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Your Wondercoal is capable of burning both
bituminous and Anthracite coal. Anthracite is
the best coal fuel because its long even burn
time, high heat output, and cleanliness make
it a good choice for the home. However, keep
in mind it is a much more difficult fuel to use
and requires more care and patience.
SIZE OF COAL: Most sizes of bituminous
coal will work in your Wondercoal Heater; for
best results we recommend large nut coal to
small egg coal (1-3/4" diameter to 4" diameter).
When burning anthracite, use egg or broken
with sizes between 2-5/16" and 4-3/8". Note
that it is important to the life of your stove to buy
coal which has been sized and cleaned.
Cleaning insures removal of rocks and other
materials.
STOVE OPERATION: All coal fires should be
started with wood which will allow the fire to get
hot enough to ignited the coal. The Best
ignition fires utilize dry pine or other resinous
soft woods as kindling, with hard wood (oak,
hickory, ash) added to increase the heat prior
to adding the coal.
BITUMINOUS: Once your kindling and wood
fire has produced a bed of well established
coals start adding coal in layers allowing each
to ignite before adding more. Bituminous has
a high volatile content and, as a result, should
be fired with the "conical method" - with the
highest portion of your firebed in the center of
the firebox. The first flames will be long and
generally orange or yellow and produce quite
a bit of smoke. As the gases burn off the
flames become shorter, change color and
produce less smoke.
Once the fire is WELL ESTABLISHED add
coal to the center of the firebox forming the
cone. Burning in this fashion allows heat to
drive off the volatile gases, and turbulence
created increases the burn efficiency. You will
have to experiment with your particular setup
as no two chimney's and installations are
going to be the same. Just remember to allow
enough secondary air to enter and keep your
stove pipe damper open so that volatiles are
properly burned. Before refueling, take the
time to break up the cone a little with a poker,
especially if it has caked over or formed a
crust. But, be careful not to mix the coal as this
increases the chances of forming clinkers.
When shaking the grate be gentle. Just a few
short movements - front to rear - are better
than a lot of agitation. The objective is to
remove a small amount of the ashes without
disturbing the fire. Stop when you see a glow
in the ashes or the first red coals fall into the
ash pan. Excessive shaking wastes fuel and
can expose the grate to very high tempera-
tures which can cause warpage or burnout.
For overnight operation (long duration burn
time) shake the fire and add coal, retaining
your center cone. Once the volatiles are
burned off close the feed door and adjust your
stove pipe damper. Then adjust your thermo-
stat to the desired heat level.
You will have more MAINTENANCE with
bituminous than with anthracite coal as more
soot will collect on heating surfaces and in
pipes, requiring more frequent cleaning.
ANTHRACITE: Before starting the fire open
the stove pipe damper, turn the automatic
thermostat to high, open the ash pit door and
feed door, place newspaper and finely split
kindling on the grate, light the paper, add larger
hard wood after the kindling is burning brightly.
CAUTION: Never use gasoline, lantern
fuel, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, or
other flammable liquids to start or freshen
up a fire in this heater. Place the larger
pieces of wood on the fire so that are slightly
separated and form a level for the addition of
coal. It will take 10 to 20 minutes before this
wood is thoroughly ignited. Adding coal too
soon will cut the air supply and smother the
fire.
Add a thin layer of coal (preferably smaller
chunks) to the wood fire, being careful not to
disturb it too much or cut off the draft. Then,
add a second heavier layer after the coal is
ignited and burning well. If necessary, add a
third layer to bring the coal up to the top of the
BANKING THE FIRE: For extended
operation, such as overnight, you will need to
bank the fire. To do so heap coal up along the
sides and back of the firebox so that the fire
gradually burns it over a longer period of
time. You will also reduce the intensity of the
fire without letting it go out. Follow the same
procedure as for refueling. If possible, avoid
shaking, as a heavier layer of ash will help
reduce the intensity of the fire during this
time. After loading let the fire establish itself
for about 30 minutes. Then close your damper
and automatic control to the point where the
house does not become too cold. It is
important that you begin banking early enough
before retiring or leaving that you can make
necessary adjustments after the fire is well
established.
To revive a coal fire that is almost out, you
should (1) open the ash door and stove pipe
damper and close the spin damper (Fig. 9) on
the door to get a good enough draft through
the grate. (2) Place a thin layer of dry coals
over the entire top of the fire. DO NOT POKE
OR SHAKE THE FIRE AT THIS TIME! (3)
After the fresh coal has become well ignited
shake the grate (just a little) and you will be
ready to refuel.
DO NOT burn coke, charcoal, high volatile
bituminous coal, sub bituminous, lignite or
cannel coal (sometimes called channel or
candle coal). NEVER burn wax or chemically
impregnated sawdust logs - their intended
use is for fireplaces only.
front liner (not above!). Be sure you have
closed your ash door.
Before adding further fuel, be sure you leave
a red spot of glowing coals in the center of the
firebox to insure that you have not smothered
the fire and to help ignite the gases given off by
the new charge. A deep charge will give a
more heat and a longer fire but it may take one
to two hours before the whole bed is fully
ignited.
When the fire is well established and the room
is becoming warm, partially close the dampers.
You will have to experiment with your particular
setting of all dampers and controls as your
chimney provides the draft necessary to not
only exhaust the smoke, but to pull combustion
air into the heater as well - and no two chimney's
perform the same. Under ideal draft conditions
you should be able to turn the secondary air
supply on the feed door to a near closed
position - but leave the ash pit damper at least
partially open to prevent the fire from going
out. Adjust the stove pipe damper to reduce
the draft on the fire. With anthracite you will
see short blue flames above the coal, except
when the fire is started or a new charge is
added. If, however, there is no flame then the
fire needs more air from the bottom (unless it
is near the end of its burn cycle and needs to
be recharged).
Only when the coal is burned down to half its
original depth it is time to add fresh coal. When
doing so, open your stove pipe damper and
turn your thermostat damper to high, which
will allow the fire to burn off any accumulated
gases. Open the feed door, and with a small
rake, hoe or hooked poker pull the glowing
coals to the front of the firebox. Try not to
disturb the fire too much. Next, add a fresh
charge to the back being careful not to seal off
the top. Close the feed door but leave the spin
damper (Fig. 9) open for a few minutes until
the until the volatile gases have burned off. It
is not necessary to shake down the ashes
each time you refuel your Wondercoal.
Experience will be your best teacher.
A draft reading of -.05 to -.06 in w.c. is
required for anthracite to burn.
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Fig. 9
BURNING COAL IN YOUR WONDERCOAL CIRCULATOR
