looking to purchase a coal stove

With the floor vents, you're set--Lisa could fill you in better,but I would question the output of the Mk 1. With the Hitzer,I would definatly go w/ the 50-93

i went to the hitzer site, that is a sweet stove! says it can put out up to 100,000 btu..i have a stove store here in preston (preston trading post) im goin there today to see some pricing, but they are usually very high..when starting a coal stove do i start with wood or can they be started with gel? for the hitzer..

duramaxdrift66 wrote:good mornin!!! ok the house is a raised ranch, baseboard heat (water)..im thinking the hitzer or the harmen with a blower will be the best option..my propane stove is 65000btu and heated very good...thinkin the price may determine the purchase..o ya the house is a total of 1500sqf...i live in preston ct and have looked at every stove on craigslist...the one for sale in ledyard ct is $750 for a harmin mark1, i looked at it and its 15yrs old and looks worked, did have a blower but geez...didnt want to insult the guy and offer $300..

the mark I is not going to cut it for you the max is 48,000, btu you will never get your 12 hr out of it in cold weather if going that route look at mark III or a sf250 the btu are double of what you looking for but you can idle it down for a longer burn if it was me the SF 250 is a work horse burned one in my first house for over 5 years (before that was my fathers stove they are built proof


your really looking in the wrong direction, replace the oil burner with a stoker forced hot water system its pricey but for long term you will save $$$$$$ and it sooooo simple to run ......

I suspect that I'm just an old sissy--BUT--I've tried a few ways to get her started--and will swear by the instant light briquets you can pick up at Sam's Club or Wal-mart. It's a 13.5 lb bag. I dump 1/2 to 3/4 of the bag in & light--have my ash door vents open 1/2 way, MPD open & back flap on 8--as the charcoal gets a good red/hot base I slowley add coal until I am up to the hopper bottom & let her go until I've got some LADIES dancin about--I then fill the hopper--shut the MPD (depending on outside temps)--shut down ash door vents & put back flap on 4-5 in this kind of weather--these draft adjustments, you're going to have to play with. Keep us posted Your cat don't look very happy--door get closed on his tail ?? Remember,check craigs list--these Hitzers don't break!! so the chance of getting ripped off is real slim ---where are you from DM??--place in avatar for that once you get your stove

duramaxdrift66 wrote:i went to the hitzer site, that is a sweet stove! says it can put out up to 100,000 btu..i have a stove store here in preston (preston trading post) im goin there today to see some pricing, but they are usually very high..when starting a coal stove do i start with wood or can they be started with gel? for the hitzer..

freetown fred wrote:I suspect that I'm just an old sissy--BUT--I've tried a few ways to get her started--and will swear by the instant light briquets you can pick up at Sam's Club or Wal-mart. It's a 13.5 lb bag. I dump 1/2 to 3/4 of the bag in & light--have my ash door vents open 1/2 way, MPD open & back flap on 8--as the charcoal gets a good red/hot base I slowley add coal until I am up to the hopper bottom & let her go until I've got some LADIES dancin about--I then fill the hopper--shut the MPD (depending on outside temps)--shut down ash door vents & put back flap on 4-5 in this kind of weather--these draft adjustments, you're going to have to play with. Keep us posted Your cat don't look very happy--door get closed on his tail ?? Remember,check craigs list--these Hitzers don't break!! so the chance of getting ripped off is real slim ---where are you from DM??--place in avatar for that once you get your stove

duramaxdrift66 wrote:i went to the hitzer site, that is a sweet stove! says it can put out up to 100,000 btu..i have a stove store here in preston (preston trading post) im goin there today to see some pricing, but they are usually very high..when starting a coal stove do i start with wood or can they be started with gel? for the hitzer..

free town did you ever try the cowboy charcoal??? i get it at wall mart works awesome the brand is natural wood charcoal ( royal oak brand ) red bag

im thinking the hitzer will be the one i get, i like the btu output and the stove is nice looking...the cat was yawning..

ok i went to the store and the hitzer 50-93 is $2000..im not rich i have 2 cats to feed!!! i may have to go used, i really only wanna spend around $1000...does that price on the hitzer seem high?

Coalfire wrote:

duramaxdrift66 wrote:i want to heat the house with only the coal stove...the furnace is about 15yrs old with a 83% efficiency rating..it gets serviced every year but looks like poo...i want to finish the basement and eliminate the furnace setup..coal will be the primary heat source...im looking for a 55000btu stove...but would like a blower on it to move the hot air...i like being hot rather than being cold..thats what windows are for..

If you finish the basement you may have trouble getting heat upstairs without cutting holes in the floor. You said you have a hot water furnace, by that you mean you have baseboards, or convectors, or something like that in your house? If so why not put in a stoker boiler? minimal tending if it has coal and ash is empty, and you would be using the method of transfering heat you already have and know works, rather than getting a stove, then cutting a hole here and then one here, and then putting a fan here when it doesn;t heat as planned


Just a thought, Eric

Coalfire is correct. If you already have the baseboards or convectors go with a stoker boiler. You will be much happier with the heat distribution. If you don't have that set up, really, take a good look at how the air in your house moves around before you buy. Use a piece of incense or a balloon half filled and see where the air flows. If you stove is in the basement and you want it to heat the upstairs, it will be a challenge. Do your research before you start cutting holes in the floor. Lisa

If you keep looking on CL or other local ad sources I know you will find a 50-93 within your price margin--damn cats--you might have to travel some,but, well worth the trip

holes in floor are cut...they worked well with the propane...and pellett stove..bedrooms are warm..and i love my cats...fritz and cloe..

My best to fritz & cloe whoops, I mean If the vents worked well for the pellet & gas stoves--you'll be thrilled w/ the 50-93

hey freetown...not nice....my kitties love heat too...and my boston...i wont mention this to them.

I have a feeling if all our critters got by a nice toasty coal stove on one of those sub-zero days this winter,we'd both be playing hell to get any of them to move away from it

lol, freetown you a funny guy!! hitzer it will be...i like overkill than not enough, like lisa says...now i have to find one in my price range or suck it up and get a new one...lots of overtime...i appreciate the info from everyone!!! will keep ya'all posted, i will probably need help starting it and maintaining the fire...thanks again.

ok, heres what i got, its a russo econo, i paid 200 for it and so far i love it..when i went to buy it i thought it was way to small but my father was with me and said it will heat like a big woodstove so i bought it..my basement is 79 degrees,and the stove was on low, very suprised at the amount of heat..cleaning is easy with no ash..im using nut coal..even starting it was fairly easy...so now i have to find a company that will deliver..lookin for 2tons, i think that should run me for the winter..the stove is 14.5w 28h 13d, it holds about 35lb of coal..