Tending a Hand Fired Coal Stove

[@ralphgaetaiii1168]

Finally. A great video on maintaining a coal stove. Thanks.

[@jjs777fzr]

Nice vid - most impressed with how clean the view glass is. I've been a wood & pellet burner for 4 years now and just now finished my second class A chimney to allow use of one of my two coal stoves - a coal Chubby and a PENN coal - both very nice hand stoked stoves. Coal is sooo much more efficient than wood - too bad prices outside of NEPA is so high nowadays. Love this Hitzer insert. Thanks for sharing.

[@coachsean9982]

Thank you! I just bought a house with a coal stove and have been having trouble with it. Great tips!

[@joequillun7790]

Sean, hope you got your stove running right. If you need more "accurate" info, check out the coal forum "Coalpail". It'll educate you to all the benefits of coal burning.

[@northerbrewer]

My dad used to deliver bags of coal here in Northern Ontario fro home use. The Smelters were coal fired back then too. Then the natural gas came in and I have not seen any coal except for the few chunks the railway spilled. This fall on the picket line we stocked the fire with coal from the rail line to keep warm lol Wish I could still buy bags of coal here. It made for warm fires.

[@iaindennis3321]

It’s lovely to be able to come home to a real fire.

[@MsLibrazen]

I simply LOVE my coal stove. Anthracite makes me happy. We started that stove when it got cold and it has been non stop over a month later... I actually just came up from ashing it. I actually bought this home because it had the coal stove with copper plumbed through the entire house (just like steam baseboard heat) Oil can kiss my A$$ lol In NE PA I paid 230 a ton for this nut coal. keeping the house at 75 degrees in winter cost me about $5 a day! LOVE IT!

[@ilililhy1]

Thank you for sharing that information to all of us.

[@ProWax1]

Great Video! I personally use a automatic stoker, but I was thinking about getting a back up manual stove like yours. I live in northern Pennsylvania and I'm very spoiled with the call we have here. Have a warm winter.

[@beebob1279]

I'm looking to go with coal in our Pennsylvania mountain house. It looks so warm and easier than wood. I have to keep adding wood throughout the day and would rather be doing other things.

[@Ashcat743]

Larger pieces makes less restriction of airflow thru the coalbed, which may make it burn hotter for a given draft setting. All depends on the individual set up. My draft is so high that I am typically achieving stove temps as high as I'm comfortable with (550 degrees) with nut coal at a moderate draft setting, and can easily get 18 hour burn times between re-loads--but tending on 12 hour intervals makes the most practical sense for most people.

[@MsLibrazen]

I thought we were the only people running coal fires non stop through the winter... :) mine is on now.... come on SPRING!!!

[@nancystephens3515]

Great teaching video don't know what the complaints were about with the music..I thought the jazz in the background was perfect and not overbearing like hard rock.. you also have a clear articulate voice.. I will be checking back to see if you've added anything new. God bless*

[@marcels5237]

This is beautifull.Nice coal flames.Wood is no chance oposite coal characteristics.10-12 hours intensive heating,prices.👍👍👍

[@Ashcat743]

I'll check out your vid. The Hitzer people are always helpful with questions--they may be able to advise re baffle (or sell you a replacement), but getting it fabricated locally shouldn't be too hard. 1/4 inch steel with a single bend. Glad you like the stove, and the video!

[@hafunland894]

Thanks, a great job explaining the entire process!

[@stevenhedstrom5586]

Love the background music 🎶

[@Hubjeep]

Great video! I'm considering a coal stove for the second chimney, but coal prices are crazy, may stick with wood.

[@Ashcat743]

Mine is listed at 80,000 BTU. It has two 100 cfm fans to wash air into room, but no combustion fan--natural draft only. I've heard great things about DS Stoves.

[@tunnelportterror]

nice vid, but there's no reason to burn it with ash door wide open after refill, for that long. the only time I run it door open is when it's almost out, or so dampened that the room is getting cold, or quick temp drop outside requires quick ramp up of stove fire and burn temp. just my opinion. simply close the door and let it cook slowly. you'll get more mileage out of your coal. that is a nice installation and stove.

[@SimonWeir]

Cherry wood gives a lovely aroma on a solid fuel stove.

