2008 1:08 pm
- Location: Harrison, Tenn
- Other Heating: Wishing it was cold enough for coal here....not really
Vonda, you run a coal stove in Atlanta?????????? How do you manage that? I live just North of Chattanooga and I can't justify having coal....maybe you are heating one of those 31,000 sq ft houses?
Kevin
Kevin
- Vonda
- Member
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 09, 2016 1:20 am
- Location: Atlanta
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby born 1980
- Coal Size/Type: Nut
- Other Heating: Gas
KLook wrote: ↑Thu. Dec. 13, 2018 7:34 pmVonda, you run a coal stove in Atlanta?????????? How do you manage that? I live just North of Chattanooga and I can't justify having coal...
It is a secondary heat source. My house is 2k with 13ft ceiling. 110 years old. It keeps my house warm. I just learned how to move the warm air around the house so that helps.
I like seeing the fire and I am scared of creosote so wood is a no no.. Plus my house has coal burning fireplaces. It 40°here tonight but I didn't light the stove (lost it last night) I'm being lazy. I have had the fire burning in 52°.
just dont run any fans, let it get coals hot then pull out and turn air on. Keep an eye on it as wellHorace wrote: ↑Wed. Dec. 12, 2018 10:20 pmI did this for a while, too, and it was fantastic. Word to the wise, however, make sure you get the lighter out before the coal really catches. A burning piece of coal burns a lot hotter than the lighter's coil and will burn a hole through it. Even partway through it will ruin it. Which is why I'm back to old ways.
Wasn't there a stove somewhere that had one of those built into the grates?
-
- New Member
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue. Jan. 08, 2019 11:11 pm
- Location: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kast Console II Hearth Model
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Electric
I have found this method takes too long. I get a paper lunch bag, wad up 2 pieces of newspaper...put them in the bottom of the bag. Next, I break up 5 or so matchlight charcoal briquettes, throw them into the bag on top of the paper. Last, a handful or 2 of rice coal in the top of the bag. Roll the bag shut. Put it in on it’s side so that the end of the bag with the rice coal in it is touching the rice coal in the stove. Light the end of the bag with the newspaper in it, wait a few seconds for it to catch, and turn fan back on.
-
- Member
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Sat. Dec. 22, 2018 2:29 pm
- Location: WNY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman DVC500,Alaska Gnome 40
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
Hi all, I use a can cut the bottom off at an angle to try and level the top, put balled up paper in first then add small wood or charcoal up to the top, put it on the grate and light it, about a minute or 2 I then turn the fan on (that really makes it fire up) I then add my rice coal till the can is glowing red and I have nice blue flames and remove the can carefully with vise grips (I put that Hot can outside to cool off) and make sure the fire stays lit !