Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-10-25
USE OF SOFT COAL.
Some Hints for HOusehOlders in the
Fuel Emergency.

/ Some Hints for HOuSehOidefS in the
Fuel Emergency.
! The use of soft coal as substitute
| for hard coal in stove and furnace is
being forced upon many people this
winter in the shortage of hard coal.
| The use of soft coal is entirely FEAST
| BILE, and as matter of economy, in
many sections it has been used for
household purposes for some time.
In fact, some users have become
thoroughly converted to soft coal,
and declare they use it in preference
to hard coal. The secret seems to be
in the method of handling the soft
coal fire. The following hints are
timely.
SOFT COAL IN COOK STOVE.
Soft coal burns better in a cook stove
if the smoke passages are not clogged
with SCOT and dust. The space around
the oven, the smoke pipe and the CHM
ney flue, should be well cleaned out. at
frequent intervals.
To start new fire with soft coal, be
sure the ash pit is clean; open
hampers and use plenty of wood, plac-
ing it carefully so that there are no
large spaces for coal to sift through.
When wood is burning WELL add
small quantity of slightly dampened
soft coal Do not smother the flame.
When coal is burning well. gently
break up crust and add another small
quantity of soft coal. again being care
full not to smother all the flame. Con-
tinue this until you have good body
of Goals. When coal is burning well,
OF "a in front of
stove.
To regulate the fire, adjust the
damper in the ash pit door and air
damper in upper front of stove.
The air damper in upper front of
stove should be kept open much more
when burning soft coal than when
burning hard coal. The damper in the
smoke pipe should always be open far
enough to allow free passage of the
gases.
To rebuild a fire with soft coal shake
down the previous fire leaving the
partly burned coal on the CRATE. Spread
and level what is left on the CRATE as
this makes a good base for the new
fire Build new fire as in the first of
these directions. To keep fire at night,
build up a good body of coal and then
cover completely with from two to two
and one-half inches of soft coal close
damper in ash pit. have air damper in
upper front of stove slightly open. and
air shock in back of stove slightly
open.
A little water sprinkled on soft coal
in the hod keeps down the dust. and
makes it coke better on the fire. AL
ways break up the caked coal and
loosen up the Goals with poker be-
fore adding soft coal. Except when
banking the fire for the night always
have some exposed Goals to ignite the
gases.
SOFT COAL IN FURNACE.
1. Start the fire with wood in the
usual way. When burning well, put on
a small quantity of soft COAL but do
not cover entire fire.
2. After the soft coal is burning
well 90 or Is minutes), carefully
break up with poker and add another
small quantity of coal. Repeat this I'M
til a good body of fire is obtained.
g. The fire can be checked by first
closing the damper in the ash-pit and
then slightly open air check damper in
back of heater. Do not close the but
terfy damper in smoke pipe too far
thereby retarding free passage of
the gases Keep damper in fire door
sufficiently open to furnish enough
oxygen to burn the gases.
a. In banking the fire for the night,
be sure of a good body of fire and then
cover completely to a depth of three
or four inches The damper in the ash
pit should be closed, damper in fire
door and air check in back of heater
slightly open, and butterfly damper in
smoke pipe open enough to give free
passage to gases. To bring up fire.
poke and break up crust, open damp
ers and proceed as in the first of these
directions.
5. Unless banking for night, do not
cover entire surface of fire with coal,
leave some flame to ignite the gases.
When shaking, shake only until a dull
red glow appears; not until red Goals
drop.
PRECAUTIONS.
Do not have fire too near the top of
the stove as it may warp the covers
and frame.
Do not set pans down into stove as
the gases will stain them.
Do not shake all ashes from the
CRATE as the heat is apt to warp them.
Keep the ash-pit clean of ashes as
the reflected heat will warp the CRATE
bars.