Torn Between the Alaska Kodiak & Hitzer 50-93
As the title says....I am torn between the Alaska Kodiak and the Hitzer 50-93. I will need to heat @2100 sq/ft (will someday be expanded to @ 2900 sq/ft)as the only source of heat. Both appear to be incredible stoves; the Kodiak with the round grate design, wide range of temp, and the Hitzers with low fuel consumption, and high heat output. Both stoves have gravity fed hoppers that are removable for wood.
I would like to get feedback from owners of these two stoves and their experiences. Can you please let me know what size house you are heating, if you use other heating appliances besides one of these stoves, what temp the stove is usually kept, length of burn, average coal consumption per day, use of a domestic water coil, and any experience burning wood in either of these two stoves.
If I'm still torn between the stoves at the end of this thread maybe I should buy both!
Thanks for your help.
I would like to get feedback from owners of these two stoves and their experiences. Can you please let me know what size house you are heating, if you use other heating appliances besides one of these stoves, what temp the stove is usually kept, length of burn, average coal consumption per day, use of a domestic water coil, and any experience burning wood in either of these two stoves.
If I'm still torn between the stoves at the end of this thread maybe I should buy both!
Thanks for your help.
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Since you'll be expanding the house in the future, most likely you'll have room for 2 stoves, I would buy a stoker of some sort, simply to maximize automation, and minimize the inconvenience.
My second stove would be one of these two.
A: Fireplace wood insert, so I can burn all the excess wood I can get my hands on
B: A optimized stove like vermont Casting for wood burning.
My second stove would be one of these two.
A: Fireplace wood insert, so I can burn all the excess wood I can get my hands on
B: A optimized stove like vermont Casting for wood burning.
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I was also. Decided on the Kodiak. Like the round grate and shaker set-up. I don't burn wood - just coal. One of my criteria was a hopper. My old stove had one and I wouldn't be without one. One of the decision breakers was that the Hitzer only holds 50 lbs, the Kodiak holds twice as much. My old stove held around 60 and at times that wasn't enough. I went to the Hitzer dealer's showroom, checked it out, liked it, left my name & number with the owner's wife so he could contact me to answer some questions she couldn't. The guy never called me back. I made my decision.
At what temp do you normally burn the Kodiak, and how much coal do you burn every 24 hrs on average?Perky wrote:I was also. Decided on the Kodiak. Like the round grate and shaker set-up. I don't burn wood - just coal. One of my criteria was a hopper. My old stove had one and I wouldn't be without one. One of the decision breakers was that the Hitzer only holds 50 lbs, the Kodiak holds twice as much. My old stove held around 60 and at times that wasn't enough. I went to the Hitzer dealer's showroom, checked it out, liked it, left my name & number with the owner's wife so he could contact me to answer some questions she couldn't. The guy never called me back. I made my decision.
- fastcat
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- Location: CNY (McGraw)
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Blaschak Nut/Stove Mix
I'm a newbe with only one day in so I'm not giving you any advice but read the subject line Hitzer 50-93. I received some great advice and you can follow what the stove has been doing. I was in the same boat but my choice was based on price, I had a $630 spead.
Makes sense to me, I am stopping by both showrooms to check them both out. I like to hear others experiences, they are usually pretty good indicators. I have seen the thread you referenced, lots of good info. Hopefully other Kodiak owners will chime in.
I am happy with my Kodiak, but the hopper is NOT easily removed for wood burning. You can remove it, but it comes out through the front, not the top. So to put it back in, you have to hold it up in place while you reach in and try to screw the nuts on. If you really want to burn wood, I'd suggest getting one without the hopper. I lost my desire to burn wood after my first couple of days with coal. Anyway, the reason I chose the Kodiak over the Hitzer is that the dealer told me that the Kodiak idles a bit lower, so I'd be less likely to get roasted out of the living room on warm days. If I wanted it for the basement, I would have gotten the Hitzer I think.
