burning smokless fuel and wood

ossian

Burning coal produces sulfuric acid, burning wood produces water vapour, burn them both together produces a sulfuric acid solution that coats your chimney/flue and leads to erosion.

So unless your burning 0% moisture kiln dried then it isn't a good idea. How big a problem this is in practice I'm not qualified to say.

make_life_easier

I have had my stove since february and tonight is the first time I have had smokeless coal in it. I have it burning lovely at the moment and have added abit more on, but I am not sure how to control it. I have the top shutter closed and the bottom shutters open is this right?

suki1964

make_life_easier wrote: »

I have had my stove since february and tonight is the first time I have had smokeless coal in it. I have it burning lovely at the moment and have added abit more on, but I am not sure how to control it. I have the top shutter closed and the bottom shutters open is this right?

Top needs to be closed and I close the bottom the minute I have the coals red and giving heat. This prolongs the burn time and controls the heat output. You want to heat it up - open the bottom vent

welda

I play around with top vents, as this works the secondary burn, plus air wash the glass, I guess it's a case of experimenting to find out what works best for the individuals stove???

:beer:

Ps, I close bottom vent once coals are glowing (as per Suki's instructions)

beanrua

I can vouch for Suki's instructions. I was leaving the bottom vent open and the fire was burning away too quickly.

A._Badger

The rule of thumb is that wood burns best with air from the top, coal and smokeless with air from the bottom. The theory is, you shut the vents accordingly, once the fire is burning.

That said, every stove is different so you need to fiddle around. Suki's method is a good starting point, I'd have said.

suki1964

A._Badger wrote: »

The rule of thumb is that wood burns best with air from the top, coal and smokeless with air from the bottom. The theory is, you shut the vents accordingly, once the fire is burning.

That said, every stove is different so you need to fiddle around. Suki's method is a good starting point, I'd have said.

So true

As I always say thats what works for me and my stove

My mums stove - close the vent completely and she gets no heat at all and she has no top vent at all ( and her one vent is a sod to get right )

welda

Bumping this back up again, I'm still phaffing with good results with the surefire ovaries, I'm still not sure about top vent open or closed, with my box top vents open, even a small amount helps keep class clean, also secondary burn before heading up the lum, what do others think, does it make a difference regarding coals longevity, extra heat from secondary burn???

:beer:

A._Badger

welda wrote: »

Bumping this back up again, I'm still phaffing with good results with the surefire ovaries, I'm still not sure about top vent open or closed, with my box top vents open, even a small amount helps keep class clean, also secondary burn before heading up the lum, what do others think, does it make a difference regarding coals longevity, extra heat from secondary burn???

:beer:

I find it varies so much that any rules have to be regarded as mere guidelines.

In my case, wood seems to burn better with the top and bottom vents open and the rocking grate closed. Smokeless works best with the top vents closed, and the grate and bottom vents both open.

I can't make Suki's trick work, sadly. If I close the bottom vents when burning coal, the fire dies right down, rather than slumbering. I'm still trying to find the ideal in-between setting since switching to Taybrite.

And I think that's what you have to do - fiddle around till you find what works for you.

Good luck!

welda

A._Badger wrote: »

I find it varies so much that any rules have to be regarded as mere guidelines.

Agreed with the above.

Too many variables with each type/make of M/F stove, I have rocking grate, but it don't close. You have given me an idea though, think I'll cut a piece of plate to sit on top of stove when in wood burning mode, then see what happens, slightly smaller to allow air in at bottom, but cover main burn area.

My stove does slumber with no real trouble at all, even fueling up with oak last thing at night, next morning stove still hot-ish with small glowing embers.

I'll keep pfaffing and see how it goes?

thanks n :beer: