Easy Way to Start a Coal Pellet Stove

I savor teaching others how to use diverse appliances in their kitchen.

A traditional coal stove

Starting a Coal Stove

No one told me it would be so hard to commencement a coal stove when I purchased i. Starting a coal stove is nothing like starting a forest stove burn down or a pellet stove fire. Not even close. When yous are washed reading this, you will be amazed at how unproblematic it can be.

Some people volition have y'all believe that it only takes patience. Bulls**t! I went online to encounter how other people beginning their stoves and constitute a few different means people go about it. Below, I detail one method that hasn't let me down even so, besides as two other methods that haven't worked for me (but notwithstanding might piece of work for you).

Apply a Estrus Gun

Digging around online, I found a way to start your coal stove every fourth dimension and not accept to worry almost edifice a fire with paper or wood or using charcoal briquettes and sitting at that place for hours on end.

I use a heat gun with a rating of 750 ^oF to g ^oF. Some people use rut guns for stripping pigment, oestrus shrinking electrical wires for automotive applications, and welding plastics together. I use one to start my coal stove. I know information technology sounds crazy, but in one case you try it, you will stop wasting your fourth dimension and money on other useless methods.

Condom Precautions

Wear some welder's gloves or any fireproof or burn-resistant gloves. I likewise propose wearing safety glasses when lighting coal because small pieces tend to pop off like popcorn. You'll thank me later.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Stick the cease of the rut gun onto the middle of the grate.
2. Pile upward some coal at the tip of the heat gun. You do not demand to cover the tip; only pile them upwards confronting information technology.
3. Plough your heat gun on high and close the door as much as possible. I know your arm is in the style—just close information technology a flake to keep as much of the fumes in the stove as possible.
4. Concord the heat gun in this position until yous the coal starts to calorie-free about 2 inches around. This takes approximately ii–3 minutes.
5. Plug your stove in and make sure the blower is on. It helps to accept someone there to plug it in when it's ready. I do this alone every time, and it ever works. Just make sure your fire is large enough before plugging in, or it volition get out. It will exist very bright, so don't wait direct at the fire.

Go along in heed that the end of the rut gun is going to be extremely hot after y'all use it, so exist very conscientious not to touch it or place it on anything that will catch fire. This is where having those heavy-duty gloves comes in handy; I have made the mistake of accidentally touching the stop after use. Ouch!

Adept luck, and if it doesn't work the first time, brand certain yous take some coal in the cease of the rut gun. Later on, make sure you lot dump out whatsoever coal that is left in the end of the heat gun.

Dry scraps of paper, cotton fiber, or wood are commonly used to get whatsoever type of fire going.

Other Methods That Might Work

Consider using these methods to light your fire.

Apply Paper or Dry out Kindling

1. Start a small burn using some paper or dry out kindling.
2. Add small pieces of hardwood when the fire is called-for hot. Keep the draft control fully open until a hot fire is established.
3. When a decent bed of red wood embers builds upwardly, start calculation coal—minor amounts at a time. Keep the draft command open!
4. Keep calculation small-scale amounts of coal until there is a one" to 2" bed of burning coal. Don't add besides much coal at i time, and let sufficient time between each load for the coal to ignite thoroughly.
5. Information technology is important, at this betoken, to fill the stove to the highest level possible. A deep bed of coal is critical for the proper role of all coal stoves. Since coal can exist regulated better than wood, a deep bed does not mean that you can only run the stove hot; rather, y'all can control the rut by setting the air control on your stove.
6. Later on all the coal has been ignited and is burning with a blueish flame, the typhoon control can exist turned down. Serious damage can result if the stove is run wide open for extended periods of time. Make sure that the ash pan door is closed at all times.

Sounds piece of cake, right? Non at all! You will be sitting in front of your stove for a while. It took me an hr to go the coals to catch fire!

A coal bed fully burning

Curl to Continue

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Utilise Friction match Calorie-free Charcoal

This is another method I constitute online. Other brands of solid charcoal starter (e.k., Royal Oak and Infinitesimal Light) might do the job likewise. This method eliminates the mess of wood.

1. Spread the charcoal out until it barely covers the grate and put a modest amount of coal on top. Don't cover the charcoal completely!
2. Light the charcoal. Open air controls all the fashion.
3. When the coal is burning with a blueish flame, add together more coal every bit before.

Never utilise liquid starters on a coal or wood stove. Starters with large quantities of wax or softwood in them may non burn hot enough.

