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[atvalaska]

been zero for the high this week 12 to 18 below with a wind or 3-6mph to boot, so yesterday on my trip about town I got me 4 bags of art-coal, at 45lbs each for 7bucks (28) was going to use for my finial burns next month  for "stove clean out", got home at 530 last nite and decided (being as the wife had a 3'' bed of wood coals going)   I tossed in a whole bag !!  stove WAS on its way to heating back up - but the water temp fell 5deg with the "zero deg" bag of coal tossed in> bag and all .....= heat all nite for 12+ hours  I raked her around and I have a 2/3" bed of and roar ing coal this moring I threw in  a 12"x36" birch + a 6" one ...we will see what I have when we get home 14hrs from now...  WHAT i seen from this "test" is .....  1 long burn ....an a  VERY  very short recovery time from the fan on to fan off ...

[cartod]

Sweet. I look forward to hearing your results.  I'd like to try mixing in coal next year.  Just need to find someone who sells it. 

[big don]

That is really a good burn time.  Wondering what are your aquastat settings ---High/Low.  I've been trying to burn Ant coal with wood but only having marginal results.  I find that qpprox 1/3 of the coal is not burned up when I go out in the morning from my previous load.  Any help ideas are appreciated.  Thank you.  Don

[atvalaska]

177 h low is -12 degs , it needs fan forced air from bottom/under fire for sure! when I stirred it up an shoved it off to the side some to make room for 12"birch log ...I /it felt like in was going thru a pie "molten"  crust with a plastic fork ...  I'm going to do some btu per pound # latter to day !

[wissel12]

I burned coal with natural draft. Would do good until the wood would be gone. It gave me faster recovery.

[stratton]

Atv, ive been mixing in anthracite with my loads..... Best results seem to be nice base of wood coals then rake level. Add 2/3 WOOD THEN 1/3 COAL ON TOP. Do not disturb, coal does not like to be mixed when burning. also grates are a must.. Hey ATV can you explain the alaska weather pattern ?? I thought the temps have been above normal as of late..

[intensedrive]

My question is because of the temperature coal burns at, will it not warp your burn box?

[stratton]

ATV, sorry for my ignorance, maybe its the lib based tv show( alaska the last frontier) they are always bitchin about the warm winters thx Luke

[stratton]

Hey intense, Coal will not warp fire box... I remember scott7 talking about coal in ridgewoods. Also i think user Artbaldoni is on this site, He loves mixing coal in his loads.

[intensedrive]

That is good to know, I have always wanted to play around with coal but was afraid the extreme heat would cause problems down the road.

[wissel12]

Tim at Ridgewood said I could burn coal. Put the coal on top of the wood. Get big chunks of coal. A lot of the coal would be there in the morning. I would separate it out and put it back on top.

[Jwood]

As long as water touches your firebox you are not going to warp anything.

[atvalaska]

my cold temps are GONE!!!...mid 30's today ! teens at nite ....a 45lb bag gets me a solid 12hrs at which point I have to "shake" or mix them up with my rake or the fan just keeps running (but the temp "holds" at my low set point) .... once the ash falls away.... away it goes > at this point I always add some wood so I don't have to vist it again in the eve=  so much for testing  so far this is whayt I come up with>>>   44 nites at 7.00 a bag = a ton of coal = 308.00 a ton   if I have them deliver it "bulk" 115.00 a ton -no bag...and if I drive the 140 miles (there&back) and get it my self- no bag = 65.00 a ton

[atvalaska]

1 lb wood = 7,870 BTU       ......      1 lb coal (anthracite) = 12,700 BTU  ........       1 gallon diesel = 139,200 BTU     ........   propane 1 pound = 21,500 BTU          so  you math guys can have at it ......on my worst days last year I was burning 2.12 gallons of #1 f-oil a day to keep the place at 68/69 ...but with this slab radiant and my owf its 69/70...... 24/7!