Using coal in a woodstove

Does anyone use coal in their wood stove or furnace? If so, what do you use (anthracite or bituminous) and where do you get it?

I have an old cookstove that can take wood or coal. I've been using wood, but because the firebox is relatively small, I have to add wood a couple of times through the night to keep it going. I've heard coal will burn longer, and in addition, anthracite is cleaner burning than wood. I'd be interested in trying some coal for longer overnight burns, but it's not the easiest thing to find. It looks like there is a supplier near London, Ont, but I'm not sure if they would ship small quantities, or what the cost would be for shipping.

Try going to you local Home Hardware that's where I purchase mine when I decide to fire up the forge. They order it in for me in a 50lb bag.

Wow in this climate emergency I would have thought it was a banned substance by now...may have to smuggle it for the U.S. HaHa..

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Originally Posted by rf2

Does anyone use coal in their wood stove or furnace? If so, what do you use (anthracite or bituminous) and where do you get it?

I have an old cookstove that can take wood or coal. I've been using wood, but because the firebox is relatively small, I have to add wood a couple of times through the night to keep it going. I've heard coal will burn longer, and in addition, anthracite is cleaner burning than wood. I'd be interested in trying some coal for longer overnight burns, but it's not the easiest thing to find. It looks like there is a supplier near London, Ont, but I'm not sure if they would ship small quantities, or what the cost would be for shipping.

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Black smiths can still buy it. Not sure where.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Wow in this climate emergency I would have thought it was a banned substance by now...may have to smuggle it for the U.S. HaHa..

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Apparently it is cleaner burning than wood, but not a renewable resource like wood is. It is definitely frowned upon for use by industry, but doesn't appear to be illegal for residential use.

Regarding use by blacksmith, I've read that they use bituminous coal, which is not the best for wood stoves. Maybe I will check out Home Hardware anyway.

The Hardware store outside of Winchester sells coal, I bought 2 bags last year.

I have burned it in my stove but it is very difficult to get it burning.

Build a good layer of hardwood coals. I put my coal in a steel basket that has holes in it so it can have good air flow.

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Originally Posted by rf2

Does anyone use coal in their wood stove or furnace? If so, what do you use (anthracite or bituminous) and where do you get it?

I have an old cookstove that can take wood or coal. I've been using wood, but because the firebox is relatively small, I have to add wood a couple of times through the night to keep it going. I've heard coal will burn longer, and in addition, anthracite is cleaner burning than wood. I'd be interested in trying some coal for longer overnight burns, but it's not the easiest thing to find. It looks like there is a supplier near London, Ont, but I'm not sure if they would ship small quantities, or what the cost would be for shipping.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

The Hardware store outside of Winchester sells coal, I bought 2 bags last year.

I have burned it in my stove but it is very difficult to get it burning.

Build a good layer of hardwood coals. I put my coal in a steel basket that has holes in it so it can have good air flow.

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Thanks for this info. I will give them a call. Do you know what type of coal it was - bituminous or anthracite? I read that it can be difficult to get coal going in wood stoves that are not designed for it. Mine is and it has a coal grate, which I am actually using for wood right now since it makes the firebox a lot bigger.

What did you think of using coal? Worth the trouble or not?

Out in the tree stand right now (deer laughing at me)

When I get home I will check. I think it was the home hardware on 31 near Winchester.

Pretty sure it was anthracite, I will take a picture of the bag.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

Out in the tree stand right now (deer laughing at me)

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Good luck maybe the deer will get a little closer for a pic lol.

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk

Nope no deer tonight. I could hear them walking but they did not want to show themselves and I knew exactly where they stopped.

This is the Coal I bought.

Attachment 42556

Attachment 42557

Pretty sure it was this place

Lannin Home Building Centre

2682 Highway 31 South, Winchester, ON K0C 2K0

+16137742830

I remember as a kid when they used to deliver coal to our house, poured it down a shout into a bin beside my bedroom in the basement. I use to have to start the fire every morning in the 'Octopus' ....aaah great memories.

Thanks for reminding me HaHa..

My Old man remembers doing that as well

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I remember as a kid when they used to deliver coal to our house, poured it down a shout into a bin beside my bedroom in the basement. I use to have to start the fire every morning in the 'Octopus' ....aaah great memories.

