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[sdrockhauler]

Got an ml 30 w/shakers, I have been burning exclusivly lignite coal for 3 weeks now. It has been burning very well although it has not been real cold yet. Is there any risks or tricks to burning coal.   I have read in other posts that coal gasses are very explosive and i think this might be true as have had a couple of small booms and  belches of smoke come out of the stack. Is this normal? I don't want a bomb in my yard. Is there any way to avoid, scares the hell out of you to think it might blow up. I was wandering if I left the draft door open slightly on the door it might help. Anyone else got any expierence with this. Any other tips would be helpful.

[slimjim]

The boiler is non pressurized so that it can't blow up, of course the gases that are in the burn chamer are very flamable and will flash when introduced to fresh air and heat at the same time, no different than wood gases, be careful of flashbacks when opening any doors, don't stand in front of them.

[Scott7m]

Never had any issues with it, it aint gonna explode per say, far to many places for it to relieve pressure

[sdrockhauler]

I ask this question because the other day the wife loaded the stove while I was gone and later when she was outside she said it sounded like a shotgun had went off. I assume it was built up gas in the burn chamber and when it called for heat and the blower kicked on and it started burning it ignited the gasses.

[slimjim]

Not sure about it sounding like a shotgun blast but you may hear a minor gas explosion, it will not hurt the boiler but be careful when opening any boiler door as you are allowing fresh air to mix with those gases at that point.

[sdrockhauler]

Do you rake the coal around as you would do with wood on a refill or do you simply run the shaker grates and add coal to the top. I am  not burning any wood all coal.  The wife said she was about 200 ft away and I think she soiled her shorts. Yes I have learned when I open the door to walk with the door as it swings and get to the side.

[slimjim]

Moving the coal bed around a bit should help as well as getting rid of the clinkers

[Scott7m]

How big are these pieces of coal you are burning??

Ive burned lump coal for years with no issues like that but wonder about your coal in particular, perhaps your putting to much in??  It doesnt take much

[sdrockhauler]

range any where from a baseball to football. It does have some fines in it as well. Not alot but as it dries out it gets more. It is lignite coal out of Nd so the quality is not the best as far as heat value but it is what ive got. When it gets cold as it was late last winter when I started expirimenting more I was putting 4 five gallon buckets and getting approx 8 hours so not sure just how much I should put in at a time. Called the factory they told me well put 6 in that should get 12 hours.  Probably didnt need to make a call to fig that one out.

[Scott7m]

Holy heck.....  I can't imagine that much coal but our coal is different

If I'm mixing some wood and coal 30-40 pounds in 3-4 big lumps can take my burn times from 12-14 to 20 hours easy..  I'm talking 3-4 football size pieces or smaller.  I can't ever imagine putting in 6 buckets every 12 hours

[sdrockhauler]

I think the btu rating on this stuff is pretty low but its what i'm close to.I think I will just have to play with it awile and see what works. May be I'm overloading it and suffocating it. Wish I could just fill it up like you can with wood.