Dutchwest Coal Stove

wsherrick, I feel like an oil freighter sailing around the horn of Africa. Just joking man. I am already trying to find a base burner that needs to be fixed up. Still looking for someone who has actually used one of the Dutch West stoves with the coal kit in it though. Thanks again, Glenn

grobinson2 wrote:Is there anyone out there that will allow me to please pick there brain in regards to Consolidated Federal Air Tight Dutch West Coal/Wood Stoves? I can not find any "real" into on them at all regarding coal burning.

Thanks in advance,
Glenn

Hi I have federal air tight and I burn coal mine is the224 mod the key to burn in these stoves is when you add coal open the bottom ash door and let the fire get going well after you add the coal let the ash door open till you see blue flam and the coal starting to get red then close the door also when adding coal open the internal damper and let open till coal starts burning as what I stated above. As for the draft I open mine about 3 turns it keeps the temp around 800 the more you open the draft the hotter the stove gets and the more you close the draft cooler it will burn don't close it to much it will go out. Do I like the stove not really I have had better I just got back into burning coal again. I will say after you get the drafting down It will burn a good 8 to 9 hrs before you need to touch it again just remember the more you open the draft the less burn time you have.
Terry

grobinson2 wrote:wsherrick, I feel like an oil freighter sailing around the horn of Africa. Just joking man. I am already trying to find a base burner that needs to be fixed up. Still looking for someone who has actually used one of the Dutch West stoves with the coal kit in it though. Thanks again, Glenn

Glenn I have a Dutch West If you can find another brand get it. If it is given to you or you get it for less than 200.00 take it it will work fairly well till you find something else

I've been using A Consolidated Dutchwest FA264CCL for woodburning since the early '80s and am burning coal in it for the first time this year. Yeah, my learning curve was fairly steep (This site is a Godsend), but I do believe I'm getting the hang of it, and I love it. My biggest issue is finding coal (using bagged, haven't built an outside bin, yet). I started with a metric ton of Blashak nut, picked up some Cornwall nut and stove over in Cobleskill (Agway) and found I like the Cornwall better, also found I like to mix the two together when it gets really cold. Like I said, this coal burning is new to me but I'm sold. I'll use my wood early and late in the season if at all, I might just save it for emergency back up. I'm just glad I held onto the coal burnng inserts for my stove for all those years.

Gunsmith wrote:I've been using A Consolidated Dutchwest FA264CCL for woodburning since the early '80s and am burning coal in it for the first time this year. Yeah, my learning curve was fairly steep (This site is a Godsend), but I do believe I'm getting the hang of it, and I love it. My biggest issue is finding coal (using bagged, haven't built an outside bin, yet). I started with a metric ton of Blashak nut, picked up some Cornwall nut and stove over in Cobleskill (Agway) and found I like the Cornwall better, also found I like to mix the two together when it gets really cold. Like I said, this coal burning is new to me but I'm sold. I'll use my wood early and late in the season if at all, I might just save it for emergency back up. I'm just glad I held onto the coal burnng inserts for my stove for all those years.

Gunsmith -

I am burning coal in my 264 for the first time this year, as well, after burning wood for many years The shaker grates actually work better than I expected for coal, I really don't lose any good coal into the ash pan. My longest burn so far is 27 hours.

Here is a shot I took today after 13 hours since last tending the stove:


My biggest gripes are : the undersized ash pan (have to shovel it out and makes lots of dust), the difficulty in getting a full load of coal in it (more shoveling and dust), and the front coal grate not holding up. I added some refractory cement to the grate, which helps, but at this rate I think I would need to replacethe grate every season.

My front grate routinely gets red hot at anything but the lowest burns (i.e. primary air 1/2 turn open). Do you have this problem at all?

Yes indeed, the front grate does tend to glow when I'm really cooking.

HOW DO YOU GET THE GRATE COVERS OFF SO YOU CAN BURN COAL IN A DUTCH WEST STOVE?