LeeMills

Thanks for all your replies. Seems I don't have the best stove for burning anthracite, so I've decided to stick with wood. Lee.

OK, tried the method of a small coal bed with kindling on top with a firelighter. I got the temperature to 120 degrees and the kindling burnt out and the fire went out. I kept the vents open fully but I just couldn't get it going. A second attempt later - instead, I got a wood fire going and got it up to 350-400 degrees. I left the wood to burn to embers and added an anthracite layer, which eventually caught fire. However, I only got it up to around 280 degrees - and no blue flames. I've pretty much mastered the wood fire, but the anthracite fire has eluded me so far.I'll keep experimenting and see if I can find the right balance. Lee.

Hey Mik, First time I tried to light anthracite, I did use kindling, sticks and some coal but it took well over an hour to get to a temperature around 215, so thought I may need to try a different method. I've got plenty of dry kindling, some quite large. I'll try your method with some newspaper (and cardboard?) and see how I get on. Also - I never use those hydrocarbon firelighters - I sometimes use those wax shavings. Let's see how I get on... I'll let you know. Lee.

Hi all, Manual is unclear on how to burn anthracite, so need some advice please. I have a Stovax Stockton 5 Wide and have the following 3 air settings: 1. Airwash (top) 2. Primary Air (bottom) 3. Secondary Air (below) I intend to burn the Lion Supaglo Anthracite Coal but want to make sure I have the procedure from start to finish correct if anybody could assist? Firstly, I understand burning wood and coal at the same time can cause damage to the flue with sulphur dioxide and I understand coal requires an airflow below, while wood requires above. Also, I’m not able to clear the grate; the coal will sit on the grate and so I’ll have to clear the grate with a stick of some kind. I think my plan of action will be to use a firelighter, kindling, some soft wood and a hard wood log to get the fire going and up to around 320 degrees. I’ll wait for the wood to burn down to embers, then I’ll begin adding the anthracite until it catches fire. I’ll then close the Airwash at the top and the Primary Air and have the Secondary air (below) open around 1/3 of the way. Then give it some time and add another layer of anthracite and keep it burning all day. Has anyone any comments regarding this? Thanks for your help, Lee.

Hi there Steven, I got the wood in March this year - they were huge pieces of wood, which I subsequently split and stacked over the last few months. He did say it was seasoned, but when I split the logs, the moisture content was betwwen 30-50% for most of it. He's a farmer and no certs on how dry they were. They wood was stored in a farmer's outside storage you usually see in the UK - they were probably there for maybe 6-12 months? So I fear they may be ready to do and I'm seeing that already. I'm new to this - would I see thousands of these and would they spread throughout the garden and into shrubs, trees, maybe the house? it's got me all concerned now! Just to add - since splitting them, their moisture content is down below 20%, although there is a number still up to 30%. I reckon most of this will be burnt by end of Winter. I do have some places in the garden to store wood, but my concen is nearby trees - we have on the top of a hill and the trees for a protective barrier against wind and can't afford to lose them! Anyway, thanks for your input and would be interesting in knowing what you think to my comments above. Lee.

Hi all, Thanks for the responses. I've been going through the wood earlier today and found a considerable number of what look like Wharf Borer Beetle - I did think they were Forest Longhorn Beetle, but they look like Borer beetles. I think I've found about 10 since last week. I've also come across two beetles but are black all over - they look just like the Wharf Borer Beetle. I'm concerned if the logs are next to shrubs and trees - will it infect them also? I'm looking online to find something on this, but coming a back a bit thin on answers. Any advice is appreciated. Lee.

Hi all, Thanks for the responses - good to know I'm in the right ball-park identifying the trees. I've added a few more pictures of some other logs and where I store them. I've come across a few Forest Longhorn Beetle (so I think) in the wood I have stored on the concrete base away from the house. I'm relatively new to this and still researching, but I've tried to store the wood somewhat away from the house and especially walls, and have raised the wood off the ground by putting pallets. However, my next concern was - will those beetles head to the nearest trees and eat them instead? The concrete base where I store the wood is set back slightly into bushes (a coal bunker was there until recently and it's been knocked down and the concrete base expanded and thought this was a good place to store the wood) but I'm concerned it's too close to living trees. There is a lot to think about regarding wood, but I'm determined to make this work and any advice on what you think about where the wood is stored would be much appreciated. Thanks for reading, Lee. Attachments-pics.zip

Hi all, I'm new to firewood and purchased a builder's bag from a farmer nearby. It was a mixture of hardwood and I can't tell from what firewood it is. I've submitted some pictures of the wood I have and wondered if you could identify them for me and what I should be looking for? Thanks for reading, Lee.