Reccomendatrions for a used small hand fired stove

I have a small house and an existing wood stove that I want to replace with coal. The flue is 6 inch and class A all fuel going through the ceiling and black stove pipe inside that is single wall. Stove pad is 4 ft square 2 layers of 5/8 durock cement board with tile and grout in top of that. The stove measures 24 wide X 18 deep and 32 tall with a top flue outlet. The stove is 12 inches from a brushed aluminum heat shield mounted on metal 2X3 supports screwed to the wall.

With all that said I have looked at a new stove and the 1500 with tax and have to rent a truck to pick it up a bit more than I hoped to spend. So I am looking for a good used coal stove to replace the wood stove. The best of both worlds would be a coal stove that is wood friendly though suspect that is not going to happen. reading here some I think I have read I need to get a wood fire going to start the coal so they must be somewhat wood friendly. It would hopefully something fairly easy to run as I have never burned coal before so simple is good. If the stove is new enough that the company still in business if I need parts a big help as well though I do love the look of some of the parlor stoves from the early 1900's as my house was built in 1874 and originally had coal stoves as the main heating system. I just want to have to make old parlor stove parts and not have the slightest idea of how to get it to make heat and not burn the house down. I do like the idea of a glass door only so i can see how it is burning without opening the door to peek and upset the fire going.

I hope this all seems reasonable in what I am looking for and if new the only way I will have to find the money somewhere. With coal around here at 350 a ton I do have to be a bit careful somewhere so this does not burn through all the spare ash I have on day 1.
Dave

Of course I am biased but if you want a good solid small coal stove you cannot go wrong with a Chubby Jr. I get an EASY 12-14 hour burn on mine at 450f. You might be able to handle a regular size Chubby as well.

Used Chubby's can found on Craigslist or completely rehabed units at www.chubbystove.com You can find used Chubby's on CL for under $300 in the New England area.

What part of the US are you in?

Some modern stoves like Hitzer and DS Machine come with hopper and thermostat which require less judgement on the part of the operator and tend to be faster and simpler to tend. Can be found used at less than half of new price but not too common. Harman stoves are well built but lack the hopper and thermostat which makes tending less convenient. For less money than above you might consider a Chubby. Lots available for from 2 to 400 dollars and the styling would fit in with your old house. the Penn stove is a close copy of the Chubby.

For even less money there is the Crane model 44 and three sizes of Warm Morning stoves. The Jotul 507 has also gotten good revues.

Wood can be burned in almost any coal stove but because of the more compact fire box the wood has to be shorter and of course they lack the better designed secondary burn features of modern wood stoves. More smoke and concern with creosote if you burn a lot of wood and choke down the air for a longer burn.

With any used stove condition is all important. The grate and well fitted ash door being the most important. Stay away from pot belly or cannon stoves as they are rarely air tight.

Antique stoves are a special case and the best of them are very good and of course would be perfect for your old house. Keep in mind that those you read about in this forum are usually top of the line and that there were a lot of cheap ordinary stoves built in those days too. By all means keep your eye open for a good antique in great shape, but you must know what you are looking at and be aware of the possible pitfalls.

Check craigslist for lots of pictures of stoves and don't be afraid to ask advice in this forum for anything you might find. Almost all have good and bad points.

What stove do you have now,it just might be able to burn coal. Post a pic. or let us know what stove you have,if it does have shaker grates(needed to burn coal) you could just finish the season up and start looking for a stove for next years season.

Your question poses many bias responses and I will just say this..It is like going to a used car dealer and saying, "what is a good car to get me to work?...and this is what I want to spend." What is YOUR taste, new, used, antique? Do you know anyone burning coal and do you like there set up? Remember buyers remorse comes in all shapes and sizes. If it just to provide heat and looks don't matter, there are many many stoves with great personalities. Good luck and stay warm......oh like previously stated, where are you? and welcome.

ihave a Avalon Pendleton 790 no grates no ash pan nothing that looks like a coal stove and has draft entered on top of fire through secondary burn tube just one..

ddahlgren wrote:ihave a Avalon Pendleton 790 no grates no ash pan nothing that looks like a coal stove and has draft entered on top of fire through secondary burn tube just one..

