TAYBRITE Is it any good ?

mirabelle

I have a multi burner stove and for the past couple of years have being burning just wood. I should like to try a solid fuel and have come across Taybrite which apparently is easy to light and burns for quite a while. Has anyone tried it ? I am burning such a lot of wood and I now need something as an alternative or to burn with the wood to make it go further. I don't want something that is difficult to start up. I use sawdust heat logs to start my wood fires and its very easy and works every time even with hard woods like elm. Any advice on solid fuels to burn would be appreciated.

ventureuk

In my recent experience, unless you are going to keep the stove going 24/7 then burning anthracite 'cobs' on and off could be a labour of love. Keeping it going all the time with cobs is fairly easy even if you are out for long periods with the fire damped down, but just having a fire in the morning and then another in the evening may drive you up the wall.

They can be a beggar to get going no matter how easy they say they light.

I've tried a number of fuels since the stove was installed, in my case I found Supertherm was the best. It is the largest cob, burns for a very long time but needs a nice wood fire to get them alight, firelighters are just no good. It puts out a huge amount of a very regular heat.

You need to experiment with a few bags of different fuels, different fires in different settings with varying draughts can produce a variety of results. Supertherm will burn for 8-12hrs damped down and untouched for me.

The other thing worth remembering is that identical fuels are often given different names depending on the supplier or coalyard so stick to the cheapest and try a variety of their fuels.

A._Badger

I agree with ventureuk - get a supply of different types and see which works for you. I've used Taybrite and it's ok, but my previous stove (a Little Wenlock) preferred Maxibrite to anything else.

I'm still experimenting with the stove in my new home (mostly, I burn bituminous coal) but this stove seems less keen on the Maxibrite I've fed it.

Smokeless is harder to light (I cant recommend electric firelighters enough!) but it burns for a lot longer unattended than coal and it seems to kick out a great deal of heat.

mirabelle

Thank you Ventueuk and Badger for your advice. I'm off now to the coal merchant to buy some different fuels to try out.

It's the price of an electric firelighter that puts me off buying one, but I know I will regret it if I don't when I am standing on a freezing cold morning trying to light my fire.

Identical fuels given different names by merchants is handy to know. Thanks for the tips.

A._Badger

I really sympathise with your feelings about the cost of an electric firelighter, Mirabelle. I put off buying one for years and only bit the bullet when I moved house and (psychologically at least) 'lost' the cost in among all the other horrendous expenses.

Now I have one I would never go back, though, and in fact, as I had to buy either kindling or firelighters, I'm not sure it hasn't worked out cheaper over a couple of years.

Anyway, good luck with your trials of fuel. It would be interesting to hear if you fnd one much better than the others as I am still looking for the best for my new stove, too!

owned_by_2_Siamese

Hi - I use 'Stoveheat' (think this is similar) in my stove (when needs to stay in - for example occaisionally overnight) I get this from 'coal2u' (used to be cpl - search for it on Google) distribution about £8 for a 25kg bag delivered. We use about 10 bags over the winter - mainly we burn wood. Never had a problem lighting it - lots of red hot burning kindling before I put any on and a bottom air vent open fully for a good 10 mins before I lower it!