Would You Buy a New Harmon TLC 2000 for $1000?

100k btu/hr outa that thing...
45-60k is more like it...
DS if you want the longer burn times...
My DS #4 easily holds 160# of coal...
Won't go 24 hours at full blast...
That would require 240#...
But will easily go 12-18 hours on normal settings...
24 hours spring and fall...
DS has the things you need 130k btu/hr, Hopper, Bi-metalic, no fans and large capacity...
The DS is only a few hundred more than the TLC...
Hitzer makes a good stove also...

I just spent 3-4 hours researching Baseburners and I may be open to them. I know a 24 hour burn time isn't likely with too many heaters, so I'm willing to give that one up. As long as I don't have to tend more than 12 hours, I suppose I can do that. If I go away all day, I can always set my oil boiler thermostats to pick up the slack.

I'm not really shooting for $1000. I'm willing to spend $2500. I'm just asking if the Harman TLC 2000 is worth $1000 if you needed a hand fired burner. I'm starting to think it is despite its shortcomings which aren't horrible. As one poster said, I can always get it and sell it for what I bought it for if I don't like it.

As mentioned above, if the stove will do better than the current coal burner, then I'd go ahead and buy it.
But, you won't get 24 hour burns without adding coal and giving it 'a shake'..
Even at very low burn temperatures, it will burn more coal in 24 hours than the firebox holds..

The big advantage of the TLC 2000 is it is a top loading stove,, you can flip the lever, pour in a load of coal, close the lid, and you are done.
Just give the shaker handle a jiggle or two, and you are good for another 12 hours..

And as stated earlier, if you don't want to keep it, you can sell for at or near what you paid for it..

The thermostatic control on the HItzer, DS machine stoves is nice, and convienient.. I'm not sure it's worth paying $500-$800 more for it though.

Greg L

The thermostatic control on the HItzer, DS machine stoves is nice, and convienient.. I'm not sure it's worth paying $500-$800 more for it though.

Prior to the DS I had a few Non-Metalic coal stoves...
The last one a Harman Mark II...
The Bi-Metalic IS worth the extra money...
To me...
The DS runs itself...
The next step up is a stoker of some sort...
The DS #4 is what I am comparing the TLC to...
Besides the Bi-metalic, you get mor BTU/hr, hopper and more coal capacity...
Bottom line is you won't go wrong with the TLC cause you can sell it off for what you paid for it...
Sometimes ya just got to find out for yourself what is right for you...

Thank you Rob. I started with just ranch and put on 2 additions (2-stories each since the rear lower level is above grade). The mammoth bathroom suite is the centerpiece of the place ...and we love it!

Actually I think there is a place in the garage for a stoker boiler, but I wouldn't have a place for all of the rice coal in the garage. They are sooo expensive too ($5000-$6000) but we only use 2 (two) 275 gallon oil tanks per year, so our heat bill isn't very high like some. If I get a hand-fired, my thinking is that it'll take care of 85% of the heating for the season and the oil will do the other 15%. If I got a stoker boiler, it would be 100% of the heat, but more maintenance (Spring), and a HUGE loss of valuable garage space (for the boiler AND a place for rice coal).

If I didn't have a space problem in the garage, I may go in that direction. I'll have a cigar in there this afternoon and brainstorm a little.

Six years ago I paid about $1600 for my TLC 2000. I think they go for about $2000 now. I have never had a problem yet. I did buy an extra door kit ($212) just in case I accidentally broke the glass or some other unknown, all I had to do was just change the doors. About a minute to do. I also added bricks to the sides to make them near vertical and also added horizontal bricks around the top so I could increase the amount of coal it could hold.
Except for a few cold days this year I only tended the stove once a day or longer.
I almost never run my stove over 400º, usually around 350º but that is because my house is tight.
I have my stove in a finished basement of a ranch about 2200 sq ft total up and down,but only heating about 1800 sq ft. Its my only source of heat because my house is all electric and we never use that.
You can load from the top or front and I use either pea or nut.
I hope this helps.

Great Info EasyRay! Thank you. I bet you save a lot with an electric house.

How much coal do you use with that size home?
-Tony

tony17112acst wrote:If I didn't have a space problem in the garage, I may go in that direction. I'll have a cigar in there this afternoon and brainstorm a little.

Check on building codes. You may not be permitted to install in a garage. The state has RULES to protect you from yourself.
Probably not allowed to smoke a cigar there, either.

I'd buy it, put it to work, and learn from it if it is what you like or need..

Or, look seriouslly at a thermostatic stove with hopper, like the Hitzer 50-93 or some of the DS models.

OR if you want the look of the antique stoves.. and the efficiency of a Baseburner. then save your nickels and keep looking.

Greg L

tony17112acst wrote:Great Info EasyRay! Thank you. I bet you save a lot with an electric house.

How much coal do you use with that size home?
-Tony

I usually average about 3 ton a year. I usually go to the middle of April or a little later but my wife was complaining that it was to warm. Now she is complaining its to chilly. I'm shut down now so this year I used 2 ton. I already cleaned it for next season. I usually start it up around October 20th.

I'd buy it in a heartbeat. If you don't like it resell it. I think you can get a grill for cooking inside of it too. Thats cheaper than a new Hitzer by quite a bit. Matching the stoves BTU to the house seems to be the tricky part with coal.

One thing I have noticed in my year of watching this website is I rarely see a Hitzer for sale in the classifieds. That speaks for itself. Good luck no matter what you try.

EasyRay wrote:... my wife was complaining that it was too warm. Now she is complaining its too chilly.

My wife does that too, and often there is less than five minutes between the first complaint and the second.

I agree with Rob R. The Harman will easily pay for itself fast in fuel bill savings. Saving money is why most of us went to coal. If you want something to heat the entire house all the time you can trade up later. Buy the harman, buy some good beer with the money you save and enjoy.