[@Ashcat743]

Yes you could get some good heat out of bituminous by putting in, or on, an existing fire--I've done it myself to try with campfires, and works pretty well. Anthracite is a different story since it requires air from underneath. If you have a device dedicated to burning it, it's very nice, and clean. A company called Blaschak, here in PA, delivers bags of anthracite in a wide geographic area--not sure about Northern Ont. You could inquire about closest dealers at their website. Thanks.

[@Ashcat743]

Jesse--anthracite coal requires air coming up through the coalbed from below, so woodstoves can't burn anthracite. You'd probably be able to burn a at least some amount of soft coal in a wood stove on top of a well-established wood fire--but very sooty/smoky/smelly. Coal stoves can burn wood very well, but size and shape of stove firebox may make burning wood impractical. The firebox in my stove, being large and square, can be used practically with wood.

[@Ashcat743]

@gabigowriel You are fortunate to be in Romania! I use propane for cooking and hot water, just as you would use gas, and get the tank filled only about once per year. If you have access to anthracite, you will see essentially NO smoke whatsoever. Anthracite requires air coming up through the coalbed from below, so be sure your stove has vents in the ashpan doors, and grates (the floor of the firebox) that can be rocked in order to drop the ashes. Do you have a chimney that you use for the stove?

[@heidiparmelee-pratt9803]

Great video!! Thanks for the tips.

[@Ashcat743]

yes, one disadvantage of an insert is the need for fans to get the heat into the room. I have a Tripp-Lite inverter charger to switch over to a deep cycle battery that will run the fans for at least 10 hours. That will give me enough time to start the generator. I think Harman makes good products but I have not always heard good things about their customer service. Hitzer, on the other hand, is consistently responsive.

[@Nerd3927]

Thanks for posting!! Coal heating is becoming an lost art. In NL coal is at $ 600,- per 1000kg (about 390,- euro) and cost about half as much as natural gas that is used by 95 % of Dutch ppl.

[@Ashcat743]

Depends on how close to coal (anthracite) country you are. I paid $199 per ton delivered in bulk, which lasted me (4000 square foot house, coal as only heat) about 5 weeks. If you were to pick up coal at the "breaker" (the coal processing facility--really all they do is break and then wash and sort coal according to lump size), prices are about $130-$160 per ton. Lots of coal burners in New England, but they may pay as much as $300-325 per ton.

[@Ashcat743]

I meant to say each ton lasted about 5 weeks--I burned about 4.5 tons this past winter in total. Much cheaper than the propane I've been burning until this year, and kind of fun too, if you don't mind about 10 minutes work in AM and PM daily.

[@dadandlokiinthewoods8806]

May I ask how much you pay a ton where you are?

[@blubal42]

Great video! You should work on your reading? Sounded like you got lost a few times! Maybe use a prompter while watch the video? Not trying to be an ass, just trying to be helpful! Thanks for put this out there! I've been thinking of a way to save some money on heating. Right now using a 95,000 BTU gas furnace. Energy cost are starting to fly! Thanks again! Very informative!

[@Ashcat743]

@gabigowriel Thanks for the comments. I have a fairly large firebox, and the least amount of coal I could burn a day and still keep a fire in it is about 25 lbs (about 11.3 kg). I am heating about 350 square meters, and on cold days (15*F or -9*C) I may burn as much as 80 lbs (37 kg). For your space, a smaller stove firebox would be adequate and allow you to burn much less. You estimated coal needs sound about right given your space. Depending on your location, there may be (CONTINUED)

[@Ashcat743]

Thanks Moose64. Shot with a Canon HG10, a 40 GB hard-disk high def camcorder. This was a low-light situation that the HG10 did fairly well with--but you should see its performance in sunlight conditions! Edited with Pinnacle Studio 11 Ultimate

[@digginz8603]

i can't wait!!!

[@leomaida92]

what a great video!!!! thanks a lot friend!

[@josephbryer4596]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@carmenbecker2660]

Isnt it better to leave the ash pan door shut when you shake the grates so that the draft doesn’t blow the dust up on the coal and possibly hurting the fire?

[@timrichardson6670]

When it comes to starting a coal fire and keeping a coal fire burning, it's ALL about AIR FLOW, if you don't keep the ashes shook out it will kill the fire.

