Hopper or No Hopper?

That is the question.

Which do you prefer, and why?

For burning anthracite coal; HOPPER, Hands Down! Longer steadier burns. Easyer tending due to top feed. My first coal stove had no hopper. I bought the optional hopper for the stove. It made a night and day difference in performance. You commented about hopper stoves burning down houses. You're thinking of a stoker stove/boiler having a fire in a hopper outside the fire box. A hand fired stove has the hopper inside the fire box, and gravity feeds on to the burning coals.

between a hopper or not I would agree hopper hands down if I was buying a new stove. Now if it was used then I would get what ever would be in my budget.

Hopper...
Makes tending the fire a simple task...
Shake down and top off...
Done...

Umm...I've only been burning with a hopper stove since 1530 today. But, I'm gonna go ahead and agree with everyone else. Hopper.

Hopper!
Never a "puff back" in 27 years.

oliver power wrote:For burning anthracite coal; HOPPER, Hands Down! Longer steadier burns. Easyer tending due to top feed. My first coal stove had no hopper. I bought the optional hopper for the stove. It made a night and day difference in performance. You commented about hopper stoves burning down houses. You're thinking of a stoker stove/boiler having a fire in a hopper outside the fire box. A hand fired stove has the hopper inside the fire box, and gravity feeds on to the burning coals.

He was commenting on a hopper fed stove burning soft coal in it with a hopper full of bit coal burning a house down

coal berner wrote:

oliver power wrote:For burning anthracite coal; HOPPER, Hands Down! Longer steadier burns. Easyer tending due to top feed. My first coal stove had no hopper. I bought the optional hopper for the stove. It made a night and day difference in performance. You commented about hopper stoves burning down houses. You're thinking of a stoker stove/boiler having a fire in a hopper outside the fire box. A hand fired stove has the hopper inside the fire box, and gravity feeds on to the burning coals.

He was commenting on a hopper fed stove burning soft coal in it with a hopper full of bit coal burning a house down

I see that now. Tired & Reply don't always mix.

Well,something odd about such a basic bullet-proof stove of such high,rugged quality: It comes with no manual. The "Amish Connection" as I call him out here was giving me all the low-down on the fine DS Stove. He said that manuals will be forthcoming. He also said that you've got to keep the new coal at a decent level in that hopper to avoid the puff-backs. Don't let it run out of fresh coal,check and keep the top loading door gasket clean and properly latched in the closed position. Makes sense to a Bonehead like me.........How's that new stove doing after night 1 anyway ? How warm was the house versus what was your overnight low temp outside?

My stove came with a manual and a warranty certificate.

I've only loaded my stove through the hopper now twice once last night and once this morning. I make sure before I close the hopper door I blow the fines and debris from around the latching area. I also check to make sure no coal has gotten stuck in the hole for the latch.

Bob, if you were asking me about how my house was compared to outside temps. It was decent. Though I had the stove on the low side.

decent's good,now you have to get used to this stove

I guess I'm dumb--I'm trying to figure out what kind of stove you're talking about--can't find out in your profile but,definetly hopper,at least in my 50-93 and I have no problem seeing the blue ladies and nice red coals

lsayre wrote:That is the question.

Which do you prefer, and why?

I'll say no hopper, because I love to open that door and see the blue dancing flames, shovel it in and hear the clicking and smell the fire. Just me, I guess...

With no hopper, can you still feed coal through the hopper door at the top, or does it have to go in through the glass door on the side of the stove when there isn't a hopper in place?

If you get a DS machine stove without the hopper,their is no lid on top of the stove,it's just flat.You will load thru the front glass door.