Well then,no shaker grates,no coal stove.This season is almost over,so start looking for next season,You will most likely need to replace gaskets and depending on what stove you might need to recement seams on a used stove.You will need carbon monoxide detectors in each level of your house.Welcome and enjoy your search.

michaelanthony wrote:Your question poses many bias responses and I will just say this..It is like going to a used car dealer and saying, "what is a good car to get me to work?...and this is what I want to spend." What is YOUR taste, new, used, antique? Do you know anyone burning coal and do you like there set up? Remember buyers remorse comes in all shapes and sizes. If it just to provide heat and looks don't matter, there are many many stoves with great personalities. Good luck and stay warm......oh like previously stated, where are you? and welcome.

I live is SE CT 5 miles from RI on the shore in an old historic homebuilt in 1874 by Levi Watrous and his wife. My grand parents second owner since Levi built it my kids 4'th generation to call the place home and hope one of their kids will move in when i am gone or can no longer take care of it or me.. It is a very safe and comfortable part of the country that has become painfully expensive to own but hate to think about selling it at a very young 61.. I am liking the chubby because of replacement parts available for a proven design and like the Hitzer 254 because of styling. soa thing to think about.
Dave

you mentioned 2 excellent stoves, but it sounds like you house is calling for a baseburner!

Don't know where you live,but I have a Harman Mark 1 for sale. Used very little. It's in Illinois. 48000btus. George

michaelanthony wrote:you mentioned 2 excellent stoves, but it sounds like you house is calling for a baseburner!

So tell me more what brands models etc. and are they something a rookie can make heat?

ddahlgren wrote:So tell me more what brands models etc. and are they something a rookie can make heat?

Boy, have you opened a can of worms! Be ready for a deluge of information. My suggestion is to go to Pictures of your stove and see if you see any model of stove that strikes your fancy. Then start to research that model and see if it will meet your heating needs. The total square feet to be heated and your home's air flow are two major components of the equation. The price and length of time to recoup your cost is another.

Be assured that while burning coal has a steep learning curve just about anyone can learn to burn it successfully. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how warm you can keep your house for so little cost. I know I kick myself daily for not switching to coal sooner. Good luck, Lisa

ddahlgren wrote:
So tell me more what brands models etc. and are they something a rookie can make heat?

Hold on to your hat, there are folks here heating with them and they will surely be along....it is a great time to get ready and educated for next season. You are a rookie regardless whatever stove you choose and there were rookies 100 yrs. ago that first fired these gems. You will love heating with coal good luck!

if you like burning both wood and coal and you want supreme safety and a stove that burns coal and wood like "Butta", 6 inch flu, etc... Crane model 404 is the ticket! chubby and crane 44 are great coal burners for sure....but the 404 burns coal even better as well as excepts nice size logs for a coal stove. Its solid welded and bullet proof, the grate system is second to none (since ive never seen a grate system fail in any way on a 404), the glass and gaskets are readily available from anywhere. The ONLY part on the stove thats the "biatch" is the cast iron firepot (if you find one thats in good condition great... if not, the choice is to replace with firebrick like a member named "beemerboy" did here. This is a true manual coal burner in every way that happens to be more accepting of wood then other true coal stoves can be. (I see them from $200 - $400 everywhere east of the Mississippi)

If you click the user control panel and complete your location and profile people here can help you locate what your looking for.

From your descrition, you are very close to Emery at the Antique Stove Hospital.

http://stovehospital.com/

If you want to burn both wood and coal (don't know why you want wood...) then the antique wood/coal stoves work well. Most of the modern stoves are one or the other for various reasons. All coal stoves will burn wood. You won't get enough wood in them to burn for long times as you will with coal. Wood stoves do not burn coal, unless they are dual fuel. The modern coal stoves are excellent. The "good" antique coal stoves are excellent. The good in that sentence means both good quality and in good condition...

dj