Keyman Requests Your Help...
- keyman512us
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- Joined: Mon. Feb. 05, 2007 2:16 am
- Location: North Worc. CTY MA
Ian,
Thanks for the advice and "moral support".
I am "filling the stove" now that I have some of the basics down...just "taking it slow" to "learn the burn" of my unit. Last night I loaded it with 20-25lbs of stove coal around 2AM..."raked and shaked" first then slowly added coal twice and got a good mound going. I just checked it around 1:30 this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised! I think in the past I was adding too much coal in one shot on a "cold start"...which is why I was having problems. You're right coal is sneaky so to speak. Patience is the key...more so with a natural draft unit I think...I can make this boiler "sing" on wood...but 'the old gal' still has some secrets to her when firing with coal. The coal combustion seems to make any creosote leftovers "flake off" which is a nice added benefit. Long range I think it will work perfect..."cold start" on wood for several hours to build up the system...then transition over to coal... Coal is going to give me the longer burn times I was praying for.
This is a "12 Hour Burn" for my unit:
Thanks for the advice and "moral support".
I am "filling the stove" now that I have some of the basics down...just "taking it slow" to "learn the burn" of my unit. Last night I loaded it with 20-25lbs of stove coal around 2AM..."raked and shaked" first then slowly added coal twice and got a good mound going. I just checked it around 1:30 this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised! I think in the past I was adding too much coal in one shot on a "cold start"...which is why I was having problems. You're right coal is sneaky so to speak. Patience is the key...more so with a natural draft unit I think...I can make this boiler "sing" on wood...but 'the old gal' still has some secrets to her when firing with coal. The coal combustion seems to make any creosote leftovers "flake off" which is a nice added benefit. Long range I think it will work perfect..."cold start" on wood for several hours to build up the system...then transition over to coal... Coal is going to give me the longer burn times I was praying for.
This is a "12 Hour Burn" for my unit:
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- coaledsweat
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- Posts: 13761
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
OK, it may sing on wood. But with coal you can expect an opera! A draft blower does make reloading a snap, when that blower kicks in it will get the fresh load started in a hurry. But it does reduce efficiency overall, that's why Burnham used the Honeywell draft operator.
Your right about the creosote, you may find a foot or more of it at the bottom of the chimney the next time you clean it.
I sent your stuff this morning, you should have it in a day or two.
BTW What is the BTU rating on your homes original boiler?
Your right about the creosote, you may find a foot or more of it at the bottom of the chimney the next time you clean it.
I sent your stuff this morning, you should have it in a day or two.
BTW What is the BTU rating on your homes original boiler?
- keyman512us
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- Posts: 58
- Joined: Mon. Feb. 05, 2007 2:16 am
- Location: North Worc. CTY MA
Ian,
My homes' oil burner is a Peerless WB-04 firing at .84GPH (so 84,000btu's/hr)...
My homes' oil burner is a Peerless WB-04 firing at .84GPH (so 84,000btu's/hr)...
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- keyman512us
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Thanks for the numbers...I stand corrected! An 'old timer' once told me 1 gallon equated to 100kbtu after everything was taken into account (efficiency, this that the other,etc so that's why I qouted those #'s)One gal.of #2 fuel oil is about 133k btus. So if you have a nozzle that is .84 gph your rate at about 112kbtus. input
Ian...Thank you very much!...I got the copies you sent...glad you did so now I have some "paperwork" on the boiler. Let me know if/how I can return the favor...The info answered the question on the baffle plates...required with wood...optional with coal...but on the advice from everyone who was kind enough to post I think they will stay in all the time.
All in all it might be an "opera" on coal...but I'm confident with a little more firing experience....coal will fit right into the picture (especially in the milder weather). One thing I have been trying (with some success) is switching between coal and wood. I 'cold start' when needed on wood, then transition into coal. The other night I kindled the fire and loaded it twice with wood while introducing coal...even though the fire was going 'decently' I threw a few pieces of pallet wood on top of the fire (with minimal overfire air...) figuring it would create a stronger draft through the coal bed...it worked pretty nice (minimal smoke...while increasing heat transfer). Since pallet wood burns to a bed of coals quickly it blanketed the coal just right...I might experiment with this a little more in the future.
The fact it is hand-fired and natural draft may "leave something to be desired" but firing that boiler is almost like a hobby...and the great part is this hobby...saves money.
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I recently purchased a Burnham SFB 101. Can anyone send me a manual for this thing? I am new to coal burning and stumbled upon this page looking for answers
- coaledsweat
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- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
I sent you a PM for the details about the manual. I almost bought one from my plumbing salesman years ago. I think it was a few months ago we chatted about it and he said Burnham was talking about doing it or an updated version. I'll rattle his cage for an update.
- coaledsweat
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- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
I sent it out this morning, with any luck you may have it Monday. If you need some info right away for install this weekend or something else, let me know and I may be able to scan it.
I dug up the catalog I almost ordered it from. Back in '94 these things were priced at $3040 (I get a big discount mind you) + freight. They are very efficient and will burn seasoned hardwood, bituminous and anthracite coal (close the loading door draft for anthracite). They have twisted turbulators too, rare with solid fuel. They made a unit with an oil burner which was an additional $1080 which dumps the relief valve exhaust into the firebox in the event of overpressure. I have never seen that before. The SBF 101 is 15-95 MBH and holds 43 gallons of water. When you fire it up, fill the firebox completly no matter what heat you are looking for, running a thin fire in these units with V shaped fireboxes is asking for trouble. Keep it filled up and control the heat with the draft control and she will be happy.
I don't know what you paid, but if it's under $1500 you got a great deal.
I dug up the catalog I almost ordered it from. Back in '94 these things were priced at $3040 (I get a big discount mind you) + freight. They are very efficient and will burn seasoned hardwood, bituminous and anthracite coal (close the loading door draft for anthracite). They have twisted turbulators too, rare with solid fuel. They made a unit with an oil burner which was an additional $1080 which dumps the relief valve exhaust into the firebox in the event of overpressure. I have never seen that before. The SBF 101 is 15-95 MBH and holds 43 gallons of water. When you fire it up, fill the firebox completly no matter what heat you are looking for, running a thin fire in these units with V shaped fireboxes is asking for trouble. Keep it filled up and control the heat with the draft control and she will be happy.
I don't know what you paid, but if it's under $1500 you got a great deal.
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Got the unit for $1900. Is in great shape. I don't think it was used very much. The restrictor plates don't show any wastage. I have radiant hat. Am looking around for a lage water tank I can use as a heat sink so I can fire efficiently. House has stress skin panels on it so I am well insulated so heat loss is not too bad. I put tubes in the floor of my garage so am looking forward to a warm winter out there.
- coaledsweat
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- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
You don't need a heat storage system with that. It has a natural draft and is very efficient as is. It also is less prone to clinking due to the ND. I was very impressed with the Burnham, I actually ordered one...... a week after they were discontinued.
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Coaledsweat, I want to thank you for sending the boiler info. Was a great help. Finished piping the unit up today and fired it off. Thanks to all the tips on this thread, it went real smooth. It has a nice mello burn. Stack temp seems right on the money.