Best Large Firebox Coal Stove for Occasional Woodburning.

It appears based on what I'm hearing that DS Machine is the call and I need to pay them a visit. I like the idea of the flexibility. It doesn't sound like Hitzer will modify anything for you. Appreciate all the good feedback. It's saving me a lot of aggravation. Nobody has opined on the Baker Heat King, interesting.

Dave

I think you are hearing correct. Now after my visit to D.S.Machine and having the experience of a few years at burning in a Clayton, I wish I would have known about D.S.Machine before I made my Clayton purchases. I would have purchased a D.S.Machine coal furnace instead. The only thing that I did not see with the D.S.Machine furnace that the Clayton has is an insulated jacket. Maybe it was because the furnace on dispay was a partially assembled floor display. I should have asked Amos about that while I was there. At the time, my purpose for going was to pick up my custom made 304 stainless steel wood fired domestic hot water boiler/heater they designed and made for me. I have yet to get it installed. When I do, I will be sure to post it. I just need more time to get to the install. Too many other projects keep me from getting it installed. So when and if the time ever comes when I decide to purchase a new steel coal furnace, it will definetly be a custom built D.S.Machine coal furnace.

DSM Hot Air Furnace. It looks like it has a jacket.

Yes it has a jacket, but I did not see any insulation behind the jacket like the Clayton.

I'm very much into form over function and I like the purpose-built aspect to DSM's product line. One of my questions was whether they use 1/4" or thicker plate in most of the units. I saw somewhere where they use 3/16" in many places which is why they tend to be a little lighter than others for a given firebox size. I want thickness and weight. The thicker the less likely to warp due to an overfiring. I wonder if they can upsize the plate gauge at customer request. Otherwise, they look perfect in many respects.

I'm sure that they can upgrade to a thicker plate, but I wouldn't get so hung up on the thickness of the plate steel. My first solid fuel furnace was a Brunco 190 and it was 1/4" plate steel throughout. It was a heavy beast of a stove and it warped. I since then have upgraded to a Clayton 1600. Belive it or not, it heats better than the Brunco 190 did, but it also warped under my hard abusive firing learning curve. I think that the superior Clayton design is why it heated better with less fuel. Now if USSC could weld better, fix the design defficieny of the 1600 grate area and get rid of the slanted firebrick, it would be a very good anthracite burner.

The D.S.Machine has very good welds and their design and construction utilizes the thinner material in the most strategic locations in combination with their thick weld joints. So, I would be very surprised if it warped or cracked. I really like D.S.Machine's side pipe heat exchangers. You have to see them. I haven't found any pictures of them. If you get a chance to visit D.S.Machine, it would be a very educational and worth wild experience. Put it on the to do list. You may just have them custom make you what you want and I bet the price will surprise you how affordable it will be for what you really want.

Laughing, Doug what are you getting on each sale with your name on it. Just kidding. I know that plate thickness and weight is not the be-all-end all on quality. Design plays a major role too. But with solid fuel and high temperatures, thermal mass from steel (and or cast iron) along with firebrick, even out the firing cycle and go a long way to preventing thermal shocks. This is why I was intrigued by the Baker Heat King at 700lbs with a firebox smaller than many of the DS Machines and SF-250 Harman. I have no idea how big the Hitzer 82 firebox is but it's looking less attractive relative to the DSM stoves now. I too like the downdraft design of some of the DSM units.

Dave

Boy Dave, I wish I would be receiving a commissiom on the sales from these stoves. I'm not swayed by anything but from my experience from burning in these coal burning units. I'm just happy to see others learn from my shool of hard knocks and the mistakes I've made so they purchase the correct appliance for their application without wasting their hard earned cash.

I've yet to physically see and inspect any of the Bakers stoves, so I can't comment on them.They too look well made from what I view on the website. As for the Hitzer 82, I have seen and inspected these stoves and their Hitzer 82 furnace model. Comparing the Hitzer 82 to D.S.Machines Rite burn, they are very similar, an old Riteway Stove design manufactured today by two different companies. But the D.S.Machine to me looks better made. I haven't used either of these stoves but that is the impression given to me.

Is anybody building a soapstone stove designed for coal? I love how they look. I've heard soapstone can withstand very high heat, especially if it has a refractory lined firebox.