Thanks for reminding me HaHa..

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We’re you in that movie with Shirley Temple

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I remember as a kid when they used to deliver coal to our house, poured it down a shout into a bin beside my bedroom in the basement. I use to have to start the fire every morning in the 'Octopus' ....aaah great memories.

Thanks for reminding me HaHa..

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X2 remember shoveling the coal.

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Originally Posted by js4fn

We’re you in that movie with Shirley Temple

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This was in the early 70's on Franklin Dr, in Kitchener..fairly common in the neighbourhood back then. :)

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I remember as a kid when they used to deliver coal to our house, poured it down a shout into a bin beside my bedroom in the basement. I use to have to start the fire every morning in the 'Octopus' ....aaah great memories.

Thanks for reminding me HaHa..

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At one time,I owned a large,older 1 1/2 story home with an "Octopus" convectional heating system that had been converted from coal to a single thermostat-controlled oil burner. It was absolutely silent operating without a blower,but,the house was toasty warm all winter and used very little oil. Too bad they were phased out in the late 70's.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

Nope no deer tonight. I could hear them walking but they did not want to show themselves and I knew exactly where they stopped.

This is the Coal I bought.

Attachment 42556

Attachment 42557

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That's the stuff I am looking for. I called the HH in Almonte (which is on the way to where I would be using it) and they don't carry it. I will try the one in Winchester.

I grew up in the coal mining region of northeast pa. - in those days coal was king - everybody burned it and more than half the people made a living by mining it - I remember it costing $4 dollars a ton delivered - at the end of winter we had a ash pile in the yard that we got rid of by paying a guy to haul it away - cost 10 cents a bushel - a lot of guys got killed mining it - two of my uncles died in mine cave-ins - and many ended up with black lung from breathing in the dust while mining it - as far as it being cleaner than wood I don't know if that is true - our chimney really got blocked up from burning the coal and it you were near a railroad where a steam engine was passing you could feel the stuff falling on your head - you can still buy anthracite coal by the pickup truck full from small mines still being worked by a few people - those were the days - coal furnaces, ice boxes and horse drawn milk wagons have gone their way - their use are only memories now

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

At one time,I owned a large,older 1 1/2 story home with an "Octopus" convectional heating system that had been converted from coal to a single thermostat-controlled oil burner. It was absolutely silent operating without a blower,but,the house was toasty warm all winter and used very little oil. Too bad they were phased out in the late 70's.

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I was curious about the “OCTOPUS” furnace and found this article interesting, sometimes I wonder if we might rely on simpler stuff in the future.

https://www.oldhouseguy.com/heating-old-octopus-furnace/

Apologies for taking the thread in a different direction - hope I am not reprimanded, link above doesn’t seem to work try this one

https://www.oldhouseguy.com/heating-...topus-furnace/

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Originally Posted by rf2

That's the stuff I am looking for. I called the HH in Almonte (which is on the way to where I would be using it) and they don't carry it. I will try the one in Winchester.

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Not looking good for the HH in Winchester. They said they haven't sold any in years, but they would see if they could order some. Would likely have to be large quantity. Greatwhite, let me know if you want to get rid of yours :o

I will check the other hardware store this weekend and let you know and go check the Lannins Home hardware myself as well. When I bought it they had a skid of it. It might have been the BMR. When I spotted it they didn't even know they had it. The bag I have is only half full.

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Originally Posted by rf2

Not looking good for the HH in Winchester. They said they haven't sold any in years, but they would see if they could order some. Would likely have to be large quantity. Greatwhite, let me know if you want to get rid of yours :o

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There is this place down by Guelph

https://www.thak.ca/product/bitumino...smithing-coal/

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Originally Posted by rf2

Not looking good for the HH in Winchester. They said they haven't sold any in years, but they would see if they could order some. Would likely have to be large quantity. Greatwhite, let me know if you want to get rid of yours :o

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I checked their website and they don't carry it so you sol. If it's on their site they'll order it, I do it all the time in the Almonte store.

It wasn't on their website when I bought it either, unsure of your point.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I will check the other hardware store this weekend and let you know and go check the Lannins Home hardware myself as well. When I bought it they had a skid of it. It might have been the BMR. When I spotted it they didn't even know they had it. The bag I have is only half full.

