Newbie Moron Needs Everything in Layman's Terms

 
Nimvin
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Post by Nimvin » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 2:18 pm

Hi everyone. I found this forum, which seems to be a good place to park myself and start learning a thing or two (or three).

I have an old Martin Stove and Range cast iron stove, one of those rectangular things on legs with the round "oven" circle openings on the top. I have absolutely NO idea how to use it, but have been trialing and erroring for a couple of weeks now. Problem is, the weather is getting cold and this is going to be my main source of heat. So I'm strapped as to how to get it to work. My 2 major problems right now are:

How do I line this thing with fire brick and still get a grate to fit inside it? I ordered a flat cast iron grate for it, but it hasn't arrived yet. Right now, I'm just using a cast iron fireplace grate, which is taking up too much room, so is obviously not going to work well. It's just a stop-gap measure until my new grate arrives, and I've been able to burn some wood on it, but that's about it.

Secondly, I have read what everyone is saying about starting a coal fire, shaking and stacking, etc., and I'm TOTALLY confused!! LMAO!!! Is there anyone out there who can describe this process (using the sort of stove that I have) in terms that I can understand?? Remember, I'm a "newbie moron" and I have no idea what I'm doing here.

I have a big ol' sack of anthracite sitting against my wall and it's getting colder every day. Can someone give me a hand here, before I freeze my a$$ off?? LOL!!

Thanks in advance for any advice ya'll can offer!!


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 2:27 pm

NV, post some pix of the stoves so we know what we're looking at--don't get overwhelmed, even SMITTY & me figured this out with a lot of good advice from the FORUM here. :D

 
Nimvin
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Post by Nimvin » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 3:43 pm

Here's a picture I found on the internet of a stove like the one I have
stove.jpg

Martin Stove and Range - King, 6-32A

.JPG | 6.9KB | stove.jpg
. You can't see the top of it, but it has 3 pieces at the top, 2 round disks and a center piece that fit together within the frame of the top of the stove. The whole top of the stove frame can be opened. It also has a door on the front of it.

 
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009to090
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Post by 009to090 » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 4:13 pm

Thats a wood stove. You might be able to burn Bituminous in it, but I doubt you'll burn Anthracite.

 
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Post by bksaun » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 4:35 pm

That stove never had a grate, it is designed to burn wood only and it just sits on the floor of the stove. when the ashes get too deep, you just let the fire die down and remove them with a small shovel.

Bk

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 4:56 pm

Yep, I had one of them in the back of this old farm house--40X40 2 stories, and she worked real well, a lot of wood tending though--I think she takes about a 24" length, but won't hold much night chunks, real good for putting a couple of pots on & cooking some food up. :) If stoves don't have grates, they're wood. They worked for people for a real long time.

 
Nimvin
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Post by Nimvin » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 5:05 pm

009to090 wrote:Thats a wood stove. You might be able to burn Bituminous in it, but I doubt you'll burn Anthracite.
Aw man!!! That's REALLY not an answer I expected to hear!! LOL!!

I had no idea this was meant to be a wood-burning stove only. Guess I will have to readjust my thinking here.

But tell me, you think I might be able to burn some bituminous coal in it?? If this is possible, I would really like to know more about it. I live in WVa, where bituminous is the main coal supply. I was going to be spending extra to purchase anthracite coal anyway.

So what's the prediction here? Can I try some bituminous in this thing? And if so, what advice can you give me regarding what, if any, grate I should use, fire brick, etc.

I REALLY appreciate you guys helping me out here with all these quick replies. Thanks a million!!


 
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Post by franco b » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 5:50 pm

Compared to modern wood stoves it is not a good wood stove either. It will be even worse with bit coal, though you might get other answers.

I see many bargains on craigslist every week. For a few hundred dollars you can get a satisfactory coal stove. If you want to try bit then a Warm Morning stove is the best bet. It still will be dirty and smelly though.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 6:05 pm

I would get busy looking for a different stove. As franco suggested, a Warm Morning is a nice rig.

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 8:16 pm

Yes, most stoves that can burn coal, have some type of a grate on the bottom, that empties into an ash pan, a shaker handle on the side somewhere and air vents on the bottom, since coal needs air from underneath to burn properly.

Definately look for another stove. Look in your local paper or on Craigslist for your area, there are always coal stoves for sale.

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 8:20 pm

freetown fred wrote: .... even SMITTY & me figured this out with a lot of good advice from the FORUM here. ...
And I was ANNIHILATED on whiskey, gin, & tequila! :D :drunk:

Ahhh ........ a wood stove. That explains why you were confused about shaking. With no grates or handle I'd also be saying :wtf:

:D

 
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Post by nortcan » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 9:51 pm

SMITTY wrote:
freetown fred wrote: .... even SMITTY & me figured this out with a lot of good advice from the FORUM here. ...
And I was ANNIHILATED on whiskey, gin, & tequila! :D :drunk:

Ahhh ........ a wood stove. That explains why you were confused about shaking. With no grates or handle I'd also be saying :wtf:

:D
You said: whiskey, gin, & tequila! Do you really start you fire with that? LOL Here we do something else with these liquids like inviting the guys from South to come up and have a good drink with us.

 
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ValterBorges
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Post by ValterBorges » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 9:56 pm

you forgot scotch.

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 10:10 pm

I don't do scotch. I heard a rumor years ago that the Kennedy family gets $1 for each bottle imported. As long as I walk this earth I refuse to support that family, even though Teddy is 6' under. I can never take the chance unless it's proven to me in black & white that it's false. I have principles. :)
nortcan wrote:You said: whiskey, gin, & tequila! Do you really start you fire with that? LOL Here we do something else with these liquids like inviting the guys from South to come up and have a good drink with us.
I could start a pretty big fire with some of the stuff I've got here. :D :D Thanks for the invite too. :cheers:

 
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nortcan
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Post by nortcan » Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 10:31 pm

SMITTY wrote:I don't do scotch. I heard a rumor years ago that the Kennedy family gets $1 for each bottle imported. As long as I walk this earth I refuse to support that family, even though Teddy is 6' under. I can never take the chance unless it's proven to me in black & white that it's false. I have principles. :)
nortcan wrote:You said: whiskey, gin, & tequila! Do you really start you fire with that? LOL Here we do something else with these liquids like inviting the guys from South to come up and have a good drink with us.
I could start a pretty big fire with some of the stuff I've got here. :D :D Thanks for the invite too. :cheers:
Well maybe I'm better to go down South, get Fred with me and have a look at your inventory. LOL


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