I was out metal detecting an old vacant lot when I came across a bunch of black, metallic rocks. I have never seen coal in this form before but I figured that's what it was. Grabbed a couple baseball sized pieces and put them in my truck. After I got home I threw one in the fireplace, already had a fire going, and that stuff went up fast and burned hot. I was thinking about going back for more. I know one or two pieces of coal won't hurt anything but are there any problems with burning coal in an open fireplace. Thanks in advance
Coal is kind of a different thing. A friend burns coal in Glennallen. It has the ability to melt steel if it gets alot of the right conditions. But once he learned how to burn it he really likes it. He also burns wood. It makes lots of clinkers and the ash needs to be emptied every day or 2. My neighbor there would throw a couple coal shovel fulls on top of the wood in his owb after he filled it . That gave it a lot longer burn time . Without taking up much space.
I burn coal in our Woodstove. It is rated for coal and wood. I have never burned a full load of coal. I usually get a good bed of wood coals and add fresh wood to the sides of the stove along the firebricks. I add a couple shovels of coal in between the wood, filling in the gap between them and on top of the coals. Nice long warm burn.
Burned coal for 4 years at our old farm. It burns a very long time while putting out a steady heat. It is a dirty and smelly fuel but I had no issues with it cause I'm kinda like that too... I bet a chunk or three on top of a bed of wood coals would be fun to watch. Perty blue flame...
I burn coal when I want long hot steady heat but the stove has to be able to take the heat which is why most coal stoves are lined with firebrick. Coal can get up to 3000 degrees and can turn a stove into a lump of iron so unless the stove is designed for coal it could be a dangerous thing. Most coal stoves are cast iron and not steel. It does smell a bit like sulfur and makes more ash than wood. It also does not draft as well as wood and if it loses draft it just smothers itself. I don't expect the coal to stay lit at temps over 50. Many time I throw a piece or two of oak on top to jump start the coal in the morning arranging the two pieces in the front and the back so there is a narrow V in the middle so the coal drafts better. Once it is lit again I then just put more coal on top and shake the ashes down to keep the fire going. Here in Eastern PA there is only Anthracite which is hotter and more dense than Bituminous and it is available at a price that makes it competitive with purchasing cord wood.