Always brand certain that your chimney is drafting upward before y'all beginning your stove. Some chimneys have a tendency to opposite while non in use. In most cases, the following procedure will start the chimney:

1. Place a small-scale piece of paper as far up the chimney equally possible and calorie-free information technology.
2. When it burns and gets pulled upwardly the chimney, begin lighting the coal.
3. Never poke or stir the coal burn when starting or at any other time. Coal fires like to be left lonely; many erstwhile wood burners tend to fool around with their coal fires, thereby putting them out!

Be warned; information technology'southward not every bit easy as it sounds! I tried the lighting Match Light charcoal and did everything this procedure told me to do, and all I ended upward with was a cellar full of smoke and fumes. I accept never started a coal stove this way. I tried for—and I am not kidding—4.5 hours, to no avail. This person made it sound so unproblematic. Information technology's not. Period.

You can also try using these fiddling coal starters that some people refer to as coal mice. They are two-inch boxes that accept a fuse sticking out. Y'all are supposed to put the box on acme of the grate where your coal fire would be.

1. Pile some coal on meridian of the box and then light the fuse with a long candle or BBQ grill lighter.
2. Close the door, and when the box ignites, plug in your coal stove and tada—your stove is upwardly and burning. Mayhap.

These little coal mice are only $ane.fifty per box; some places are a little more expensive than that. They can piece of work but non all the time. I went through two of these boxes the offset time I used them. The second time, I went through iii. Just about every fourth dimension I need to outset my coal stove again, I get through ii–iv coal mice.

A lot of the time, these things are duds and do not work. It costs me $3-$5 to commencement the stove, and I accept to restart my stove every 4–5 weeks because of cleaning—aye, you need to shut down the stove every few weeks to clean it, or it will not part properly. And so, on average, information technology costs me $18 to $30 to restart my coal stove during the winter.

I highly recommend trying the heat gun method. It has worked for me without fail and has saved me both time and money.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author'due south noesis. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

coin bag yo on March xiii, 2018:

well i really exercise like using this site

Darrell on Nov 17, 2017:

I take a coal stove I heat my hose with. Lighting the stove is easy. The problem with a rut gun is getting the stove to flow. You demand estrus to get the chimney flowing. I accept a Franco Belge stove. They are very efficient and do not like to flow when common cold. The oestrus gun smokes up my house. I have a base of coal then brand 3 piles of Charcoal Briquets. 6 to 8 pieces in each pile, I so pile coal on top, make full the stove. It has a hopper. I use aplenty lighter fluid and have a floor fan. Light the stove and get out the dust tray door open, turn the fan on. The fire takes off and starts the stove flowing. Go out the fan running until you lot have a dainty bed of red coal. Yous need the piles of charcoal to get enough oestrus to calorie-free the coal. If you just lay the charcoal flat, your stove won't low-cal. Y'all need a fan also. The extra air starts the coal. I practice this every time. Easy offset. The charcoal piles are what starts the coal. The merely problem is information technology puts soot on your glass. Practise not pull the fan too soon. Also, do not get out the fan on too long. You can overheat your stove. The fan can produce a lot of rut. If you are concerned about lighting the stove, stand off to the side, non in front end of the stove. Works. If your stove flows easier than mine, it will light right up. My stove needs to become expert and hot to stay going.

Ron on Feb 27, 2017:

My wife and I bought a coal furnace(rice coal) from Keystoker in PA, and nosotros starting time our furnace with coal mice, they are approximately 2" square and 3/4 thick.

You lot pull some coal down on the grates, then coffin the coal mouse in the coal and just get out fuse sticking out, light the fuse and become out of there while shutting the door. They estrus up 1500 degrees and in under 3 minutes y'all have a burn, when lite they glow white, tremendous heat.

Barbara on Jan fifteen, 2017:

Took me a calendar week to figure out how to get the Keystoker 90 going and keeping the burn down lit. Now know that the bags of rice coal have h2o in them, have to be brought in and stale out a scrap or the burn will non stay lit. Now the side by side problem - I have changed nada and CO detector keeps going off. Inverse batteries too. Not actually prepare to die merely so frustrated since it took what seemed like forever to larn how to keep a fire going in it. Ran out of mice apace, using little half round fire starters from Sams Club. Whatever help with the carbon Monozide detector ever going off would be appreciated.

