Cold Cold Climate and New to Coal Stoves

 
simplynaturalfarm
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Post by simplynaturalfarm » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 12:07 am

My inlaws just said we could have their Baker's choice cookstove, as they are downsizing with kids going and have a pioneer maid as well.

The Heatrola guy called back and his wife won't take any offer. I am still figuring out what I want to do about that as it is a decent drive and I think I might want pictures of the insides of it before driving that far.

Another person on here mentioned TSC is selling coal now - we do have one 80 miles away DH passes on his way to work every weekend and they are selling anthracite coal for $220 per ton if I buy a pallet of bags (one tons worth).

Even having to purchase it in bags that way it is better than buying wood here. AND if we run out of wood (which we will not!), we can buy it instead of using propane. So maybe I should keep my eyes peeled on Craigslist for a good second hand stove and I know we have the poor cheap stuff, the $220 anthracite option at TSC and so my options are a bit wider if I'm not in a rush to get anything. :)

It sounds like baker's choice does not have air from the bottom option unless you just open the ashpan and make modifications. It actually sounds like it was intended to burn wood best and a grate for coal that doesn't really help the way it should without any air underneath option etc.

I read a few old threads about burning and they recommended Bituminous coal in it - is lignite coal burned similarly to bit?


 
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northernmainecoal
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Post by northernmainecoal » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 7:22 am

I'm inclined to encourage you to go the anthracite route, my only hesitation would be relying on Tractor SURPRISE as a sole source of coal. Maybe they are more reliable in your area but here they almost never have what you need. $220 a ton is a great price and I would bet with a good coal burning stove (not a combo wood/coal stove) you'll be ditching the wood all together in no time. You'll love it!

 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 7:32 am

If you watch the video at this link, https://www.lehmans.com/p-3442-bakers-choice-wood ... rvoir.aspx

They show the grates. They are just two flat pieces that rock.

Anthracite grates are a mesh design so that air can come up through the grates evenly throughout the entire firebed. Those grates shown in the video would only allow air at the edges of the two grates. As such, I don't think they will work well with anthracite.

And it does look like the only way to get primary air under the grates is through the ash pan door. Seems to me that would be a challenge to try to control a coal fire and resulting cooking/baking temps.

Paul

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 8:51 am

Does your TSC in ND have it in stock? I'd check if you havent cuz I doubt they are shipping it all the way out there.

 
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blrman07
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Post by blrman07 » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 8:56 am

Hmmmm if I read everything correctly your looking for a heating stove, not a cooking stove. Your also looking for something that will burn anything from high grade anthracite to virtually combustible dirt. If you have a chance to get a warm morning it will fill that bill. Just make sure the corner bricks are good as they are the key to successfully burning bit and sub bit coal. A retired coal miner told me that back in the day they lived in the country and cut car tires into strips and burned that when times got bad. A warm morning will burn just about anything you put in it.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 11:25 am

I thought I read where it would be a desirable option to have a coal/wood range & a coal stove for heating,as 1 probably is not enough.

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 11:40 am

Because your climate can get life threatening in a hurry I would recommend something that does not need electricity even though a stoker would burn bit coal the best.

That leaves the Warm Morning stove as the best option, The largest model which holds 100 pounds, and preferably the model with the outer case which is safer around children. Some models had a thermostat to control air and a distribution fan as well. Parts like grates are still available, but the bricks lining the stove are very expensive. The stove will burn bit better than most, but if anthracite is available to use then that is the way to go. Easy to control and smokeless. A ton of anthracite is the same in heat value as the very best well seasoned cord of hard wood and takes up less than half the space and weighs half as well, and that means carrying half the weight to the stove for equal heat.. Ash will be 5 times the amount though compared to wood.

Keep in mind that Tractor Supply is just testing the water and may not have the coal available in the future. 220 a ton is less than they are charging in CT or NY which is 250. Check availability, quantity, and delivery options.

Burning bit coal in a hand fired the recommended size is large, like a baseball and even larger because like a larger wood log it will emit gasses at a slower rate and be easier to control. So check availability of that as well.

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Warm Morning.jpg
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simplynaturalfarm
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Post by simplynaturalfarm » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 1:10 pm

Yes, if I want to burn anthracite coal, baker's creek has an add on option of grates that are like $5-600 I'm told, so you are correct in saying it wouldn't work extremely well.

The warm morning was sold when I contacted them on Sunday. That's why I figure I'll keep my eyes peeled for a second hand one with good firebricks. :) The one available is the Heatrola and I am still contemplating getting it - It was a tough year health wise and I'm still paying off some bills and so the free almost new Baker's Choice stove that claims it can burn bit and is only 14 miles away, sounds pretty good compared to the 2nd hand, hasn't been burned in 64 + year stove that is 2 hours away. But my hubby did say he'd happily drive to get the other stove and I am unfortunately a bit of a "okay, let's get it while it's available" because inevitably in this extremely rural area you often don't see them ever again.

