Ash Removal - Hitzer 503

Post Reply
 
bherrick
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 7:44 am
Location: New York

Post by bherrick » Sun. Nov. 29, 2009 11:23 pm

Finally getting my Hitzer 503 in its operating position tomorrow and will likely be the subject of student protests by Wednesday. Such is life. Assuming I'm actually able to get a coal fire started, I've got some ash questions.
The 503's ash pan is a 3-sided tray with a large carry handle. After ashes are shaken down into the pan and I slide it out, then what? (1) Carry it outside or to some neutral area to dump into a galvanized garbage pail or spread them? -or- (2) Use a scoop by the insert and load a covered pail to transfer elsewhere?
I bought a second tray with the stove so I can remove the loaded one and insert an empty one immediately. I'm concerned about ash drifting in the air in the living room, or, worse, the pan dumping in the house in transit.
Thanks.

 
CapeCoaler
Member
Posts: 6515
Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove

Post by CapeCoaler » Sun. Nov. 29, 2009 11:41 pm

The 'rents never had a problem with their ash pan...
You could make a cover to prevent a breeze spreading your coal ashes in the house...

 
9mmruger
Member
Posts: 75
Joined: Sat. Feb. 21, 2009 7:18 am
Location: St. Joe County, Southwest, Michigan

Post by 9mmruger » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 10:16 am

I don't remove the ash pan immediately after shaking, I wait until the next shaking is due, emptying it prior to shaking so that the ash is relatively cool with no glowing embers which may cause a fire if inadvertently spilled. I can usually go a full 4 shakes before I have to empty. I am sure that may change when the weather gets colder and more coal is being expended.


 
User avatar
bear creek burnout
Member
Posts: 245
Joined: Tue. Jul. 08, 2008 1:40 pm
Location: NEPA

Post by bear creek burnout » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 11:16 am

Ash removal is not a big issue....like the previous posts stated....
Shake down....let it settle for a while....and allow it to cool
turn off the blower/fan so that you're not dealing with that....
then take the ash pan outside to empty or spread as you wish....
I don't use a 2nd ash pan...I just replace it after emptying.....
It's very simple & easy....
Good luck....

 
VanBuren
Member
Posts: 99
Joined: Thu. Aug. 21, 2008 11:35 pm
Location: Westchester County, NY

Post by VanBuren » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 1:49 pm

bherrick

same here - shake it down, let it cool slightly and walk carefully. Outside if it is windy it can blow a bit but that is rare. I let mine cool in garage over night before transferring to a garbage bag. Definitely 2 pans is the way to go. I have never dumped one on the floor so far. I used to spray it with water but that lasted about a week. The very edge of the pan may have ashes that could spill so using a stove glove simply swipe that back a few inches before moving it outside. Scooping will create unnecessary dust. Take home message is most 503 owners don't have an issue with dust and you likely won't either.

You'll have more of a mess from crumbs when loading that you will from the ashpan and for that I use a 5 dollar funnel from HomeDepot - see picture - best investment I made after the stove.
good luck with your first burn and if the student protests get intense, ask them how many tons of coal they think it took to generate the elec they use to charge their ipods/phones and keep the servers on which they tweet and frequent facebook on !

Van

 
titleist1
Member
Posts: 5226
Joined: Wed. Nov. 14, 2007 4:06 pm

Post by titleist1 » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 3:21 pm

Two pans is a good strategy. Turning off the fan is also a great idea. Being in the unfinished basement, I leave the "hot" one sitting next to the stove to cool before taking it outside the next day.

Avoid stepping on the stinkin' cats while carrying the ash pan outside and it will significantly lessen the dust in the house! Just sharing a lesson I have learned! :shock:


 
User avatar
Body Hammer
Member
Posts: 255
Joined: Fri. Sep. 04, 2009 10:33 am
Location: Knox County Maine
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Petit Godin oval

Post by Body Hammer » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 4:27 pm

Ditto. As soon as I started burning coal this fall, I saw the advantage of having an extra pan and ordered one. I shake down, but swap the pans out later. The full one then has plenty of time to cool. I'm only filling a pan about every two days with the temps being what they are.
Charlie

 
User avatar
topper
Member
Posts: 88
Joined: Sun. Jun. 29, 2008 7:07 am
Location: Northern Maine

Post by topper » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 5:45 pm

i haven't had any significant issue with ash flying about as long as I am slow and steady with the "carry". I have two pans also. I have the empty one at the stove and it goes in when the full one comes out. I put my "hot' ash pan on my garage floor (concrete) for the night (let it entirly cool down - go out) and empty it over the bank into my ash pile the next day. ash will blow in the wind though - but, for me, not enough outside to make a hill of beans... its ready to swap out. i, like the others, supect you won't have much of a problem after a day or two of trial and error - it will all be in the system you end up being most comfortable, and safe, with.

enjoy your stove.

 
bherrick
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 7:44 am
Location: New York

Post by bherrick » Mon. Nov. 30, 2009 10:09 pm

You guys are great. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

One of my clients has a sheet metal shop so I dropped off one of the ash pans today and they're going to bend a cover for me. My wife was more relieved to hear that than the news that ordinary care would minimize ash mishap risk.

Stove is in but I have to attach the surround. Had to place it on the stove loose to keep the cats out. That's all I need - 2 stuck Maine Coons.

I want to fire it up tomorrow night but I'll be on the road for a couple of days so I'll put it off until I return. I'll post a picture of the finished product in action this weekend.

Post Reply

Return to “Hand Fired Coal Stoves & Furnaces Using Anthracite”