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31
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Help---Burning bit coal
« on: December 12, 2014, 10:43:58 AM »
Two things I learned in this adventure. Low diff, I have had mine set at 1° when burning all ant. You have to keep enough fire to relight the coal. If you mix with bit or wood you can likely open the diff somewhat.
The other thing I have learned is that coal likes company. Coal is not like wood. More wood usually equals more heat. With coal the amount of heat is mostly regulated by the amount of air provided. Don't be skimpy with your coal bed depth. If you can regulate the amount of draft air you can regulate your burn. My stove has a forced draft blower with a sliding door that regulates the air flow into the firebox. Too much air and you lose large amounts of heat up the stack. Too little air and your fire goes out. You must find the happy medium through scientific methods such as trial and error...
.
Don't give up it can be done!
http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?topic=4882.msg39550#msg39550
http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-74.html These guys know their stuff but hate OWB users...
.
Search for coal threads on here there is lots of good info.
The other thing I have learned is that coal likes company. Coal is not like wood. More wood usually equals more heat. With coal the amount of heat is mostly regulated by the amount of air provided. Don't be skimpy with your coal bed depth. If you can regulate the amount of draft air you can regulate your burn. My stove has a forced draft blower with a sliding door that regulates the air flow into the firebox. Too much air and you lose large amounts of heat up the stack. Too little air and your fire goes out. You must find the happy medium through scientific methods such as trial and error...
.Don't give up it can be done!
http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?topic=4882.msg39550#msg39550
http://nepacrossroads.com/forum-74.html These guys know their stuff but hate OWB users...
.Search for coal threads on here there is lots of good info.
32
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Help---Burning bit coal
« on: December 12, 2014, 07:33:26 AM »
Don, Where are you located? Is anthacite available to you?
Dave, Have you tried bigger stove size? I have found the mix works really well. I have used mixed stove and nut ant but prefer the mix with bit for relights. My diff is set at 2°.
Dave, Have you tried bigger stove size? I have found the mix works really well. I have used mixed stove and nut ant but prefer the mix with bit for relights. My diff is set at 2°.
33
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Help---Burning bit coal
« on: December 11, 2014, 06:17:25 PM »
You need to find coal from a different area or mix with some anthracite, if available. Alot of the bit coal swells and then melts together. Coke button I think its called. I am burning a mix of stove sized ant and nut sized bit. Works great. If I get too much bit in the mix I get the same thing, swelling and bridging. Check in on nepacrossroads.com they are the coal gurus, really know their stuff.
34
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Differentials
« on: November 18, 2014, 04:05:37 PM »
175° with a 1° differential. Burning anthracite coal. 50' from the house. 72 toasty degrees inside 3000sf. 17 chilly degrees outside.
35
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Where can you get coal in Wisconsin???
« on: November 14, 2014, 03:36:19 AM »
Just got done peekin. 3 sticks of wood and 3 shovels of coal 36 hours and still cooking. Added 3 more sticks and 3 more shovels. Now that its getting colder the coal is working better!
36
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Where can you get coal in Wisconsin???
« on: November 10, 2014, 03:38:17 PM »
Go to nepacrossroads forum. Google it. Tons of good info over there. Just be prepared to take OWB and wood abuse! 
37
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: does any one burn coal and wood in thier out side bolier
« on: November 10, 2014, 04:25:09 AM »
Check this thread.. [url]http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?topic=4882.0[/url . It would help to know what kind of stove you have. Is it set up for coal?
38
Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 02, 2014, 10:08:56 AM »First over night run last night. 1/2 load of oak went 12.5 hours. low 20's outside and 74 inside.
I had plenty of hot coals but no actual wood was left. Water temp was still good and the fan was off.
I threw some wood in and the fire lit right back up.
I'd say good enough.
Its a wonderful feeling isn't it? You are now free from the oil, pro-pain or gas man!
Keep the fire burning...
39
Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 01, 2014, 09:12:20 PM »
I actually tried that at first but the ash would clog up under the grate. I remove the brick in the bottom as well as the frame that holds them. That gives me a nice wide open area for the ash to fall through.
40
Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 01, 2014, 02:14:02 PM »
The grate is nothing special. I just made an angle iron frame and put some expanded metal on it. Did it last year just to experiment with the intention of making something better but it worked well and held up pretty well so I just kept using it. I use a 3 prong weed hoe to "shake" the fire down from the top. Just have to be careful not to stir too much.
41
Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 01, 2014, 08:32:58 AM »
My 175 is not a coal unit, but I made it one. I built a grate for it and replaced the original aquastat with a digital one that I can set my differential down as low as 1°. I open my air inlet slider to 3/4 of full open. I also added a couple rows of firebrick up the sides of the firebox to protect it from the super hot coal against it.
Its kind of touchy in moderate temps and I will go to all wood during that time and also the summer.
Its kind of touchy in moderate temps and I will go to all wood during that time and also the summer.
42
Natures Comfort / Re: NC 80 install finally underway
« on: November 01, 2014, 06:11:19 AM »
My 175 has been up and running since Dec 2010, nonstop! Wood for the first 2 years and now a wood and coal mix. Used maybe 300 gal of heating oil in that time during vacations and a short stretch where i was determining the value of just running for DHW. Now it runs 24/7/365.
Hope yours works out as well!
Hope yours works out as well!
43
For Sale / Re: Wireless Remote Thermometer. Boiler Monitor
« on: October 19, 2014, 07:22:27 AM »
Mine is at the boiler. One on the supply line and one on the return. Remote is in the house next to the recliner. It will occasionally lose signal and beep for a minute or two then re-sync on its own. A couple degrees off but still a good representation of whats going on.
Since I started using coal this has been invaluable. Saves alot of trips to the basement then outside to the stove to see how its doing.
Since I started using coal this has been invaluable. Saves alot of trips to the basement then outside to the stove to see how its doing.
44
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Burning a little coal
« on: October 13, 2014, 05:08:22 PM »
Where do you get "free" wood?
I work my ass off for my free wood!
I work my ass off for my free wood!
45
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Coal
« on: September 23, 2014, 03:43:03 AM »
Search for the Coal vs Wood thread. Lots of info there.