The bit I can get comes in lump or stoker. I had read that for burning, the lump size is better, so I had planned to buy it that way. They claim to sell it in ANY size I would want to try - ziploc bag up to several tons.

TSC said they could order a pallet, but I admit I have tried ordering other things in the past and they never ordered them. ;) So I am really aiming towards burning the local stuff.

We already have 8 cords of wood stacked here, so I am thinking to have this be my coal experiment because I have wood backup while I learn. I have already found that learning to do something that has quirks already (like coal) works better in a quality product and while baker's choice is a good little cookstove for it's price, I don't know that it is a GREAT stove nor does it sound like a great coalstove.

I think I just talked myself BACK into the Heatrola *G*. What I need is the cookstove AND a Warm Morning.

 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 1:37 pm

If the Baker's Choice range is free and you already have wood for it, I'd say why not get both stoves ?

That way, you can experiment with bit coal in the Baker's Choice. If that doesn't work out you still have the option of using wood in it while you see if you want to keep it as an additional heat source, and/or back up cook stove, or sell it.

It has a big firebox and it's supposed to be able to keep a wood fire through the night.

Paul

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 2:09 pm

simplynaturalfarm wrote:I think I just talked myself BACK into the Heatrola *G*. What I need is the cookstove AND a Warm Morning.
The question I would ask is; suppose I did not like the Heatrolla, could I sell it and get my money back? If it could be easily sold then there is not much to lose and you would gain a lot of experience burning the local coal even if you decide to replace it with something else.

 
simplynaturalfarm
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Post by simplynaturalfarm » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 2:26 pm

Nobody around me burns coal, so I don't know that it would be an easy sell to resell it.

I do have one good wood burner - it will go 12-8 hours on a burn, but in -50 ish the house simply gets cold overnight. After stoking it, waiting 10ish minutes to make sure I'm getting secondary burn and then turn it down before bed I will have a lot of good coals next morning and when it is -20F it keeps the house warm actually. And we only burned 4-5 cords using it. But last year when we had all that -50 and -60F with the 72 days of colder than -32F, I had to stoke it 3x a day and then overnight I would have coals BUT the house got horridly cold.

I should also admit - I'm trying my hardest to be really educated about coal and the puff back stories are freaking me out . . . What if I start my house on fire!!! I understnad the reason behind why it is happening, but when people give scenarios of puff backs sometimes I am thinking "HUH, why did it happen that time". SO I think I am going to make my list of "how to start" "what I need" "how to shut it down in an emergency", "how hot I should run it" "how to avoid puffbacks" and then post it on here for you guys to critique it to make sure I really have a good understanding of it all!

I think we will get the heatrola also - I can put it out in the shed for DH to use if nothing else as he has some projects we need to do this winter and have no heat in the carport right now. :)

 
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Post by KingCoal » Tue. Oct. 07, 2014 8:22 pm

i would say, take the offer of the Bakers Choice, it's a known heat and food producer. if you CAN swing it, examine the Heatrola very carefully and buy if it looks solid and complete.

you will have 2 options and perhaps you can add a flue and use both.

i really wish you the best, you are very much on your own in this.

steve

 
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wsherrick
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Post by wsherrick » Wed. Oct. 08, 2014 12:53 pm

I know you are the only person around you who is currently thinking about coal. If you switch to it, you are going to find that you have been liberated from slavery.
Your house is going to be much more comfortable, no question about it.
Your life is going to get a 1,000 times more convenient and a lot easier.
Some of the neighbors will probably switch as well once they see how much it has improved your life.
Get the big Heatrola. It will burn the cheap lignite well. Skip on the Baker's Choice. It won't turn out to be a good choice for you.
The best thing to do is contact Emery at Antique Stove Hospital.
They normally don't deal in cabinet stoves like a Heatrola, but; he will get one or another even better stove for you if you tell him I sent you.
You should talk to him or his son Brandon. They will give the information and the confidence you need to make an informed choice.
I would count on burning the local coal you have there in case the supply of Anthracite isn't that secure.
Here is the webpage for the Antique Stove Hospital. Call them in the mornings.

http://stovehospital.com/

 
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D-frost
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Post by D-frost » Wed. Oct. 08, 2014 1:42 pm

Simply natural,
"Back in the day' (mid 60's) I was at Minot AFB, for 2 winters. My 2 cents- more is better-get the Heatrola that's between you and Grand Forks, if it's in good condition, like the owner says. It worked for Grandma 40 years ago, guess what, it will work today. This will burn the local coal fuel, and wood, if you need to. Relying on fuel imports, from wherever, can be costly. Best of luck with your project.
Cheers

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2014 3:45 pm

Get both,cook with the baker even if you have to use wood, but it should burn the local coal too. The other stove (Heatrola or other) can be used as the main heater using the local coal,in that cold,cold,cold,cold,cold climate,2 is better than 1 :)


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