[@99cachorro]

wow. this is the way to go if you can get the coal.

[@bombsawaylemay770]

Nice stove

[@SingerGuy59]

I am seriously debating between your Hitzer and the Harman Magnafire SF. Disadvantage of the Harman: freestanding stove, we would have to cover the fireplace opening and punch a hole above the damper to vent the stove into our flu. Also would require a hearth extension of about 2' and a railing to protect children. The advantage of it over yours is that if we had a power outage it freely radiates its heat and isn't reliant on electrical blowers. We can only get bituminous coal. Your thoughts?

[@Ashcat743]

@firewoodguy2009 Yes, burns wood fine. EPA approved for coal only, but nice to know it'll do fine with wood.

[@Ashcat743]

@gabigowriel My stove is constructed of 1/4 inch steel, except that the loading door and shaker grates on the floor of the firebox are cast iron. I'll look for you on NEPA Crossroads. Many people there far more knowledgeable than I regarding your ideas about thin stainless construction.

[@Ashcat743]

@Ashcat743 Also, the stove needs tending generally twice per day--possibly once per day on warm days.

[@EgoDriven]

Got the same stove, love it so much I had to put a little video of it up. Great video. I love not sending my heating budget outside of PA. My "removable" baffle plate above the fire-box is deteriorating, any thoughts on replacement? I might have to get creative. I had a coal stove growing up, but never imagined the performance of a stove with a blower! Keep shoveling!

[@Ashcat743]

@gabigowriel Thin stove walls might be best for wood, but not for coal, which takes awhile to start but burns A LONG time (10-18 hour burn times are common). Your heavy cast iron, tiled stove is ideal for coal--assuming it is designed to burn coal, with shakeable grates and underfire air source. Post pictures if you can to NEPA Crossroads.

[@DamnStraightM35A2]

yours has a fan too! mine is all draft, its a DS Stove from Lancaster county, its a boiler 145,000 BTU. No fan needed really. Mine doesn't relly burn the gasses like that though. How many BTU is yours?

[@Ashcat743]

@1acroyear1 -- I don't know much about biochar. I suspect, if it acts like charcoal, it wouldn't require air from below to burn, as anthracite does. If so, a stove capable of supplying air from below the fire, as this stove does, would be capable of burning biochar but wouldn't be necessary. A conventional wood-burning stove would probably be sufficient.

[@multi-hobbyist1568]

I have plans to build a "Barrel Stove". I am sure you have seen them. I had every intention of burning wood, like it is intended for but, now I am considering coal. Would I be able to burn this coal instead in that kind of stove? It will be in my garage and, I was wondering how it would compare to wood, as far as effectiveness. My garage is approx 1,600 sqft. I see the coal sustains itself but, does it produce BTU's at the same speed and, intensity? What are you're thoughts?

[@oldsteamguy]

can be done. you will need a grate

[@HighConsciousness1]

I have to add wood to my wood stove insert every 3hrs if I'm lucky - means up all night blah blah - it does work great but this coal seems obvious the way to go and does anyone know is the coal actually less expensive than wood? I get most of my wood for free but it's an all year process. Can a coal stove burn wood as well? Thanks.

[@josephbryer4596]

Free wood is hard to beat, but you know how much work it is. Coal, for me, is about 1/3rd the cost of propane that I'd be using if not coal. Anthracite coal price depends where you are located. Most coal stoves can burn wood, but a hopper would make wood burning more difficult.

[@HighConsciousness1]

Where does one get coal? Thanks

[@1acroyear1]

Will this work just as well with biochar made from wood?

[@Ashcat743]

@Ashcat743 legal/regulatory obstacles to your use of coal. Western Europe is likely most difficult (for example, inspections, fees, etc.). If you're in a flat (apartment or condominium in US) you'd also have coal storage issues. Where do you live? Your cost is reasonable (at just under $300 per US short ton), so it's likely to be very competitive/attractive compared to gas heat. Depending on your climate, I'd guess you might burn around 2 tons per year.

[@Micaville_Mountain_Man]

can you burn wood in a coal heater and coal in a wood heater?

[@DamnStraightM35A2]

what size are you burning? chestnut?

