What is smokeless coal?
Smokeless coal refers to natural or manufactured coal products that do not give off tarry or other hydrocarbon vapours when heated below their point of ignition. Anthracite is a naturally-occurring smokeless fuel which has a long burn time and a high heat output. It can, however, be difficult to light and burns with a subdued flame, so many fire-owners choose other options. Manufactured smokeless coals contain anthracite and a mix of other fuels. Our smokeless coal has been developed to combine the long fire life of anthracite with the bright flame and easy-lighting qualities of house coal, and can be used on an open fire cast iron insert, and in multi-fuel stoves.
How do you use natural wood shaving firelighters?
These are really simple to use.
First lay a bed of kindling, place a single natural firelighter on top.
Lay 3-4 pieces of kindling over the top in a "tippi" shape and place two small logs over the top of the kindling.
Light the natural firelighter and away you go!
If you are lighting a stove or fireplace on a cold day, it may help if you use 2 or 3 natural firelighters to help warm the flue quickly, as a warm flue will draw properly once warm.
If lighting charcoal or a fire pit when cooking outside, or a wood fired oven using a compressed beech log, then use 3 firelighters, as this will get your fire up to temperature quickly. This is the same for burning smokeless fuel, get the fire as hot as possible at the start so that the flue warms up!