Just Ordered a Herald

northernmainecoal wrote:I'm still trying to figure out how to run this sucker. First time I shook it I ended up with a bunch of hot coals in the ash pan. I emptied out the ash pan earlier today and just shook again now, trying to be very careful not to repeat that. I shook and shook and no glow was showing from above...shook some more still nothing. So I poked down through the coal bed a couple times and it dropped right down. shook a bit more and suddenly there was the magic glow from above and just a few glowing specs in the ash pan, pretty good
I had been using just nut coal, maybe that's what it bridged??? Loaded up with a nut/stove mix, be interesting to see if it bridges again.

There is no unburnt coal in the ash pan except for the little I shook there. the clumps in there crumble easily. I'd be interested to hear what stevezee says about it.

I have to do this 100% of the time with nut or a 50-50 mix of nut/stove in the G-Dub #8. It's not a problem with 100% stove coal.
As William says (and it's HARD to do particularly if you are a former wood burner), don't over shake.
It took me a loooooong time to master what seems like it should be so simple. At first I wasn't shaking it hardly at all. Then I was over shaking......then I finally got it just right.

You need to feel with your hands what the shaker handle is telling you and also, it helps to look into the window to make sure the bed is being agitated and not bridged. Your second set of eyes needs to peek up through the primaries. Too much ash, it's dark. Proper shake and it's bright.

Something that also takes time is looking from across the room at the glow in the window. You'll eventually get to the point where you can glance over and know what the fire is doing. This was another thing that was hard for me to learn. With my old cast iron wood stove, it would talk to me with dinks and doinks as it was heating up or cooling down. The #8 is totally quiet.

Once you learn how to do it....it's much easier than wood burning.....but there are subtleties too it that must be learned.

Pancho wrote:I have to do this 100% of the time with nut or a 50-50 mix of nut/stove in the G-Dub #8. It's not a problem with 100% stove coal.
As William says (and it's HARD to do particularly if you are a former wood burner), don't over shake.
It took me a loooooong time to master what seems like it should be so simple. At first I wasn't shaking it hardly at all. Then I was over shaking......then I finally got it just right.

You need to feel with your hands what the shaker handle is telling you and also, it helps to look into the window to make sure the bed is being agitated and not bridged. Your second set of eyes needs to peek up through the primaries. Too much ash, it's dark. Proper shake and it's bright.

Something that also takes time is looking from across the room at the glow in the window. You'll eventually get to the point where you can glance over and know what the fire is doing. This was another thing that was hard for me to learn. With my old cast iron wood stove, it would talk to me with dinks and doinks as it was heating up or cooling down. The #8 is totally quiet.

Once you learn how to do it....it's much easier than wood burning.....but there are subtleties too it that must be learned.

It has taken me quite a long time to really figure out how the shake works but I've just about got it and have good control over the fire. I've been able to get temperature spreads up to 3:1 between the barrel and stack. I haven't run the barrel any hotter then 410* and thats when I was seeing the best ratio. At that temp the stove throws some SERIOUS heat I can't imagine what it would be like at 500-600* but I think I may find out soon. It's supposed to be -23 with -50 wind chills tonight, both the Herald and EFM will be working hard in this old farmhouse tonight.

I did add in a second MPD and it helped some but on a windy day like today with both MPDs fully closed the draft will flucuate anywhere from .05 to a bit over .1. Not sure if I should just live with that or try something else to regulate the draft better on windy days..??

northernmainecoal wrote:
It has taken me quite a long time to really figure out how the shake works but I've just about got it and have good control over the fire. I've been able to get temperature spreads up to 3:1 between the barrel and stack. I haven't run the barrel any hotter then 410* and thats when I was seeing the best ratio. At that temp the stove throws some SERIOUS heat I can't imagine what it would be like at 500-600* but I think I may find out soon. It's supposed to be -23 with -50 wind chills tonight, both the Herald and EFM will be working hard in this old farmhouse tonight.

3:1 is also the best I've been able to achieve running hot (over 500 on the barrel). Down low I've done a bit better but that's to be expected with the loss of draft in warmer condition.

I did add in a second MPD and it helped some but on a windy day like today with both MPDs fully closed the draft will flucuate anywhere from .05 to a bit over .1. Not sure if I should just live with that or try something else to regulate the draft better on windy days..??

Do you have a check damper?. I have one on mine and it really helps on windy days.
Yesterday as the temps were plummeting the wind really picked up. With the MPD shut and the check damper cracked it held a steady 550 for 8+ hours (I didn't put a full hod in).

It has a check damper on the cast elbow at the back of the stove, is that what you're referring to?

northernmainecoal wrote:It has a check damper on the cast elbow at the back of the stove, is that what you're referring to?

Yes.
Are you using it?.

I had tried using it before I put in the second MPD and didn't see much effect. I will try it again and see if there is a difference now I have the second mpd

northernmainecoal wrote:I had tried using it before I put in the second MPD and didn't see much effect. I will try it again and see if there is a difference now I have the second mpd

It will work. We haven't had much for cold weather this year but we have had plenty of windy days. I use it all the time and it really helps chop the draft.

Sneak up on it between your MPD settings and how much you open the check damper. See what works for your setup.

Thank you for the check damper advice. It is still windy today although not as bad, about -5 here now with -20 windchill, both mpds are closed check damper is opened half way, draft is -.03, top of the barrel is 415* and stack is at 135*. I'm more than happy with that! the house is toasty warm

northernmainecoal wrote:Thank you for the check damper advice. It is still windy today although not as bad, about -5 here now with -20 windchill, both mpds are closed check damper is opened half way, draft is -.03, top of the barrel is 415* and stack is at 135*. I'm more than happy with that! the house is toasty warm

Very handy and simple device. You can also use it when it's not windy....just tune it's use to your needs and given conditions.

Loving it

Knew you would be, happy that you are. We have a big cheerful group of base heater burners here now. Glad you are a part of it.

Well, you do look happy there in your rocker,i would have expected you to be a bit bigger than that tho

Beautiful setup. I like the old TV too.

That's what it's all about, period. nice pic neighbor!

wsherrick wrote:Knew you would be, happy that you are. We have a big cheerful group of base heater burners here now. Glad you are a part of it.

Thank you William and all others who have shared their knowledge and experience about these wonderful heaters!

You're right MA that is what it's all about!