New Guy With New VC Vigilant Stove

 
tjfslaughter
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
Coal Size/Type: Pea
Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Thu. Aug. 21, 2014 9:50 am

Specs on Vermont Castings site says Nut or Pea. What do you guys recommend? I called Fairclough and they said to come in and buy a few bags of each and try them out before committing to a truck load. They have delivery included in pricing and is in my area twice a week with a couple of Pizza places.


 
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michaelanthony
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Location: millinocket,me.
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Coal Size/Type: 'nut
Other Heating: Fujitsu mini split, FHA oil furnace

Post by michaelanthony » Thu. Aug. 21, 2014 10:46 am

tjfslaughter wrote:Specs on Vermont Castings site says Nut or Pea. What do you guys recommend? I called Fairclough and they said to come in and buy a few bags of each and try them out before committing to a truck load. They have delivery included in pricing and is in my area twice a week with a couple of Pizza places.
I love the look, feel, and burn time of pea. I bought 'nut size and mixed the 2 for the dead of winter for a faster response. If I had to choose one it would be pea. The stove does great with both...personal taste I suppose.

 
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VigIIPeaBurner
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Post by VigIIPeaBurner » Thu. Aug. 21, 2014 5:27 pm

Fairclough gave you good advice, try about 10 bags of each. But first off, try nut if you're not use to coal (buy 15 bags nut). Nut in any given chimney draft stove combination is more forgiving, IMHO. After you get the hang of burning, then try pea. Pea generally requires a little longer to get up to a full strength fire than nut does. If you're new to coal, you'll see results quicker - and quicker is a relative term :lol: Quicker because the draft pulls more air thru the same mass of nut (larger air gaps) than thru the same mass of pea (smaller, more restricted passages).

 
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Rich W.
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant Multi-Fuel (coal for me); Vermont Castings Vigilant 2310 in the shop
Coal Size/Type: Nut
Other Heating: System 2000 Oil Burner; VC Resolute Woodstove (sold) Jotul 8 Woodstove (sold)

Post by Rich W. » Thu. Aug. 21, 2014 8:05 pm

Last year was my first year, and I agree...nut is the way to start. I tried pea in the spring thinking that it would be better for a cooler, longer burn. However, I found that with my setup I could throttle way back with nut (250*) and get a 36 hour burn, so I just ordered 3 ton of bagged nut. Definitely try both as your setup will tell you what it likes!

 
tjfslaughter
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
Coal Size/Type: Pea
Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Mon. Aug. 25, 2014 8:38 am

I spent a little time stripping the brick this weekend. I put the stove near its location to get an idea on the clearances.

It looks like I will get my mineral board in the next couple weeks and will install the stone below the stove in Late September, early October. On the left, right, and mantle of the chimney I am going to install slabs of soap stone.

The cleaning of the brick was not fun. The lower portion is white brick...

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tjfslaughter
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Posts: 64
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
Coal Size/Type: Pea
Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 8:31 am

I was reading the manual last night and notices that the stove needs to be converted to run Anthracite. It does not look like a big deal. Is this an easy process? It is a Virgin stove so I would think it would be.

Once I have run my break in fires I might have a cocktail party for the first real lighting of this thing and invite some locals.

 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
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Post by McGiever » Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 9:19 am

The hard process might be actually locating the conversion parts. :o
Last edited by McGiever on Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 9:21 am, edited 1 time in total.


 
tjfslaughter
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
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Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 9:20 am

I think they are in the ash pan.

 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 9:32 am

Then the hard part is done. :up:

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 9:41 am

I believe what is meant is to remove the air restrictor plate over the air inlet located in the ash area. It may already be removed. There are pictures of it in other threads.

 
tjfslaughter
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Posts: 64
Joined: Thu. Mar. 27, 2014 9:33 am
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
Coal Size/Type: Pea
Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Tue. Aug. 26, 2014 10:07 am

In the manual on page 26 it shows what is needed. http://literature.mhsc.com/vermont_castings/manua ... ant_11.pdf

 
tjfslaughter
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
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Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 8:31 am

I called my supply house (I have an account). It looks like I can get great pricing on the Duravent 316 liner and the insulation. To meet code it has to be insulated. Has anybody had issues with the Duravent? I will order it next week pending feedback.

Description:

DuraFlex 316 flexible relining for masonry chimney. Use with gas, wood pellet, oil, or wood appliance. Applications include: fireplace inserts, furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. 316 is designed for use in harsher conditions, for more resistance to corrosion, such as coal.
DuraFlex 316 & 304: Single-wall .005” 316 or 304 stainless steel.

 
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McGiever
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Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 9:49 am

Any consideration given to using 316 SS Rigid smooth liner? They come in sections and they are a heavier guage SS as well.

Flex liner is difficult to clean corrosive fly ash and /or creosote from the spiral corrugations, which shortens the life of liner greatly.
Corroded liners can eventually crumble, if not detected early, and collapse inward and downward and possibly block much of the flue gases from exiting the appliance and there by backing up those deadly gases into the living space. :sick:

Wood's creosote is alot less corrosive than coal's fly ash...don't let the track-record of succesfull wood burners w/ flex liners fool you. ;)

 
tjfslaughter
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Posts: 64
Joined: Thu. Mar. 27, 2014 9:33 am
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
Coal Size/Type: Pea
Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 9:59 am

I wish my chimney was straight. I think the guy was drunk when he laid it.

 
tjfslaughter
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Posts: 64
Joined: Thu. Mar. 27, 2014 9:33 am
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant
Coal Size/Type: Pea
Other Heating: 1962 Carrier FHA NG 1st floor, Goodman 96% FHA second floor

Post by tjfslaughter » Tue. Oct. 21, 2014 8:27 am

Due to work and hunting season I fell behind. Now that I am back in town and my freezers are full it is time to get this thing installed.

Last weekend I installed the Mineral board and cement board. During this week I will wrap up the coal bin. I think this coming weekend I will get the blue stone set below the coal burner. The liner is on order and I have a roofer friend coming over to help install it the first weekend of November.

Last night I had to put the gas forced hot air furnace on for about 20 minutes. I am now a little more motivated.

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