Hotblast Year 4

[larryfoster]

I know you've been anxiously awaiting.
Like the anticipation of a new season premier of your favorite TV show.

I built a fire.
Today.
September 2, 2017.

My propane furnace needs an igniter and couldn't find one today due to the holiday.
The little birdies were getting cold so I have to warm them up.

This should be interesting getting and keeping a low enough heat to not have to open the doors and windows and run around naked.

[Lightning]

I've been running a little electric heat at night. I have few bags of wood pellets on standby. You burning wood?

[larryfoster]

Little bit of wood to start and some coal on the side.

I'll try to damper down to a little more than a smolder just to take the chill off.
Just lit about an hour ago.

I'm warm.

Back to 80 on Monday

[Lightning]

Did you do anything to fix the slop between the front and rear grate over the summer?

[larryfoster]

Not yet.
Will try to see if I can before burning season sets in for real.

I jump quickly from season to season.
Since I didn't stop burning until well into May, I moved to gardening and a garage repair job.

[larryfoster]

Cold weather snuck up on me earlier than expected.
Hope it doesn't last.
Yet.

Still have a few things to do on the stove.

Fired up on Saturday.
No complaints or problems.
Yet.
But the season is still young.

Got my first load of coal last week.
3 tons of nut.

I couldn't find anyone around me that would go to Valier so I got from the tipple in Shelocta.

Something interesting about this load of coal.
My coal bin is 8'X16' by 7' high.
It is fuller than it has even been with 3 tons.

I'm wondering if I was getting shorted on previous loads.
This is the 3rd time I had someone haul it and it was the same guy each time.

I haven't asked for weigh slips but, maybe should have.

[larryfoster]

I just found a device that makes cleaning my chimney a breeze.
From the bottom without getting on the roof!

Most of you probably know about it.
It's called a Soot Eater.

Flexible fiberglass rods that fit on a cordless drill with an end that looks like a string weed eater.

All cleaned out and ready for coal burning season.

I guess.

Firing up tonight.
Doesn't look like much warm weather anytime soon.

[CoalisCoolxWarm]

Gotta subscribe. What is a heating season without Larry's thread?

[larryfoster]

Good to see you.

It's somewhere between a soap opera and a comedy.
I also have another thread on Warm Morning stoves.
Come on over

[BigBarney]

Back for another season of trills and spills...

BigBarney

[larryfoster]

It's a never ending battle, BigBarney.

Today, I'm battling clinkers and "rocks"
This morning, I spent 20+ minutes fishing out all the stuff that doesn't burn.
It looks like coals because it glows orange but it just takes up space.
And little flat rocks that are 1"-3" in diameter and 1/2" thick.
And little round ones that are too big to go through the grates.

I took out 3/4 of a coal bucket full.
Is there an easier way than using tongs and picking one at a time?

Are these normal or the result of crappy coal?

And still trying to figure out dampers and where to set them for optimal heat and burn.

[warminmn]

clinkers can be from burning to hot. Rocks, well, their rocks. Season 4 begins in earnest

[larryfoster]

Season 4 begins in earnest

I've not been as concerned about getting my furnace temp up to 700+ as in the past.
Nor as diligent at taking the temp each time I go near the furnace.

Just a wild guess (based on nothing), when hot my furnace is running 450ish.

Where are all these rocks hiding?
I have nut coal and look at every shovelful for them.

[BigBarney]

What do they look like inside when you split one in half ? Black like coal? The glowing is a key test that they

are rocks unless black inside, don't be fooled by gray slate.

WARMINMN:::::::::::: You don't get clinkers from too much heat, they are part of the composition of the

coal, rock or minerals that melt when the coal burns.

You can get coke when you burn out most of the volatile compounds, all that is left is pure carbon and ash.

This will be of a spongy brittle carbon.

BigBarney

[larryfoster]

Thanks for that BigBarney.

I get grayish flat rocks and rounder ones that are very hard.
These are the glowing ones.

In the morning when I go fishing, I'll see if I can get decent pictures.