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Post by Clinton Cool on Dec 18, 2019 21:53:29 GMT
Some boaters I talk to think this fuel is a creation of the devil. I use use it in conjunction with 'red'. The red is better at keeping the fire in overnight but I much prefer to use petcoke when I can control the fire. Apparently it can burn through grates if left to its own devices. It burns hot, depending on how much air you allow it, and very clean. The bag is marked 'authorised for use in smoke control areas'. There's no smoke at all from it. Some say it stinks but no way is it as smelly as the red. It creates little ash. I'd describe it as a more user friendly version of anthracite, which is a bastard to light, and can hardly be controlled at all. It's cheaper than all the ovoid coals.
So overall, what's not to like?
Have any of the haters on here actually tried it? If not I suggest you do, you will be pleasantly surprised.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Dec 18, 2019 22:18:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 22:25:35 GMT
Clinton Cool which fuel are your referring to? There are several fuels which have petcoke as part of their ingredients. I think you might be referring to EXCEL but happy to be corrected.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Dec 18, 2019 22:56:29 GMT
It's simply described as petcoke. Smallish irregular shaped nuggets, quite clean to handle.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 23:11:37 GMT
It's simply described as petcoke. Smallish irregular shaped nuggets, quite clean to handle. I know the stuff, used it a lot a few years ago. A pretty good fuel, and at 6-7 quid for 20kg not expensive either. It's ok in steel formed stoves like for instance an aarrow, but way too hot for cast iron crap. A morso wouldn't last long. I had the aarrow sides here glowing red a few years back, but I've now put a decent fire brick in. I didn't have any issues with burning the grate out, but then the aarrow stuff is quality. Edit to add, it's quite difficult to get hold of down here.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Dec 18, 2019 23:29:53 GMT
A bit of research suggests that it's worse for the environment than coal. There again it doesn't give off loads of smoke like coal does so is perhaps a bit more 'socially acceptable'? My stove is a Boatman, not cast. Even so I don't use it on its own and let it roar away, there's always a mix in there, a bed of ash, as petcoke produces virtually none.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 23:35:48 GMT
A bit of research suggests that it's worse for the environment than coal. There again it doesn't give off loads of smoke like coal does so is perhaps a bit more 'socially acceptable'? My stove is a Boatman, not cast. Even so I don't use it on its own and let it roar away, there's always a mix in there, a bed of ash, as petcoke produces virtually none. There's a lot of sulphur in it, hence the smell.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Dec 19, 2019 0:04:19 GMT
A bit of research suggests that it's worse for the environment than coal. There again it doesn't give off loads of smoke like coal does so is perhaps a bit more 'socially acceptable'? My stove is a Boatman, not cast. Even so I don't use it on its own and let it roar away, there's always a mix in there, a bed of ash, as petcoke produces virtually none. There's a lot of sulphur in it, hence the smell. I get that but to me it produces less smell than many ovoids, and certainly house coal.
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Post by lollygagger on Dec 19, 2019 8:13:15 GMT
I've just tried a bag after recently dissing the stuff based on the stink from some peoples chimneys.
It's pretty good I have to say, very hot, but doesn't like to be in a big heap where it kind of melts and sticks together in a clump.
I'm also trying some others fuels but they're all pretty much the same. One's a bag of "glow", that seems pretty good.
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Post by peterboat on Dec 19, 2019 8:51:59 GMT
It can destroy fire grates in a season, but I know plenty that use it, anthracite works well in the rayburn but it has been designed to burn it, the air has to come from underneath like it does on the rayburn. Grates are very cheap for the boatman, and it is one tough little stove, so I wouldnt be worried about using it in our boatman at home, except ovoids are only £7 for 25 kilos so we will stick with those
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Post by airedaleman on Dec 19, 2019 20:22:13 GMT
My fiends used to carry this stuff from a refinery near Gent Belgium to a cement works on the Rhône in France at about 260 tones per trip to be used in the kilns so there must be a way of controlling the burn. We only used homefire on our boat stove but when in Ireland reverted to peat which smelt nice but clogged the chimney up real bad.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2019 20:28:35 GMT
The bag is marked 'authorised for use in smoke control areas'. It's simply described as petcoke. Smallish irregular shaped nuggets, quite clean to handle. That's interesting Is it on this list? I can't find it. smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk/fuels.php?country=england
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Post by Mr Stabby on Dec 19, 2019 20:40:13 GMT
It can destroy fire grates in a season, but I know plenty that use it, anthracite works well in the rayburn but it has been designed to burn it, the air has to come from underneath like it does on the rayburn. I've recently started using anthracite and I'm a big fan of it, although my summary would be as follows. It's best used mixed with another fuel (I use Excel) once the stove is already well alight, doing this cuts overall fuel use (and cost) by around 25%. It requires a good draught to keep it going so it's not suitable for keeping an unattended fire alight for 10-12 hours, it simply goes out. I use it predominantly at weekends when I can periodically open the bottom vent to increase the air flow when necessary. Paradoxically it can also be used to keep the stove temperature down by cutting down the air supply so that it does not ignite.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2019 20:46:07 GMT
It can destroy fire grates in a season, but I know plenty that use it, anthracite works well in the rayburn but it has been designed to burn it, the air has to come from underneath like it does on the rayburn. I've recently started using anthracite and I'm a big fan of it, although my summary would be as follows. It's best used mixed with another fuel (I use Excel) once the stove is already well alight, doing this cuts overall fuel use (and cost) by around 25%. It requires a good draught to keep it going so it's not suitable for keeping an unattended fire alight for 10-12 hours, it simply goes out. I use it predominantly at weekends when I can periodically open the bottom vent to increase the air flow when necessary. Paradoxically it can also be used to keep the stove temperature down by cutting down the air supply so that it does not ignite. I use anthracite similarly. Excel in, with a layer of large anthracite on top. Lasts a good 8 hrs and gives a steady heat with top and bottom vents open.
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Post by peterboat on Dec 19, 2019 20:51:59 GMT
It can destroy fire grates in a season, but I know plenty that use it, anthracite works well in the rayburn but it has been designed to burn it, the air has to come from underneath like it does on the rayburn. I've recently started using anthracite and I'm a big fan of it, although my summary would be as follows. It's best used mixed with another fuel (I use Excel) once the stove is already well alight, doing this cuts overall fuel use (and cost) by around 25%. It requires a good draught to keep it going so it's not suitable for keeping an unattended fire alight for 10-12 hours, it simply goes out. I use it predominantly at weekends when I can periodically open the bottom vent to increase the air flow when necessary. Paradoxically it can also be used to keep the stove temperature down by cutting down the air supply so that it does not ignite. Its great stuff in the rayburn, I can close it right down so it will go for 36 hours or so, but I do have a flu slide which closes it down as well, so as I said it designed for the job. As for petcoke I bet it would mix well with anthracite when you think about it best of both worlds really
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