Chubby - Ways to Maximize Burn Time

eddie · Post by **eddie** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 1:54 pm

I'm new to using the chubby. The usual advice to get a long burn is to narrow intake at bottom to 1/8 inch and close mpd 90% or 100%. I am only heating 3 rooms and a basement. I could run the chubby at a very low temp and still be warm. I'm curious as to what ways have users come up with to go beyond the usual instructions to increase burn time? AS I said, I could run it at low temp and still be warm. Thanks

Post by **ONEDOLLAR** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 2:24 pm

Eddie

I mound the coal pretty high in the pot and as a result I get easy 12 to 14 hour burns in my JR. Jr's are about 1/2 the size of a reg Chubby.

What part of the US are you in and WELCOME to the forum!

eddie · Post by **eddie** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 2:46 pm

I live in minersville, pa. close to reading, Pa.

Post by **ONEDOLLAR** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 3:35 pm

Eddie

Oppps! At first I saw you had only 14 or so posts and I assumed you had recently signed up here on NEPA. The fact is you have been a member longer than I have!

Glad you like you Chubby. Love mine almost as much as I love my Base Burner. You really can't find an easier and idiot proof stove to use than a Chubby. I will be going down at the Chubby plant in a few days checking out the 2014 Chubby's and some "new" stuff as well. I will report back what I can...

eddie · Post by **eddie** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 3:57 pm

yes, I have been a member a long time, but switched from oil recently to coal.

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 9:37 pm

Welcome Eddie....I am right up the road from you in Girardville. Welcome to the world of coal burning. Once you have burned you will never go back. Better to support our local economy by burning coal than supporting the middle East oil barons.

Rev. Larry

nortcan · Post by **nortcan** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 9:39 pm

ONEDOLLAR wrote:Eddie

Oppps! At first I saw you had only 14 or so posts and I assumed you had recently signed up here on NEPA. The fact is you have been a member longer than I have!

Glad you like you Chubby. Love mine almost as much as I love my Base Burner. You really can't find an easier and idiot proof stove to use than a Chubby. I will be going down at the Chubby plant in a few days checking out the 2014 Chubby's and some "new" stuff as well. I will report back what I can...

Onedollar,
Don't forget if you can , to get as many photos as possible from the 2014 models....Have a nice and safe trip.
Thanks

Post by **dcrane** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 10:21 pm

at the risk of causing a "thunderous" clamor here... The designer and owner of Chubby would tell you a Baro will save you coal & money and enable his stove to "get real low"

JRLearned · Post by **JRLearned** » Wed. Oct. 23, 2013 10:56 pm

Ive got Chubby Sr. and retrofitted an automatic spring coil damper, like those on hitzer stoves and others. MPD is wide open right now because my draft is on the lower side but adequate (have a magnahelic manometer installed). I have a chimney cap and my flue takes a right turn in the chimney. Draft is all relative to your own situation. You really can't know the correct MPD setting, or if u really need a baro, without draft measurement. A baro will help reduce strong drafts and wind blowing that would cause the Chub to eat more coal, but an automatic damper compensates on the intake side of things. It keeps the surface temp incredibly constant and lets you run lower without risking it going out. Replacing all gaskets to keep it air tight will also help with control and long burns.

How long are you trying to go between tending? I leave for work at 7:45 with a full firepot, come home at 5:30-6ish and the Chubby is still at 400F surface temp with plenty left to get a fresh load going. I've run it at 350 all day successfully. 325 or less and I find myself in a rescue situation trying to keep it from going out.

Bootstrap · Post by **Bootstrap** » Thu. Oct. 24, 2013 10:12 am

If your looking for a "chubby" stove, does that make you a chubby chaser?

My long burn times are achieved by closing down the intake quite a bit. On my older stoves I would do that and close the MPD most of the way. No MPD on this Hitzer.

BPatrick · Post by **BPatrick** » Thu. Oct. 24, 2013 10:38 am

Chubby Chaser...very clever

Post by **ONEDOLLAR** » Thu. Oct. 24, 2013 10:50 am

When you own a Chubby you can walk around the house chirping "I've got a Chubby" and it doesn't mean something produced with Viagra!

Post by **ONEDOLLAR** » Fri. Oct. 25, 2013 1:40 pm

nortcan wrote:Don't forget if you can , to get as many photos as possible from the 2014 models..

Pierre

Once I go down to the Chubby plant I will post what I can.. I am picking up a second Chubby for myself. Safe to say I have been developing a rather sever case of "Chubbyitis" the past couple of years. Worse things to have!

One thing I can tell you is the development of a new "Chubby Coal Furnace". A stand alone unit. Don't know the exact timetable on it but I will try to find out. I have seen the mock up and it looks great! The new blower Chubby's are awesome as well as the regular Chubby's. Of course Chubby's still look the same but lots of little details like laser cutting make the new units just POP! There are also some new stoves in the works as well as the relaunch of the Chubby Jr and a good chance the Brickstone model will be back. Jr's are slated for next season. I would love to own a Brickstone myself. Funny I have NEVER seen a Brickstone come up for sale either. AND I LOOK online for them everyday. People just don't let go of them.

Post by **dcrane** » Fri. Oct. 25, 2013 3:12 pm

@onedollar, when you come down give me a call and ill treat you to lunch at the soup nazi.

Post by **ONEDOLLAR** » Fri. Oct. 25, 2013 4:39 pm

Doug..
Would love to do lunch but................ My parole officer won't let me hang around with people who are known coal burners and Real Estate agents.

One or the other is OK but not BOTH in the same person... Sorry!!! (Just Kidding!)

I will give you a shout as the plans firm up.