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[kayakerski]

3,400 sf of 1860's poorly insulated farmhouse  here and I burn a little less than 3 cords a month. I guess I'm not doing as bad as I thought! These -15 nights are not helping any.

[fryedaddy]

I live in N.C. and heat with wood. If I switched to coal, oil or propane my overall cost of heating would double.

I assume ati must live in OH. or atleast close to mining country. I'm happy you are able to purchase
coal cheap enough to find it beneficial. I have used coal in the past but it's not cost effective for me.
Electric heat would be more cost effective than coal in my area.

My stove isn't a gasser and I still save quite a bit of money per season while being eco-friendlier than
most. Several factors go into each persons decision to purchase their style "System".

Have you read any of the stove manufacturers claims? Does it state anywhere in their terminology that
their "system" is 80% efficient? Many of the systems furnished were picked by the customer for their own install.
Several of the dealers on this site mention very often how important it is to chose the correct dealer so an
install can be as efficient as possible.

To me it's not about what you burn but overall weather you're happy with your investment. I am and I choose
to burn wood and it's the cost effective material for my area. Don't assume everyone is like you and has a
supply of coal.

[slimjim]

Thank you to all who have spoken up to defend our intelligence in burning wood, thank God you did , I was starting to think I was stupid and should go back to oil.

[Speed]

I'm still trying to figure out what the point of this was. Wow good for you, you can buy coal at $100 a ton. $300 a ton here. So, using your numbers, I need what? 18 tons to replace 15 cords(using even numbers) of wood that only costs me fuel to cut and transport to the house ( not much). Now 18 × $300 is $5400. And I still have to get the stuff to the house. Propane is roughly $4000 for the year, they deliver. Wood? If I had $500 worth of fuel into a years worth of wood, I'd be shocked. Now Einstein, (good one slimjim, we'll go with that) can you see why coal is not the answer for everyone? Heck I'd be major money ahead to sit in the chair and have propane delivered over chasing down coal in my area. Now, do you still want to know why it is more economical for me to burn wood I already have? Not everything is based on efficiency. Economics are also a factor.

[automan77]

Well put Speed. 

[cantoo]

My real costs for firewood are a lot more than some of you guys stated here. Tractor costs, (partly for wood) grapple, tons of chainsaws, buzz saws, wood splitter, conveyor, wood racks, dump trailer, and on and on. Oh yeah and fuel and oil including fuel for my truck to haul as I don't own an bush. And you guys with bush need to factor in a certain amount of value in that too, at least around here we pay taxes so more property means more taxes. And what is your time worth? Some years I have a tuff time finding time to cut and haul wood.
 As for the coal, I would try it if I could get it around here. I know the Amish are burning coal here but I have no idea where they get it or what it costs. I assume the reason they are burning coal is because some of the farms they own don't have any bush on them and firewood costs more.
 The guy was just trying to tell his story on him burning coal when he needs extra burntime, did he really need the responses he got? No different than someone who has 100 acres of bush, their cost for wood is a lot less than mine is, doesn't mean the guy knows nothing. The only reason it's cost effective for me to have an OWB is because I got a used one real cheap otherwise I would still be using my Hotblast.

[sabercat]

probably 28-30 face cord a year, from mid sept-may

[slimjim]

Did I get something wrong, it sure sounded to me as if we as wood burners no matter where we are should be burning coal in anti's eyes, SOME OF US DON"T HAVE COAL LOCALLY, we have wood,RUN WHAT YA BRUNG!!!!!

[cantoo]

Sounds to me that yes that is what you read.  However I read that for him and his supply of cheap coal where he lives that burning combinations of coal and wood works for him. I have lots of hardwood available to me however because a few of my big poplars on my lawn blew down in a wind storm last summer I have been burning the poplar just to at least get some valve out of it. So if I did keep track I'm likely burning twice as many cords as I should be so my numbers would look insane for wood use. My neighbour (he has a homebuilt owb) came over the other day and seen that I was burning poplar,told me I was crazy he just had 40 acres of bush logged and told me to push the poplar in a pile and come over to his place and get all I want. I'm a cheap bastage and hate to waste anything so I'll burn up the poplar 1st. There is only a few owbs around here and everyone who stops in says I must be burning tons of wood in it.
 You and I both know there are lots of people who should not even consider an owb.
 Top 10 reasons why you should not own an wood OWB, if you answer yes to 4 or more of these stop thinking about it.
 1. You live on 1/2 acre and you neighbour is 75' away.
 2. You have a 1100 square foot house and no shop.
 3. You have natural gas to your house.
 4. You work away from home for days at a time and your wife is a princess.
 5. You spend 6 months a year in Florida.
 6. You haven't driven or ridden in a pick up truck in the last 2 weeks.
 7. You faint at the sight of blood.
 8. Something breaks in your home and your wife makes you call a plumber, electrician, heating tech or fire dept before you tackle fixing.
 9. You wear a suit to work and it doesn't have your name stitched on the front pocket.
 10. You have a sweet deal to buy coal for $110 a ton.
    