[@hardtackjack]

Here in California coal heating is rare nowadays and kindof a dying art so to speak, but I enjoy it quite a bit. (I've even burned anthracite on the open grate in an older, small fireplace with some success.) About the closest thing to coal-firing I've found around here is my Grandma's house on a ranch near Soledad, CA that has an oil-fired furnace in the basement. (Burns No. oil or No. 6 Bunker oil.) Now and again the tanker truck from Sturdy oil will come to fill up the tank in the basement.

[@Ashcat743]

Had trouble posting, so tested. Much of the energy (about two thirds) content of coal is lost in energy production, distribution and transmission.

[@happycamper2976]

can you burn wood at the same time you burn coal

[@charliebrown4007]

do you fill it up to the maxs with coal for long very hot burn

[@josephbryer4596]

Tim Bolt anthracite coal doesn’t burn very well unless you have a thick coal bed. The amount of coal you add doesn’t have much to do with the temperature but rather the amount of air that you give it determines how hot it will burn at any one time. A deeper bed allows for a longer, more consistent burn.

[@lmyhoosier]

is the coal very expensive?

[@Ashcat743]

@Ashcat743 I can't post a link here (I guess), but Google search NEPA Crossroads. It is a message board for us coal burners. Join for free. Have all your questions answered. Do you have the ability to take photos of your stoves? Whatever you're using for exhaust for wood burning can likely be used for coal too--coal exhaust is generally cooler than wood.

[@beebob1279]

Ashcat, I was under the assumption that the model you're showing has a gravity feed stoker. Am I right or am I missing something?

[@josephbryer4596]

Bee Bob It is not a stoker and doesn’t have a hopper. Just a straight fire box that is about 20 in.². Tend it as shown twice per day.

[@beebob1279]

After I posted I noticed I put stoker instead of hopper. So, what model did I see that has the gravity hopper?

[@josephbryer4596]

You're thinking of the Hitzer 503--gravity fed hopper, smaller firebox.

[@beebob1279]

Thank you for the help

[@Ashcat743]

Yes.

[@firewoodguy2009]

can you burn wood in that stove

[@firewoodguy2009]

HI i was told burning big chunks of hard coal burn longer and hotter

[@cwli1]

How easy is it to cut coal lumps into smaller pieces? How? I found some place selling 'smokeless ovals' so wondered about cutting them up.

[@namewitheld]

Can't hear you over the music.

[@seoulkidd1]

Needs reburn tubes

[@Ashcat743]

If I wasn't clear, when grid power is lost the Tripp-Lite switches over automatically to battery, then switches back to grid power when the grid is back on for 20-30 seconds, at which time the Tripp-Lite goes back to charging the battery. Very nice device but not exactly cheap. But, probably cheaper/easier/cleaner than poking a hole above your fireplace and extending your hearth.

[@Autonomous1969]

What's with the 80's porn music?

[@ilililhy1]

Is there anywhere Close to the St.Louis Missouri area to buy Coal?

[@Pilot_Unknown]

Try a farrier suply

[@josephbryer4596]

Go to Blaschak (dot) com and submit an inquiry whether there are dealers of their coal near St Louis

[@josephbryer4596]

Ash Cat it's "blaschakcoal (dot) com", not just blaschak

[@Ashcat743]

@gabigowriel Test

[@DrOcKa20]

I love my coal stove, but it's so damn time consuming. Considering going the self feeding route.

[@jimfacteau4553]

try wood then if you want something time comsuming

[@手柴光平]

My name is Teshiba of a company that has a video production in Japan. I will look the video, in this program if you do not mind We would like to use. Day is approaching, could you get back to the day?

[@chrishartgrove2179]

The music drowned out your voice. Couldn't understand you.

[@hecyesalc3700]

sorry I stopped watching . at the 1:17 mark. the background music was too distracting .

[@pat2633]

turn off the music

[@jeandiehl5074]

Bernice McCauslin-Hopkins I agree. Why do so many youtubers play annoying music in background that distracts and detracts from the instructional nature of the video?!

[@joequillun7790]

There's a button on your 'puter marked "mute", for those who don't like sound.

[@donmetzger751]

Your video may be very informative but few people could listen and make any sense out of what you're trying to say because of the loud and distracting music. I love music but not so loud it's overwhelming the conversation. Remake the video and leave the music out.