Scott on April 22, 2016:

I bought the recommended Wagner rut gun and it worked the start time I tried it, but in the process the tip of the heat gun melted. I come across only ane other affiche has experienced the same problem. What are we doing wrong? I put the tip of the heat gun on the grate, turned it on loftier and held it there for three minutes until I could encounter bright hot coals. And so I turned the gun off and saw that the tip is literally cherry-red from being so hot and 1 side of information technology is melted.

flea on April 18, 2016:

wow, i'chiliad glad i stumbled upon this folio. i ran out of mice (my dud percentage was closer to fifty%), and couldn't find them at whatever hardware store nigh me, including the one that i bought my last batch from.

subsequently reading this mail service i picked up the wagner ht1000 from walmart. my first attempt for some reason created a ton of smoke but no called-for coals. i'm not sure what i did incorrect. my second attempt worked perfectly after about 90 seconds.

thanks for the tip!

ED on November 25, 2014:

I apply charcoal that doesn't crave lighter fluid to burn --I crack upwardly about 6 pieces into small pieces ---lite it with a hand held propane torch --allow it burn for about 5 minutes --then add together coal --works everytime -the whole lighting process takes near 10 minutes --if y'all put the charcoal in without breaking information technology in picayune peaces --its harder to start

Lori on November 08, 2014:

ALSO, map gas burns at 1000 degrees, that is what my husband uses in his rut gun to start our coal stove. Y'all tin can discover it in Wal-Mart

Lori on Nov 08, 2014:

We just bought a coal stove last year & messing with the wood & paper was a pain & the smoke & smell was horrible non to mention how long information technology took! Well our nephew has used a coal stove for yrs & he brought over his heat gun & showed my married man how he lights his with the heat gun & oh yea, that'south a much amend way to starting time a coal stove! A lot easier & quicker! This is the simply mode to start a coal stove! Coal stoves are unbelievably warm, now if they could just get rid of the smell & dust, they would exist the all-time!

cindy on April 19, 2014:

you lot forgot to mention that this will only work with an electric based coal stove.....hmmm wonder what happens when yous practice not have electrical....

Dou on April 16, 2014:

I have been burning coal for almost 10 years. Tried just most every method included hither (except soaking in Thompson's Water Seal) with poor results, except the heatgun. I've been using an acetylene B-tank and torch and it nevertheless took forever to light. WOW!! The heatgun took less than 5 minutes to get a good fire going with my industrial Master Appliances Heatgun.

Got so hot it actually melted the aluminum shroud over the heating element. I volition look to see if Master offers a steel shroud.

rich on March 19, 2014:

I tried for hrs with mapp gas,x seconds after i stuck my heatgun in there that coal was lit, i allmost fell over backwards........ cheers so much....1.fifty a mouse ? kiss my yous no what!

Dan on March 10, 2014:

I have had a coal stove for years, I would hate stopping it to make clean because I knew I would take a hard time starting it. I have tried everything mentioned here. still had a hard time, read your articail,and reread it, My problem was I would start the blower at the aforementioned time. At that place WAS MY PROBLEM. I burnt all the wood pellet and the charcoal fluid an started from 0. Instead of using a heat gun I went for my propane torch,NO AIR. got it running in a couple of minutes. When it had a two inch circumvolve i started the blower,BINGO it started called-for right ,and had information technology adjusted in no fourth dimension Perfect.Thanks a lot.

Doug on January 20, 2014:

I heard about the heat gun method and tried information technology....; all information technology did was melt the tip of the estrus gun....so beware you might ruin your estrus gun...Perhaps I was doing something wrong I dont know ...it seems to piece of work for other people.I have an Alaskan stoker stove and I employ Ignito burn down starter packets and matchlite charcoal but the offset thing you must do is brand a metal bracket to put on the ramp the coal comes down to preclude the burn down from tumbling off the end of the ramp! Then after you get the charcoal going and gradually adding coal and eventually a solid coal burn down established by slowly increasing your air menstruum yous remove the subclass.and accommodate rate of coal being fed automatically it does take patience merely not and then bad once you get the hang of it.The biggest fault people make is giving fire to much air and it goes out.

Dave on Dec 22, 2013:

Check your draft If information technology has worked for 15 years and at present it has stopped I would suspect something has changed that has lowered your draft.

mary on December 10, 2013:

a I have a Petite godin French Parlor stove. I have used information technology for xv years and have never had a problem starting it,this yr information technology has been a nightmare.I exercise not plug in this stove and have no blower, will this method work with my stove?

towing139 on December 06, 2013:

The oestrus gun trick was perfect I got it to light the first try thank you

carrie on Oct 05, 2013:

upset ...i have used the estrus gun and the torch and the mice and the wood and paper for pea coal and it still will not light and stay lit ....could information technology be the coal ?????

