The current model Vigilant II, model 2310, does address this very item wsherrick points out. When set up to burn bituminous, the air inlet inside the stove is greatly reduced by a reducer plate. This plate must be removed to burn anthracite as burning hard coal requires many times more air. Looking at the picture below tells the story. The opening in the Vigilant II's restrictor plate is how large the maximum air feed is when burning bituminous. The area of the plate show how large the open becomes to burn anthracite. VC requires that a plate containing a warning be attached to the stove to the stove to alert the owner that the stove is modified to burn anthracite (by removing the plate)wsherrick wrote: ...8<...Bituminous has very different combustion traits than Anthracite. The air settings have to be almost the opposite for each fuel.
Replacing Stove
- VigIIPeaBurner
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- wsherrick
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So they made a modification to burn Bituminous. Very Interesting.VigIIPeaBurner wrote:The current model Vigilant II, model 2310, does address this very item wsherrick points out. When set up to burn bituminous, the air inlet inside the stove is greatly reduced by a reducer plate. This plate must be removed to burn anthracite as burning hard coal requires many times more air. Looking at the picture below tells the story. The opening in the Vigilant II's restrictor plate is how large the maximum air feed is when burning bituminous. The area of the plate show how large the open becomes to burn anthracite. VC requires that a plate containing a warning be attached to the stove to the stove to alert the owner that the stove is modified to burn anthracite (by removing the plate)wsherrick wrote: ...8<...Bituminous has very different combustion traits than Anthracite. The air settings have to be almost the opposite for each fuel.
- carlherrnstein
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The online manual claims its set up from the factory to burn bituminous but can be modified to burn anthracite, it appers to be made to burn either type.
From my limited experience burning coal it is a little sooty till the bitumin (tar) burns off after that its just red embers.
From my limited experience burning coal it is a little sooty till the bitumin (tar) burns off after that its just red embers.
- michaelanthony
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I couldn't let this one get away, boy, I thought you were talking about my wifecarlherrnstein wrote:
My wife is fire retarded she cant mess with the stove without killing the fire somehow
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- Location: Central Maine
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 1300 with hopper
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You said you burn wood in warmer weather. DS Machine is not certified to burn wood, they say, so technically it is illegal. But I bet it would burn pretty well. Also when burning coal with any stove you should have a barometric damper (not everybody agrees with that!), which you might want to seal off with aluminum foil when burning wood.
- VigIIPeaBurner
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Yes, the Vigilant II 2310 comes front the factory set to burn Bituminous. It's the most conservative approach the manufacturer can take. A new operator can't over-fire the stove with whatever fuel they start out with if they don't mind the manual. The modification is - you lift the grill & fettle up, lift out 5-6 of the hanging grates on your left to get to the one screw that holds the plate in place. Remove the plate and put all the pieces back. Total job time takes ~ 5 minutes and you're set to burn anthracite. Another plus, you don't need one of those beutiful barometric dampers hanging on the side of your stove pipe. The manual for the Vigilant II recomends against the use of a baro or an mpd.carlherrnstein wrote:The online manual claims its set up from the factory to burn bituminous but can be modified to burn anthracite, it appers to be made to burn either type.
From my limited experience burning coal it is a little sooty till the bitumin (tar) burns off after that its just red embers.
Like rberg said about the DS Machine stove not being EPA certified to burn wood, neither is the Vigilant II 2310. I'd imagine the Vigilant would burn wood controllably with the restrictor plate installed. I imagine it would run hot when the plate is removed because the larger flow of air (needed to burn anthracite) could make the temperature ramp of a wood fire harder for the thermostat to control than if the plate was in.
I have zip-0 experience with bituminous. I'm fortunate there are so many good sources of anthracite near by that I can be picky
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Hi Carl,I live in the same county as you do.I have a DS Machine 1400 circulator coal stove with the thermostat controlled draft.I got the over fire air knobs on the feed door.I ordered my stove from Bob at R&T Stoves.My stove has the flue coming straight out the top,had too pay extra,the feed door with the knobs, was no charge at the time.I like you burn wood in the spring and fall.It does a good job at burning wood but you only get about 3-4 hours out of wood.I burn Ky bit coal in mine and get anywhere between 10-20 hours out a load of coal.One thing about it if you want to see the fire through the door glass when burning bit coal it's not going to happen,you will for awhile.Good luck on picking another stove.I can't say enough about my DS Machine stove.
- carlherrnstein
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Im scared to have a barometric damper in there I bet if there were a chimney fire that thing would open wide and let it breath real good.
I joke with my wife that shw should join the fire dep she could put out a grass fire with nothing more than cardboard and news paper
Im not concerned with technically illegal I don't see how it could be enforced.
hman where are you getting your coal the last time I bought load it was from j john from (welston?)
I joke with my wife that shw should join the fire dep she could put out a grass fire with nothing more than cardboard and news paper
Im not concerned with technically illegal I don't see how it could be enforced.
hman where are you getting your coal the last time I bought load it was from j john from (welston?)
- wsherrick
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These are the best stoves ever made for Bituminous use. The Florence Hot Blast, the New Globe Hot Blast and one of my favorites, a Germer Radiant Home. These stoves are light years ahead of anything made today for the same purpose. Just for your FYI.
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william ..... What are the prices of those three stoves today ? Just want to get an idea what those stoves are going for. They are three fine looking stoves. Its a shame that those types of stoves are not manufactured today.
- VigIIPeaBurner
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Can't resist this ... the middle picture looks like it could be Darth Vader's great grandmother
- sorry, I got it back in the bottle
- SteveZee
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Buck, It is a shame because they were/are such good performers. Today it would not be feasable, price wise, to make those designs. The price of the castings alone would be prohibitive, never mind the machining of mating surfaces so that no gasketing is needed plus the nickel plating. Back when we had foundrys on just about every navagable river of any size, they could do it. Today, it's much easier/cheaper to weld up sheet steel and glue/stuff gaskets on to seal it up.buck24 wrote:william ..... What are the prices of those three stoves today ? Just want to get an idea what those stoves are going for. They are three fine looking stoves. Its a shame that those types of stoves are not manufactured today.
Price wise you're looking at $2500 to $3000 for those stoves on average in restored condition like the pictures. Some exceptional models could be higher.
- dlj
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Don't put it back in the bottle! Good grief, it's taken my at least 10 minutes to be able to write this from laughing so hard!VigIIPeaBurner wrote:Can't resist this ... the middle picture looks like it could be Darth Vader's great grandmother
- sorry, I got it back in the bottle
dj
- wsherrick
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If you were to feel the heat coming off of that stove, you would really feel the force.VigIIPeaBurner wrote:Can't resist this ... the middle picture looks like it could be Darth Vader's great grandmother
- sorry, I got it back in the bottle
As far as looks go, I would put it up against any of these new stoves that look like an over sized microwave oven.
- VigIIPeaBurner
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William, don't take the Darth Vader comment too seriously. I would expect nothing less that phenomenal heat output from stoves designed with high surface areas and the subsequent heat exchange efficiency not to mention the long gas pathways to facilitate the prior. I can't agree more with your opinion of the disappointing and unimaginative exterior design of the majority of the steel stoves on the market. One pays for what one gets and the market will provide it. As it is, some like the familiar modern spartan smooth steel stove for it's cost effectiveness and availability, others will strive to get a piece of functional history with a whirlly-gig and curly-que on every surface. We're lucky to have the means to make the choice.