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[mtoll]

anyone burn coal as opposed to wood ?

[slimjim]

We don't grow it up hear in the northeast so not many of us including me would burn it.

[yoderheating]

 I've burned my fair share in the past but right now I'm trying out a wood only furnace.

[artbaldoni]

On week 3 of the great coal experiment. Seens to work ok if I mix in some wood. Can't get it to run on just coal. Cobbled together a better grate to allow for shaking and more even air flow but still no luck on coal only.

[sdrockhauler]

I have been burning lignite coal out of North Dakota all winter and have burned alot of it. It is fairy poor in terms of btu's but it burns well. I just put a couple small pieces of wood in first then put 5- 5 gal buckets of lump coal on top. Gets me 12 to 14 hours. That doesnt seem like alot of time for the amount of coal but like I said it is lignite coal, way different than anthracite or bitumious. And it is also fairy cheap if you pick it up yourself.

[mtoll]

Artbaldoni does your NCB 175 have shaker grates. If not would it burn coal better with them. Has the mix of coal and wood extended your burn time given you a hotter fire? I'm not familiar with different grades of coal but could it be the grade of coal that it will not burn.  I'm thinking that mixing both would be a good combination. I'm interested in trying this approach

[mtoll]

Sdrockhuler that interesting. I don't always have wood but live I live in coal country. I have not bought a boiler but I would like a boiler that you can burn wood and coal. I have been comparing boilers that will burn both.

[sdrockhauler]

mine is a portage and main ml30 with shaker grates. Glad I went with the shaker grates.I am on the second year and this year has been a real test with as cold as its been here in SD. Was originally not going to get the shakers but its not much more money. I haul gravel and asphault and was close to coal so I bought a whole truckload and am glad I did. alot easier than cutting wood and a whole load (16 ton) costs under 500 bucks. Takes awile to get used to burning it as I didnt know anything about coal...

[artbaldoni]

@mtoll

When I can keep a fire it cuts wood consumption by 50% or better. Trouble is keeping it fired.

No shaker but the grate I fabbed can be shaken to remove ash. At 2100 yesterday with a mix of wood and coal I had a beautiful fire, blue flames dancing,etc. Went out this AM and cold as ice, ok not really that cold but no fire.
I think the issue is that the idle time allows the fire to actually go out. I tried propping the damper flap open (when the blower shuts off) with a stick yesterday but it gave me and overfire condition - 200+°. That was with a pencil sized (1/2") opening on the flap. Got some 3/16" and 1/8" keystock to use for shims to try to dial the "constant draft" to just keep the fire going but no overfire. I will figure this out!

[mtoll]

Good luck Im pretty sure ill not get my unit in and up and running yet this winter but if I do it will be with a mix of wood and coal or just coal. Im pretty sure you would need shaker grates to make it work with only coal.

[mlappin]

Types of coal got me curious so I looked it up,  http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/what-is-coal/

[artbaldoni]

Mix of wood and coal still burning overnignt! Could it be I have this figured out?

[mtoll]

Way to go you have to share with us your combination of wood and coal

[CountryBoyJohn]

On week 3 of the great coal experiment. Seens to work ok if I mix in some wood. Can't get it to run on just coal. Cobbled together a better grate to allow for shaking and more even air flow but still no luck on coal only.

What do you have your temperature differential set at?  The conventional wisdom on here, even with a mixture of wood, is a 5 degree swing or somewhere thereabouts.  The tighter swing keeps your coal burning. 

[artbaldoni]

Diff is set at lowest possible 5° on the original Honeywell aquastat.