Stoker Stoves for Burning Bit Coal?

2 of my technically savvy neighbors have taken an interest in my stoker adventures and they are wondering what is available in the way of stoker stoves, of course we only have bit coal available. One replaced his woodstove last year with a pellet stove, with single digit temps it keeps 2000 sq ft house (concrete exterior walls) at 68 and is running flat out, with the -20 temps he was down in the low 60's. The other is currently using a woodstove, newer wood frame 1500 sq ft house, he was able to maintain 70 in the house with -20 temps, but like myself is a slave to the woodstove. He is tired of being a slave, and tired of the wood cutters that charge $175 for a load of wood (they call it a cord, but its not), and the fact they refuse to stack it

So are there any stoker stoves that will burn bit coal? Oiled rice bit is available in Utah at $49 a ton, and due to lack of real stores out here we all go to SLC a few times a year for supplies anyways.

Combustioneer 77B made by Will Burt, out of production. All others I know of can be found here http://peasefeedandcoal.com/ sadly I think they are all out of production.

I just learned of another. Prill, unfortunately they are also no longer in production.

Why no try & find out who buys the rice bit & what they burn it in, if there is a market then there has to be a use for it.

No one is manufacturing coal furnaces for bit (soft coal) that I am aware of.
People still heating with coal in Utah are using stokers similar to the one you recently got, or are using coal furnaces like the ones made by Chippewa Traders (formerly Stokermatic Corporation).

From time to time, these used furnaces get advertised on craiglist or other local ads. You have to act quick though, because people are constantly looking for coal furnaces that are in good condition (especially in central Utah near the mines where coal is cheapest)

For example...About a month ago, a used Combustioneer (space heater) coal furnace was advertised for $600...It was one of the latest models produced and it sold the day it was advertised...(I should have bought it )

In areas of central Utah, where natural gas is not yet available, people are still using coal (stoker) furnaces to heat their homes.

Here's what a Stokermatic coal furnace looks like...this type of stove is very easy to install and operate (the Combustioneer mentioned above is very similar to this.
The stove is about 38" wide, 38" tall and about 24" deep.
The hopper, stoker, circulation fan etc. is all contained within this stand alone unit. It has a hold fire timer to keep the fire from going out. These stoves are designed to be controlled by a regular wall thermostat.

Rockwood
Curious as to where you get coal? Only mine I've found that "sells to the public" is the Sufco mine, is there a source of better coal in Utah?

I'm pretty sure both these guys want something with a visible flame, the guy with the newer home has electric heat that carries the load just fine, he and the wife like the fireside ambiance, he is just tired of stacking wood and short cords. The guy with the concrete house might look at one of these for a basement install, he has electric heat but it cannot carry the load, he used to heat with a woodstove but is gone all day for work, pellet stove keeps the house warmer but he is still not happy with it.

Shopping craigslist from out here is difficult, especially for "hotter" items, most sellers just want cash from the first person that shows up, and its a 4 hour drive.

I believe Sufco is the only mine in Utah selling coal directly to the public now, so that would be the closest and cheapest option. There are a couple places around Price UT that sell stoker/slack coal but that would be farther away and it would cost more.

The closest place for me to get stoker coal is in a town called Nephi (not far from where you got your stoker furnace) but I believe they are selling Sufco coal anyway...so your best bet would be to get it directly at Sufco mine.

BTW, Stokermatic did manufacture fireplace inserts with a glass door for viewing the fire...a few months ago I saw one for sale but they were asking more than a thousand dollars for it.

Are you going to get that furnace put together this winter?

rockwood wrote:Are you going to get that furnace put together this winter?

Nope, its going to have to wait for spring, firewood pile was down to "days left" so I pulled out of there on Friday and ran south, only to arrive at a cold home with frozen pipes , but its supposed to be back to 70 by wednesday . I did toss the gear box for the Stokol stoker in my truck, it will be a winter project and I can easily find hydraulic seals down here.

Thanks for the info on coal suppliers, I guess Sufco it is.