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Thanks, but please don't go out of your way!

Just a word of advice, not trying to be an - Coal burns a lot hotter than wood - and many modern wood stoves may get damaged by continued use of coal.
Something to think about.
As for the comment of it being "illegal due to climate emergency" - I had a chuckle at that.
I know you were being sarcastic, but unfortunately with these Climate Terrorists that Trudeau has installed in the ministry of environment, don't be surprised if this happens in the next few years.
Montreal has already banned wood burning stoves a few years ago. With the fake 'climate emergency' they will ban all but essential forms of burning - or tax the living crap out of you for having a wood stove in your house.
The restrictions and regulations imposed during the CV19 plandemic will be nothing compared to the coming crap they have cooked up to "save the planet".
The climate has ALWAYS changed, and always will. Man-made climate change is a lie.
If you want to talk pollution, that's another story - the two are not related.

The wood stove I have is a Findlay Meteor - and old cookstove that was designed for both coal and wood. It comes with a grate specifically for coal, so I am assuming it is safe to use coal in it.

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Originally Posted by old outdoorsman

Just a word of advice, not trying to be an - Coal burns a lot hotter than wood - and many modern wood stoves may get damaged by continued use of coal.
Something to think about.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I will check the other hardware store this weekend and let you know and go check the Lannins Home hardware myself as well. When I bought it they had a skid of it. It might have been the BMR. When I spotted it they didn't even know they had it. The bag I have is only half full.

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So, it must have been the BMR. I contacted the supplier listed on the bag in your picture, and they supply to BMR. I'll be contacting the one in Winchester and picking some up if they have it. Thanks for your help on this.

My Stove is an old Fisher and I found the manual online it is also rated for coal.

rf2 I will be stopping by there on Saturday and if I see any I will also let you know.

Yes they have 5 bags left. Leave me one I forgot to grab one.

Attachment 42661

I passed by there on Friday and got 6 bags. They have a skid of it out front. Can't wait to try it out in the woodstove. Thanks for your help on this btw.

Great, let me know if you get it burning maybe a few pics

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Originally Posted by rf2

I passed by there on Friday and got 6 bags. They have a skid of it out front. Can't wait to try it out in the woodstove. Thanks for your help on this btw.

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So I stayed at the cottage Saturday night. It was -12 °C. I arrived later than I wanted, so it was a mad rush to get the place heated enough for me to go to bed. I started a wood fire and let it burn down to hot coals, then started adding the actual coal. It was a bit of a process, but after about an hour, I had a good coal bed going.
https://i.imgur.com/aTRyHcS.jpg
I found that once I added coal, the heat output would drop for a while, I guess while the new coal would get lit up. I think I put the last load on at around midnight, and it burned until about 5:30 a.m. I think this was my fault as I left the flue and air inlets wide open to make sure it stayed burning, and I wanted as much heat output as possible, since it was still pretty cold in parts of the cottage. At 5:30 I had to throw some kindling on and then add more coal. I also threw a couple of pieces of hardwood on top because I wanted to make sure the coal bed got going. This seemed to work well, as it was pretty warm by 7:30 when I actually got up. Overall, I don't find the heat output as intense with coal compared to wood, but it definitely burns longer and more evenly, despite my error in leaving the air wide open. One thing I did notice was a complete lack of smoke or smell once the coal bed is going well, so it does seem to burn much more cleanly than wood.

I'll have to keep experimenting to try to optimize how I operate the cookstove with coal, but overall, I'd say using coal was a success. I've never stayed in the cottage overnight with the temperature so low, so the fact that I was able to do it and remain comfortable, and not have to get up every couple of hours to put wood on the fire was encouraging.

Remember how to put coal out in a emergency. Keep lots of ash. Or sand kill the air.

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Originally Posted by js4fn

Remember how to put coal out in a emergency. Keep lots of ash. Or sand kill the air.

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Thanks for the tip. I have a big fire extinguisher that I assumed would do the job, but I guess I should keep a pail of sand handy. To be honest, it seems like it would be easier to extinguish a coal fire than a wood fire in my stove, and the coal fire doesn't seem to present a danger of getting out of control like a wood fire could.