Steve on Oct 02, 2013:

All I do is chuck some paper at the bottom, cut some woods to think slithers, calorie-free that, walk away have a fume come up dorsum and then the wood is burning chuck a load of coal on top job washed.

We have a multi fuel burner duno if that makes a differnce

Chris Kilpatrick from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania on July twenty, 2013:

I take a question I have been having a problem with my coal stove I go it lit and it stays running for a couple hours I get to check on it i last time and it's still feeding coal and running but the fire died out wondering if I could exist using to much air or maybe the boiler is just broken?

eddie on March xx, 2013:

True and pissed off to the point of finding the answer....Well put, If i practise say so myself...

TS on January 22, 2013:

I tried MAPP gas with a smaller cartridge torch and even so had great diffculty in starting my coal fire. The "turbo" torch gets much hotter and I can see why this would beginning the fire. Unless yous happen to be a plumber or in HVAC I doubt you lot volition accept one of these laying around the house and they are expensive to buy. If yous accidentally burn through the acetelene hose on one of these torches you will go a lot more oestrus that you ever anticipated, please be careful.....I strongly advise away from this method unless y'all are familiar in the use of these torches.

Back to the other options, I remember they take stopped selling the "mice" here in PA. I'm thinking it is probably due to the ingredients in the mice becoming less bachelor. The simply substitute I could discover were these home made mystery bags local amish are selling here that seemed to do the play a trick on but they can get expensive as well. The lady who sold them to me said that they accept coal, wood chips and possibly another "stuff" in them.

Last nighttime I tried to make my own bags up and failed mainly considering I didn't add charcoal. Information technology appears that the guy making these crushes regular barbeque type charcoal and adds woods chips and puts some regular rice coal on pinnacle of that. The layering is important.

I seen video on youtube where a guy fabricated a similar matter by using what looks similar a simple can with the ends removed and a pigsty at the side toward the bottom to light the mix. He just rolls upwards some newspaper as layer one,adds a pocket-size handfull of crushed charcoal every bit layer two and lastly he adds small-scale pieces of regular rice coal. Information technology takes near 3 minutes to start the burn down using his method with his coal stocker blower on.

Then I am going to endeavour the tin idea tonight and come across how it goes. If it doesn't become well I'll become the heat gun.

I hate to play devils advocate hither but if you have a gratuitous standing coal stove and you loose power to your dwelling how will y'all calorie-free the fire? Great Idea though.

JJ on November 07, 2012:

OMG Give thanks yous so much for sharing this info... I bought a $24 rut gun final dark and started my coal stove right up. No muss, no fuss nothing but Like shooting fish in a barrel and cheap.

Rice Coal Furnace on Oct 22, 2012:

Heat guns are expensive. I have ane only it was about $140.00. I employ real hard wood charcoal (looks like black burnt woods chunks) not the compressed briquettes. Pile a mitt total in the center of the air burner plate hitting it virtually thirty seconds with a MAP gas torch (most $xxx.00). Turn on your blower and close the door and when it is burning skilful put a scoop of rice coal on summit of the woods and your done. It takes well-nigh 1-2 minutes all together. Fast, easy and cheap. Cheers,

Lenore on May 08, 2012:

I just can't seem to go on my coal burn down burning. I can go a nice hot wood burn and a overnice layer of red hot embers to put coal on but the coal won't stay burning. What am I doing incorrect?

saoirse on May 04, 2012:

omg,Nil beats a coal burn for the sheer heat output and the quality of this heat.

now i'm from back in the day when we had "solid fuel" cookers and open fires and unfortunately fourth dimension was eternal and then all we did was spread the coal out on top of the hot embers from either woods or turf and give thanks God nosotros had it for the time being-

sometimes we would adapt a poker to drag a deadening called-for area but scientifically i haven't a clue if information technology actually helps BUT doing that never extinquished information technology either.

...........mygawd the estrus when tossed in the fireplace,you'd literally take commencement caste reddenned skin type burns if you sat to close for too long.

Bo Seamus on March 04, 2012:

This is a great post, cheers! I've wasted maybe 6 hours on two days trying to get my coal stove going over again this year, and I'k pissed about it, but I'thou hoping these tips work. I'yard going to try my torch with MAPP gas, like Rottiegirl suggested; it didn't seem like regular propane was working well enough because my coal wouldn't stay lit. I accept a lot of mixed-size coal that I was given; do you folks think the burn will outset easier with simply "aforementioned size" coal, or is mixed sizes OK? I have small and upwards to three-4" size pieces... Should I merely put the biggest on after the fire is going well?

