shaker grate or rake?

I am going to start burning bit coal in my Empyre outdoor stove. Do I need a shaker grate or can I get by with just raking the coals?If I really need a shaker grate has anyone built there own ?Irealize I will need to do some fabrication but buying another stove isn't an option.

Wecome to the forum.
Hi, do you have some photos showing that ""stove""

Thanks. The stove is an Empyre 250 stainless steel . You can see it at empyrestove.com It's a great product and could have been ordered with a welded in port to install a coal stoker easily, of course I was never going to burn coal.

I dont think you will be happy without a grate, you really need to have the air come up from the bottom of the fire with coal.

carlherrnstein wrote:I dont think you will be happy without a grate, you really need to have the air come up from the bottom of the fire with coal.

Absoulutely right. I was assuming that you had A grate, just not a shaker grate? You will NOT be able to burn ant coal in the unit with out a grate of some kind and a shaker grate is really essential. Raking is never going to cut it. Coal is not like wood and doesn't like to be disturbed as such. As mentioned without air from below and no way for the air to go anywhere but through the coal bed, again from below, you won't be able to burn anthracite coal. Bit coal is a different store and is "similar" but not the same as wood, but you still need a shaker grate.

Empire does make a coal version of their stove called the Cozyburn. You might ask them if your model can be converted.

The only time you will want to rake your coal,
is when you want to kill your fire!
Next to spraying it with a garden hose,
not much will kill that baby quicker,
than messing with it....

Dan

(former wood burner... turned coal killer when first starting out)

Probably won't even bother. Just found out our socialist NDP Provincial government is banning coal for heating purposes effective Jan. 2014. Lots of union money goes into the NDP party boys.

Iforgotmypassword wrote:Probably won't even bother. Just found out our socialist NDP Provincial government is banning coal for heating purposes effective Jan. 2014. Lots of union money goes into the NDP party boys.

What part of Canada are you in? (I assume Canada)

Gotta love the "Pinko's" and their twisted logic no matter what country they are from.... NOT..

I'm from Manitoba.Coal is mined in Saskatchewan about 2 hours from here so I don't see how they can stop people bringing it in, but it probably isn't worth it for the amount I would burn. Damn government.

Well --so much for my visits to Birch River anymore

Iforgotmypassword wrote:I'm from Manitoba.Coal is mined in Saskatchewan about 2 hours from here so I don't see how they can stop people bringing it in, but it probably isn't worth it for the amount I would burn. Damn government.

Hi Canadian friend. I know we got a &%*$ separatist PM in Québec now but I'm not shure she will stay there for a long time...
About the coal ban for heating the Canadian homes, do you know if it's Jack's heritage or a new Thomas's idea? Was thinking seriously to NPD for the next elections but after what you said, Conservators, Liberals... but no NPD.

freetown fred wrote:Well --so much for my visits to Birch River anymore

No problem for you Fred, just come to Québec we have Le Parti Québecois to welcome you here