I know there are different kinds of coal to use, but I am not sure which kind is better. Can somebody explain the differences and anybody know where I can get some shipped to my house? I was thinking I needed somewhat less than 25 pounds for 5 nights.

Thanks!

Anthracite

Does coal potentially burn too hot for a thin tent stove?

Anthracite coal, I was say nut size in a camp stove. Pm sent

yes. Without grates, you may wake up with the fire on the floor.....

That's what I thought. Wood is free too.

grates aren't exactly gonna put a guy in the poorhouse, either....

Those old Army surplus M1941 stoves have a nice thick grate on them. I've always wanted to try one of them, they're fairly cheap on eBay.

Those old milatary cannon heaters were nice for intended, but left a some to be desired. They needed a lot of tending with wood.

There are a couple places around Denver that piles coal towards fall.
My Farrier supply store still stocks it, most of the time.
Anyone need a stash of coal around Denver verified let me know

Most well built stoves will take coal in a thick bed of ashes. The trick to ashes is that it keeps air from the coal and insulates the stove. Coal is not intended for wide-open-throttle, it works best over a good bed of ashes and wood coals with the stove shut mostly down.

Coal burning in a lot of ashes can be very controlled for a long burn. But takes a little stirring on occasion. The bigger the solid chunk of coal, easier it is to manage.

I would be reluctant to burn coal up-wind of where I am going to hunt.
Most elk get downwind of wood smoke regularly, coal, not so much.

Coal produces a very thick pungent smoke till it cokes up (coals up).

A grate is required when burning coal, not to keep the bottom of the stove from melting, but rather to expose the coal to enough air that it burns.
I tried to burn coal last year, and had mixed results with my particular stove. I wont bother with it this year.

We haven't had much luck with coal. There is so much beetle kill in our area that we spend a few hours cutting and splitting and we are good for the week. A properly loaded and properly vented stove will give good heat for 5 to 6 hours with wood.

Burned coal here for years, I'm just outside pa hard coal country. Coal burns from underneath, you can blow air on top of burning coal and shut the bottom draft and it will die out. A grate of some sort, or a few 1/2 or 3/4 pipes with many drilled holes like a manifold in the bottom of your stove connected to a ball valve on the outside or some sort of damper will work. Gotta get air underneath. Now putting a little coal on top of wood, with I burnt wood and coals to act as a grate and allowing air flow will work.

My wood burning box stove worked well in my wall tent but is VERY heavy.

I found a nice little pot-belly coal burner at an estate sale and gave it a try last year. This little stove couldn't burn wood because the chamber is too small. It made me a little nervous because the stove would actually glow red from the heat of the coal but I'm pleased with it. It's a little powerhouse.