[sopwith]

its a vogelzang wood / coal stove with a blower and a draft blower. a rather large stove , it does wood well and that may be my problem as i’m use to wood. I can get the coal fired but it seems downhill from there . to much coal or to little? My main problem I think is i’m use to wood.

[Does so]

I am used to burning wood also; however, I came across an antique "parlor stove" that accepted coal. It was recommended that I use Bituminous (soft) coal. It still took a hot wood fire to start the soft coal, but boy, did it put off heat—I had to open windows!

​​≡≡8-O

[Revel]

I can tell you that you need a good draft to keep coal burning well. It sounds like you have a blower that improves that.

There is actually an easy way to start coal that usually works. Put 3-4 inches of coal in your stove and then start a wood fire on top of it. Actually chuck in some medium size pieces of firewood. Keep that burning for a couple of hours or so and the coal will light up underneath. Meanwhile the wood will provide the heat you need.

The wood also does not need as much draft to burn as the coal does, but as it burns it increases your draft to help get the coal going. Coal loves a good draft.