Coal, information technology'due south been so long since I used my coal stove I tin't remember how I used to go on information technology going. IF you can, I'd really like to read more about the ongoing fire tending methods y'all employ. I can't remember, for example, if poking some holes between the dress-down helps or hurts, and I really don't desire to kill the fire by mistake once I get it going.. Thank you in accelerate if anyone can add some skilful advice about coal fire maintenance.

MichaelOz on Jan 04, 2012:

I would like to clarify are you talking about natural coal or charcoal? I'k using natural coal and would like to endeavour this method.

casey on December 17, 2011:

Works dandy. Thank you much.

gt4c on November fourteen, 2011:

I have a k6 keystoker and take cussed, sworn, and basically lost my heed attempting to calorie-free this matter. I take tried charcoal, forest, the little white packs of fire starter, the red syrup stuff, forest burn starters, and nonetheless could non go the fire going. I read this and went to walmart and got a wagner estrus gun for well-nigh $24.00. In less than v minutes I had a fire. I want to cheers for putting this on the site. I would have never believed it would work only is sure does

Thank you again

mr380 on November 12, 2011:

this guy is right on the money...i just purchaed a keystone keystoker 90k btu unit used....put a couple of bucks in information technology (new glass,gaskets,barometric damper,stove pipage)..being new to burning coal i did countless searches and everyone talked virtually how hard it was to start a coal burn with anthrecite coal...came beyond this guys articla and he couldn't exist anymore right !!! i went out to walmart and bought a oestrus gun right from the beginning and wah la information technology lit ina matter of minutes...thank you for all your help...mike in pennsylvania

wentwa on November 12, 2011:

every yr for the concluding three years nosotros have used rice coal, i screwed up and order PEA coal this year, its alot bigger.....is there any difference in starting pea coal, we are having a difficult time getting pea coal started. we are going out today to get the estrus gun! only just curious is anyone knows if at that place is a difference, pea is much bigger then rice so I do imagine it will not light every bit like shooting fish in a barrel

Tester on November 09, 2011:

I utilize a turbo torch. Put coal in the leave off the fans. stick the torch in the coal for about 1 minute. till the center is glowing red. Shut the door. plug in the stove. and fan starts with feeder. In just a few minutes the fire is glowing reddish. Never had a trouble and been starting this way for viii years at present

Coal on November 08, 2011:

Howdy wentwa,

I tried using a little propane torch one time and information technology didn't work. In a mail above rottiegirl states you tin can use a map gas torch. I accept not tried this method simply have heard it has worked for other people. Proficient luck!

wentwa on November 06, 2011:

tin I employ a accident torch? will it be the same every bit a rut gun?

heather on Nov 05, 2011:

OMG.. my firm stunk when I came home tonight! My poor married man just installed an Alaska rice coal stove today and had the darndest time getting it to start.. he spent over an hour and 2 phone calls.. later reading the slap-up posts.. I have decided he is getting a heatgun for his birthday in a couple days! Great Info! Thankyou very much!!

dale on October thirty, 2011:

I never comment on posts but am so appreciative of your great advice,a estrus gun who would have thought,every year nosotros go through the (low-cal the stove rollercoaster ride)and I used a estrus tonight and it worked bang-up, thanks once again for making my life a little easier.

Donald on October 30, 2011:

I didn't think this was going to work only I was exstatically surprised. We had run out our coal mice and a Nor'easter hit us this past Saturday. Read your post and ran to Lowes to option up the Wagner heat gun. It worked best when I placed the tip of the gun in the coal. But holly cow when it worked, it actually was unbelievable how well it worked. All I accept to say is Thank YOU. Yous are a life savior!!!! Our business firm is WARM!!!!!

Mary on Oct 30, 2011:

Sitting here trying to go my stove going ( I've only been at it for a calendar week) great infrmation and will use, merely don't know if husband volition permit me to try your style. (Oh well he will be leaving for a week)hehee

Bruce on October 15, 2011:

Simply before I was leaving this morning to go some coal starter mice at the local fireplace store, I decided to scout the internet to come across if I could become them at a better price. While searching, I came across this posting by COAL and I am THRILLED that I spent the time to read information technology. I was looking for something that I could brand that would be effective in starting the coal fires and was fix to buy some briquettes, etc when I connected to read and discovered COAL's advice most a estrus gun! Afterward reading it and the other postings after his, I felt this would be worth a try. Oh my goodness did it work well! Took about 3 minutes to get the coal burning! No muss, no fuss. Thank you COAL. Your communication was priceless!

coal (author) on October 10, 2011:

Sorry can't help you there Erik.