[hondaracer2oo4]

 

[cantoo]

I forgot one.
 11. You were bottle fed as a child.

[rick n kristi]

I don't get it guy's? You all burn so much more wood than I do. I'm heating 3600 SQ/FT ranch + blowing some heat in the basement cause I like warm floors. This house was built in 1970 and has 4" of insulation in the ceiling. I'm in southern Ohio and it gets darn cold here, -10 in the next two days. I would have to leave the windows open to burn as much as some are on here. Something is wrong fellas!

Now for coal....I've been burning coal this year almost exclusively. I by from Oxford resources in New Lexington Ohio for $75.00 a ton, so far this winter I've only used about a ton. Did start out on wood in October but switched to coal at the start of December. My boiler is not a coal unit but I did some mods to help me burn coal. A wood/coal boiler is much better if your considering burning coal. If I burn 4 tons this year it will be a lot! I live on wooded property and have been burning in this boiler for several years. All wood at first and not that good of quality, 5 full cord was worst winter....some of you guys that are burning so much more must live in the Yukon

Buy the way...that 1.5 tons of bituminous coal from New Lexington on the truck!

[attachment deleted by admin for space issues]

[rick n kristi]

Which Oxford mine plant do you get it from?  I seen a couple when trying to look it up.

Tunnel hill mine, Oxford Reclamation 740-343-0195...Becky is a dandy too!

[slimjim]

Sounds to me that yes that is what you read.  However I read that for him and his supply of cheap coal where he lives that burning combinations of coal and wood works for him. I have lots of hardwood available to me however because a few of my big poplars on my lawn blew down in a wind storm last summer I have been burning the poplar just to at least get some valve out of it. So if I did keep track I'm likely burning twice as many cords as I should be so my numbers would look insane for wood use. My neighbour (he has a homebuilt owb) came over the other day and seen that I was burning poplar,told me I was crazy he just had 40 acres of bush logged and told me to push the poplar in a pile and come over to his place and get all I want. I'm a cheap bastage and hate to waste anything so I'll burn up the poplar 1st. There is only a few owbs around here and everyone who stops in says I must be burning tons of wood in it.
 You and I both know there are lots of people who should not even consider an owb.
 Top 10 reasons why you should not own an wood OWB, if you answer yes to 4 or more of these stop thinking about it.
 1. You live on 1/2 acre and you neighbour is 75' away.
 2. You have a 1100 square foot house and no shop.
 3. You have natural gas to your house.
 4. You work away from home for days at a time and your wife is a princess.
 5. You spend 6 months a year in Florida.
 6. You haven't driven or ridden in a pick up truck in the last 2 weeks.
 7. You faint at the sight of blood.
 8. Something breaks in your home and your wife makes you call a plumber, electrician, heating tech or fire dept before you tackle fixing.
 9. You wear a suit to work and it doesn't have your name stitched on the front pocket.
 10. You have a sweet deal to buy coal for $110 a ton.
    

   Awsome, do you mind if I use that?

[artbaldoni]

I have been experimenting with coal this last week. A combination of wood and coal seems to provide the best burn time and wood consumption reduction for me. I use about 25 pounds of coal in 24 hours suplemented with 3-4 sticks of wood each 12 hours. Cuts wood use by 50% and costs $3.50 a day for coal, bagged, likely half that if I buy in bulk. I live in PA so I'm in coal country. I also have 35 acres of free wood. The minimal cost for the coal suplement will be ofset by less wear and tear on my old broken body. Its the best of both worlds for me; I get exercise and a hobby cutting wood but don't have to kill myself cutting or pay the oil man!

Just remember: To each his own...there is no right answer.