Reccomendatrions for a Used Small Hand Fired Stove

 
Chiefcamper
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Posts: 148
Joined: Fri. Mar. 11, 2011 12:41 pm
Location: Wayne County, Pa.
Other Heating: Mitsubishi Split System Hyper Heat Pump, Jotul GF600DV FreeStanding Propane Fireplace

Post by Chiefcamper » Wed. Mar. 13, 2013 11:35 pm

dcrane wrote:
Chiefcamper wrote:I bought this used for about 300 bucks. Multi-Fuel. 38,000 BTU/Hr with anthracite.
Ahhh yes... the fine lil french woman :lol: "wewee misure".
I'm Calling You Out on that one.

You didn't really say anything at all. Especially compared to your opinions on the other stoves mentioned. Maybe you just think my stove is ugly. Or maybe you don't. You Tell Me :) I can take it LOL

I thought it might be an option for DD. A lot of features he desires.

Deep Oval Pot, Brick lined

Easily burns 15 hours without a tending.

Has a Window.

Uses 25-40 lbs of coal per day at mid burn.

Only moving parts are one draft knob and a simple shaker.

1840's design.

Will heat 1000 square ft easily.

Burns from 450-750 degrees, I have no problem keeping my stove stable with a baro damper. Heats my 1000 sq ft basement medium insulation.

Burns Coal, Burns wood.

Several people on this forum own and love them (I had many GOOD folks here to help me along since I had ZERO experience with with any solid fuel stove, easy to learn)

All Parts available although they go years needing nothing.

Stove is still manufactured with little change to the original design.

Highly decorative.

I've run this for 2 seasons and have no intentions of replacing it. No Complaints.

I bought this w/ no help, just found it on Craigslist, did a little research, bought it and never looked back. Later that year a buddy turned me on to this forum and I got the help I needed.
Last edited by Chiefcamper on Wed. Mar. 13, 2013 11:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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dcrane
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Location: Easton, Ma.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404

Post by dcrane » Thu. Mar. 14, 2013 8:46 am

I do think the Godin is a beautiful looking stove and I cant argue the function if it functions well for you ;)

I will simply talk about the design elements that might contradict what some American coal stove company's have long held as standard beliefs regarding coal burning... air flow up through the coal bed (not around the outside of it), depth of coal bed is important and a 2 foot deep coal bed would require a larger diameter then 10 inches to maintain a complete burn or to prevent total consumption of the lower half and non consumption of upper half , sheet metal exterior with cast iron combustion chamber has long been the standard set by Glenwood for exceptional radiant heat (When using refractory cast firebrick it is important to keep this firebrick as thin as possible and this cannot be done with a godin because the gauge is so thin) therefor your not gaining the true benefits of either "methodology" (a good benefit though is lifting a Godin is a whole lot easier then lifting a Chubby or Crane or Russo, etc...). The sheer number of cast iron pieces that make up the top half of the stove is mindblowing (not that this is bad, just a lot of places and spaces that can fail over time), Use of window gasket for door gasket on a coal stove just makes no sense to me (Id be surprised if you got a full season with a successful dollar bill test (and is you were successful the only reason would be because the door is so gosh darn small). There are some other things like draft and the design/location of the exhaust flu (but I wont get into that since its a touchy subject here ;) )

In closing... The Godin works fine and heats and its certainly is beautiful, many people have been happy and pleased with them and how they preform and function and nobody can argue with that (a good question in that case may be to inquire in all honesty if those folks have at least experienced burning coal with any other quality built American Coal Stoves???)


 
Chiefcamper
Member
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri. Mar. 11, 2011 12:41 pm
Location: Wayne County, Pa.
Other Heating: Mitsubishi Split System Hyper Heat Pump, Jotul GF600DV FreeStanding Propane Fireplace

Post by Chiefcamper » Fri. Mar. 15, 2013 10:16 am

Thanks for the observations DC.

I don't necessarily agree with all of them, but guess it's not all that important.

The stove works well, but yes it is an antique design and no doubt the modern stoves have improvements.

I've often thought about the airflow on it. Airflow depends on whether it's full or not, how many fines/dust is loaded on top, etc, but yet it will maintain a constant controllable temp and I do get complete burns, so it seems to work relatively well.

Also true that I have experience only with my Godin. Not because I think my stove is the best, it's just what came my way. I'd love to have an opportunity to run a newer square design or an old Chubby, it would be great to try a bunch of designs. I just don't have the opportunity or know anyone who has a hand fired stove besides me. Most of the people I know are heating their homes with stokers.

Good to know the pros and cons before you buy, but in my opinion if it appeals to your taste, it is an option.

It's always exciting to share in the experience of a 1st time buyer.... I'm going to get on Craigslist and see what's out there around here today.

Joe

 
biggerpatterson
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Posts: 232
Joined: Mon. Jan. 24, 2011 8:06 pm
Location: Waynesboro,Pa
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
Coal Size/Type: nut
Other Heating: New natural gas hot air furnace inst, 2020

Post by biggerpatterson » Sat. Mar. 16, 2013 5:07 pm

My Petite Godin served us well for a couple years. It's for sale now. The Godin is a good stove and works well but it's small and at my age getting down to take the ashes out would soon be a problem. Also if there isn't someone home to shake it often ash would build up to the point a small shovel was needed to get the ashes out of the area above the grate. Most of the time the burning coal would bridge in the stove so closing the door and a little help with a flat piece of steel around the edge of the brick from the top and the fire would fall to the grate. Pretty simple once you get the hang of it. 12 hr. burns were the norm with the stove running at 400 to 500 degrees. For their size they put out a lot of heat.

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