Erik on September fifteen, 2011:

Does anyone know where I can find a soft coal supplier in Oregon?? My pops would like to start using it every bit a oestrus source for the shop if the price is right.

rottiegirl on February 16, 2011:

Those methods sound great merely my husband had the best thought--he uses a self igniting plumbing torch and NAP gas. A great tool to have in the house and bang-up for camping and soldering pipes. He soaks 6 or so 2x2 blocks of woods and and about a pound of coal in Thompsons waterseal overnight. Within ten mins. the fire is cooking without much fumes. He used all the other methods and this was the best.

Alan on December 16, 2010:

why does the coal fuse together

Andrea on December 07, 2010:

Afterwards reaching my frustration limit of trying to get my stove started, I volition be trying this method when I become home tonight. I promise I accept as cracking a success rate as you and the others!

coal (author) on November 28, 2010:

Hullo Mella,

Sorry not familiar with a debudder. I can tell yous it should have some sort of fan to push the hot air or I do not believe it will work. You lot tin can always try though.

Mella on November 27, 2010:

I used to enhance goats. I still have a debudder for dehorning. Just wondering if y'all remember this would work. I've become so frustrated with the coal mice that I just want to weep.

Tracy on November 15, 2010:

I likewise use to utilize bugs to outset my stove simply every bit mentioned multiple times above, yesterday when I wanted to fire upwards my stove, the simply issues I had ended upwards being a dud. I read this post and purchased a heat gun, followed the directions and was pleasantly surprised to see it worked like a charm! Thanks so much for posting this data!!!

barry k on November 10, 2010:

I have a Reading anthracite dual burner self feeding furnace that attaches to my forced air organisation. I will purchase a gun today. I have been using wood pellets and starter. Also, I purchased starter bags from the coal company at $20 per dozen. I have had a difficult fourth dimension starting the fire LY. Hopefully I can commencement both feeders within a few minutes.

coal (author) on October 20, 2010:

Your Welcome Phillip

Phillip Francisco on Oct 18, 2010:

Hey I tried your method and it got the coal stove up and running. I really didn't retrieve it was going to get hot enough to piece of work. merely hey you lot made a believer out of me. I'm passing this info to anyone I know that uses coal stoves.

Thanks :)

coal (author) on Jan xxx, 2010:

Glad I was able to help.

michelle on January 25, 2010:

Thanks! I will exist making a trip to Lowe's to purchase a heatgun today! Nosotros but went through our last iii "mice" and our stove is still non lit. Not to mention, the dealer that sells the "mice" hoards them like they are gold, & limits the ammount you tin purchse considering of such high demand! My husband will be so delighted that we won't have to buy those anymore.

coal (author) on Jan 22, 2010:

Your Welcome Barbero.

barbero on January 20, 2010:

Thanks, Thank you. tried starting my coal stove this morning using as you suggested a heat gun.

It worked like a charm. I don't think it took more than than a infinitesimal to beginning the anthracite rice coal I use. I was a little doubtful at first, but a believer now.

LadyCoalBurner on December 22, 2009:

We have had a coal stove in my house for years, and with 3 footling ones, the quicker I can get the stove going the ameliorate!

My one secret is to use pizza boxes..that's right,a pizza box.

Set at the the bottom of the stove, add wood on summit and you would be surprised how FAST and HOT the wood gets burning from the grease in the box. (no need for paper or kindling)

Using this method, I tin most times get the stove loaded and burning nicely in most 45minutes without frequent loading of wood and pocket-size bits of coal.

coal (author) on November 28, 2009:

Thanks Terry. Sorry I did not reply until now. I have been busy and realy didn't wait many people to read my hub. Not too many people fire coal where I alive. I am pleased I have been able to help you lot.

Terry on April 12, 2009:

You are 100% correct when it comes to starting a coal fire. I have used the coal mice and about 1/3 of them are duds. Plus they are expensive when you have to utilize several of them to start the fire. They are also in very short supply. The bottom line is a estrus gun tin not be crush. I recently purchased a Wagner heat gun which is rated for 750 to 1100 degrees. I followed your didactics to the letter and my Reading, Leigh model coal stove started righ up. The oestrus gun cost me $24 and I purchased it from Lowes. Thank you for all the good propose.

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Source: https://dengarden.com/appliances/How-to-start-a-coal-burning-stove

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