- Poconoeagle
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it seems the hopper fed Kodiak works quite well with a top surface temp of 750 and a stack temp of 180 although it works well also at 600 top while 100 stack! and down to idle....
the self powered fan only starts to move fake air around 450 top temp tho
the self powered fan only starts to move fake air around 450 top temp tho
- oliver power
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Hi braindead, I can tell you the HITZER idles very very low. I can't tell you anything about the KODIAK. Never heard anything bad about the KODIAK. That's a good thing. I have had stoves in the past with round grates, but never burnt coal in one. In those days, I was a wood burner. I do however, like the HITZER grates.braindead wrote:I am happy with my Kodiak, but the hopper is NOT easily removed for wood burning. You can remove it, but it comes out through the front, not the top. So to put it back in, you have to hold it up in place while you reach in and try to screw the nuts on. If you really want to burn wood, I'd suggest getting one without the hopper. I lost my desire to burn wood after my first couple of days with coal. Anyway, the reason I chose the Kodiak over the Hitzer is that the dealer told me that the Kodiak idles a bit lower, so I'd be less likely to get roasted out of the living room on warm days. If I wanted it for the basement, I would have gotten the Hitzer I think.
I would lean toward the Alaska.
Larger Coal capacity, larger ash pan, round shaker grate, and (I think) a better "Picture Window"
I think, too, that you will find similar burn times per pound of coal, and the Alaska holds more coal.
Just my best guesses...
Bob
Larger Coal capacity, larger ash pan, round shaker grate, and (I think) a better "Picture Window"
I think, too, that you will find similar burn times per pound of coal, and the Alaska holds more coal.
Just my best guesses...
Bob
- Poconoeagle
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the "sterling" engine type of self powered fan needs to be sitting on a surface of approx 450 for the perpetual motion to keep it spinning. I don't believe it really moves much cfm of air thus the "fake" statement. the placibo effect is very warming tho......
Perky,
you sure you didnt get the panda bear model stove with those low temps?? cause the kodiak can really Roar if ya want it to..... ?
Perky,
you sure you didnt get the panda bear model stove with those low temps?? cause the kodiak can really Roar if ya want it to..... ?
Last edited by Poconoeagle on Wed. Dec. 30, 2009 10:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sounds like they are both great stoves, I am going to the see both of them tomorrow. Lots of info on the Hitzers, not as much on the Kodiaks. Can anyone post their average coal consumption with their Kodiaks?
Thanks again for the feedback.....keep it coming!
Thanks again for the feedback.....keep it coming!
- 63roundbadge
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Hi, check this thread from a month ago. I added the last comment comparing my old EFEL to my new Kodiak. The Kodiak is SO SIMPLE to use, much cleaner.
I'm very happy with the Kodiak after 20+ years with the EFEL. Higher stack temps but heat seems to radiate more evenly. Also the Kodiak burns the coal to ash better than my Efel did.
Alaska Kodiak Opinions Wanted
I live in Allentown PA, I use about 1.5 hods per 24 hours. 2 tons pea per year. My house is a 2500 sq ft ranch, 62' X 48' single floor and the stove is almost dead center in the house in a 17'X 24' room. Heat gets to almost all corners of the house. I'm certain that the this stove could heat the entire house without help, but in order to not over heat the area it's in I don't overdrive it. My oil baseboard comes on in one of the zones to touch up the morning wake up for a couple hours. Easily manageable. I use about 250 gallons of oil per year also. Electric hot water, MUCH cheaper than the oil domestic setup I used!
Hope this helps!
John
I'm very happy with the Kodiak after 20+ years with the EFEL. Higher stack temps but heat seems to radiate more evenly. Also the Kodiak burns the coal to ash better than my Efel did.
Alaska Kodiak Opinions Wanted
I live in Allentown PA, I use about 1.5 hods per 24 hours. 2 tons pea per year. My house is a 2500 sq ft ranch, 62' X 48' single floor and the stove is almost dead center in the house in a 17'X 24' room. Heat gets to almost all corners of the house. I'm certain that the this stove could heat the entire house without help, but in order to not over heat the area it's in I don't overdrive it. My oil baseboard comes on in one of the zones to touch up the morning wake up for a couple hours. Easily manageable. I use about 250 gallons of oil per year also. Electric hot water, MUCH cheaper than the oil domestic setup I used!
Hope this helps!
John