Opinions on Alaska Kodiak III Hand Fired

smokeyCityTeacher · Post by **smokeyCityTeacher** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 7:32 pm

Im thinking about buying coal berner's recon. of a '98 Kodiak III hand fired, and Im wondering what your experince has been with this model stove if you have one.
Don;t want a stoker yet cuase I don't want it to be dependent on electricty.
need long low temp burn times to keep the pipes in basement from freezing. Dont need big BTUs - just need to be able to leave it unnatended for 24 hrs, and get 3 or 4 days out of a fillup.

Right now im using a wood stove cause I moved the Hitzer up to my bedroom. Hate having to refuel that woody 2x daily. Id like something that really will go 3 or 4 days.
Anybody have hands on experience with the Kodiak III ?

Does it hold a fire well? Is it hard to dump the grate ? Any bad tendancies that this model is known to have ?

Any caveats or issues I should know about ?

Coalfire · Post by **Coalfire** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 8:45 pm

What do you mean go three or four days? with no attention

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 10:16 pm

Even my DSM wants to be shook every 48 when burning spring and fall...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...

smokeyCityTeacher · Post by **smokeyCityTeacher** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 10:50 pm

CapeCoaler wrote:Even my DSM wants to be shook every 48 when burning spring and fall...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...

shake every 24 and refill every 72 would be the goal

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 11:08 pm

Do not count on that...
Shake and fill every 24 hours...
Even in the spring and fall with the DSM running at 180*...
I shake every 24 and load every 48 or less...
That is with night time temps upper 30's and days in the 40's...
And my DSM holds 180# of coal...
You will be running the stove hotter than that...
At least 250*...
Every 24 hours is realistic...

smokeyCityTeacher · Post by **smokeyCityTeacher** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 11:26 pm

CapeCoaler wrote:Do not count on that...
Shake and fill every 24 hours...
Even in the spring and fall with the DSM running at 180*...
I shake every 24 and load every 48 or less...
That is with night time temps upper 30's and days in the 40's...
And my DSM holds 180# of coal...
You will be running the stove hotter than that...
At least 250*...
Every 24 hours is realistic...

hmmm...really don't wanna go stoker yet

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 11:29 pm

Still have to empty the ashes on a stoker...
Either way once a day ain't too bad...

Coalfire · Post by **Coalfire** » Thu. Dec. 16, 2010 4:46 am

smokeyCityTeacher wrote:
CapeCoaler wrote:Even my DSM wants to be shook every 48 when burning spring and fall...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...
shake every 24 and refill every 72 would be the goal

If you find a hand fed like that smokey let us know everyone will want one

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Thu. Dec. 16, 2010 8:15 am

Smokey,what,you're getting lazy

how does the 30-95 work in the bed room???--either you have a real big bedroom or you're not useing the stove full capacity wise??? On simmer,my 50-93 will go about 2 days--but,I know I should still shake & top off every 12-16 hrs

smokeyCityTeacher · Post by **smokeyCityTeacher** » Thu. Dec. 16, 2010 2:17 pm

freetown fred wrote:Smokey,what,you're getting lazy how does the 30-95 work in the bed room???--either you have a real big bedroom or you're not useing the stove full capacity wise??? On simmer,my 50-93 will go about 2 days--but,I know I should still shake & top off every 12-16 hrs

I use the Hitzer on idle in the bedroom except when its 13 deg. and the freezing wind is coming in the those original 1880 windows and doors.
In bad weather a 30-95 is not overkill in a 17 x 20 bedroom with high cielings and several lage leaky window in un inslulated masonry.

A little fan blowing the hot air out the top of the door pulls the cold in from the hall and other rooms - its not overkill.

I guess Im looking for the lazy mans hand fired coal stove :+)

the Kodiak is prolly about the closest ill get since it has a 120# hopper.

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Thu. Dec. 16, 2010 5:55 pm

the kodiak is a great unit. on low idle I have got 40 hours. nut blashack... it likes to make heat with .05-.06 draft
with the blower unit on it is sweet.

smokeyCityTeacher · Post by **smokeyCityTeacher** » Thu. Dec. 16, 2010 11:05 pm

Poconoeagle wrote:the kodiak is a great unit. on low idle I have got 40 hours. nut blashack... it likes to make heat with .05-.06 draft
with the blower unit on it is sweet.

looksl ike the KODIAK is my best bet for extended burns w/out a stoker

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Thu. Dec. 16, 2010 11:13 pm

DSM Basement #4...
36 hours untouched at 350*...