New to Coal, Some Direction Needed...??

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 7:27 pm

Crow Horse wrote:Using coal has opened a whole new world for me. The stove is loaded, damper is barely open and the ash vents are closed. It's 73 in the house, almost too warm.

glad your on your way to warmer times.Just think,it was only 5 hrs. ago you asked a few questions and you got a whole new concept on coal burning.

Crow Horse wrote:No pun intended but I'm pretty stoked about this. And to boot, several years ago I was gifted with a Coal Chubby and my intention was to use it in my shop.

yea,maybe install the chubby in the house and move the other out the the shop.The chubby will be a much better stove to manage,a nd use the search button top right corner and research the chubby,you will also find a few videos from Larry Trainer on how to operate the chubby

wsherrick · Post by **wsherrick** » Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 7:27 pm

I think that franco's advice about making up a steel fettle across the front will help you a lot. As others have stated, the next thing is to insure there are no leaks in the stove, around the doors, etc.
If you have a Chubby on hand, installing it would be a great thing. Larry Trainer who makes the Chubby Stove has all of the replacement parts and upgrades available for it as well.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 7:45 pm

CH, you working in a fab shop should allow you to make BOTH the door grate and the hopper...then that part of the stove will operate as it was designed...maybe those missing parts got in the way of burning wood for someone else and they ditched them.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 8:14 pm

Indeed they did MG:)

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 8:16 pm

If the weather moderates next week, I'd switch the Chubby right in there. Assuming its ready to burn.

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Sun. Feb. 16, 2014 9:14 pm

McGiever wrote:CH, you working in a fab shop should allow you to make BOTH the door grate and the hopper...then that part of the stove will operate as it was designed...

Hopper alone would make it work as designed. Plate across the door, alone, would make it work without the hopper. Both hopper AND plate would be a new design, maybe better, maybe not.

Crow Horse · Post by **Crow Horse** » Mon. Feb. 17, 2014 9:15 pm

Update.....
Made a deep bed of coals yesterday and this morning it was still going strong. Shook it down but didn't add any coal hoping it would die out when I returned home from work. It did and it allowed me to take measurements for the door plate. I also discovered that the
grates were not properly secured together which I repaired. Shakes down so mush better. I'm really pleased with the progress I'm making thanks to the good folks here. Wish I made the jump to coal sooner......

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Mon. Feb. 17, 2014 9:40 pm

Good to have The Apsaalooka on Board! You've made Great Strides ! You've got a Chubby in the Wings,get ready to line that Pup up for service! You'll find a ton of info on that Heat Maker! You made Your Way out of No-Mans' Land to that Little Slice Of Heaven You Live On Now! With that,all things are Possible! Stay with it,and You'll always be able to say"Bilaaawapchik" and keep it going! As You can see,my Crow needs a lot of work,but I'm trying !

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Mon. Feb. 17, 2014 10:15 pm

Nice CH--you're gainin on her--that blocking plate will do real well to finish off this winter:)

Crow Horse · Post by **Crow Horse** » Tue. Feb. 18, 2014 6:14 pm

Just waiting for the material requisition to be approved and then I can cut it to size. We don't stock 1/2" flat stock in that size, so for the time being I'll have to settle for 3/8" flat stock. From time to time non stocking material does pop up and if so, I'll jump on it.....

I did discover one air leak and it's not the gasket on the ash door but rather the vents themselves. When I shut it down I'll take a good look at it to see how I can improve the seal......

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Tue. Feb. 18, 2014 6:33 pm

Crow Horse wrote:Just waiting for the material requisition to be approved and then I can cut it to size. We don't stock 1/2" flat stock in that size, so for the time being I'll have to settle for 3/8" flat stock. From time to time non stocking material does pop up and if so, I'll jump on it.....

1/2"?! Man, that's some big stuff. Don't you think the 3/8ths will suffice?

Crow Horse · Post by **Crow Horse** » Tue. Feb. 18, 2014 7:20 pm

3/8" will probably fare well. If not my radar will be sweeping for 1/2" stock........

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Tue. Feb. 18, 2014 9:04 pm

That 3/8 will work just fine CH---1/2 was just kinda the over-kill we all enjoy so much--gotta be a guy thing

Is there a nut on the inside of the ash door slider--I took mine apart on the HITZER- & sledged her back to real flat & snugged up the inside nut, put some graphite on the slider panel & she works pretty well as far as the snugness

Crow Horse · Post by **Crow Horse** » Tue. Feb. 18, 2014 10:05 pm

I'm a proponent of over building/engineering projects especially when I'm entering uncharted territory with unfamiliar forces greater than myself. Sometimes a failure can have dire consequences.....

I recently finished a project that allows me to use a Hi Lift jack as a manual winch. A commercial kit was available but I thought that it was under built considering the forces at work. Oddly enough, my motivation to do this was just so I could get up my driveway. Last Friday it took me 2 1/2 hours to get up to the house. Manual winching is my last resort....

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Wed. Feb. 19, 2014 8:36 am

INDEED