New Owner Questions
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- New Member
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- Hand Fed Coal Stove: ds circulator 1400
Hi, My name is Shawn. I live up in northern New York up near the canadien border. I just got a ds stoves circulator 1400 and plan on using it for most of my heat this winter. I started a good wood fire layered the coal until I got about 4 or 5 inches then dumped the rest of the bag in through the top. This I did with the ash door open. Within a few hours the entire house was warm and the entire bed of coals was blazing red and crackling. I shut the ash door and turned the draft down to low. I left for a few hours came home and the stove was still going good. So I had to run out again and when I came home the stove was cooled down with no hot coals. From the time I finally got the coal going until it went out it was about nine hours. Is this normal and I should have added more coal before is goes out or should it have been burning longer. It was about three quarters of a bag that I put in. Im a first time coal burner so any help would be greatly appreciated. Also if I get the stove going the way I want should I just then turn the draft to low or should I be letting more air in thanks a bunch
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We don't know if the fire died from lack of fresh coal or from lack of air from ash accumulation or air setting too low.
With the ash door open for several hours that coal was going pretty fast. Probably over firing.
Once the fire is established set that thermostat and let it regulate the fire.
Get a thermometer for the stove top and one for the smoke pipe so you can judge what is happening.
You do have CO detectors?
With the ash door open for several hours that coal was going pretty fast. Probably over firing.
Once the fire is established set that thermostat and let it regulate the fire.
Get a thermometer for the stove top and one for the smoke pipe so you can judge what is happening.
You do have CO detectors?
- coaledsweat
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Once you get a good fire going you must completely fill it up to the top of the firebrick. There is no such thing as a "small" coal fire, it has to be completely full all the time.
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so I would keep the ash door open jusst until the first layer of coal is lit. I do have co detectors. I don't have the stove top and flue thermostats though I will have them soon
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and also by shaking the grates with a hot fire arent I just dropping hot coals into the ashpan sorry for the stupid question
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You might go further than that, maybe, but you can set the thermostat at mid position to start. You will learn over time the settings that you need. You don't want a raging fire. You have to feel your way and learn the needs of the stove and your house. Go slow at first. You might even keep a log of what settings you are using and the result. Knowing your chimney draft is also helpful and for that you will need a manometer.shawnwelcher wrote:so I would keep the ash door open jusst until the first layer of coal is lit. I do have co detectors. I don't have the stove top and flue thermostats though I will have them soon
Here is an excellent link to read.
Basics of a Hand Fired Coal Stove
And yes you want a fairly deep coal bed for long burn times. I think your stove has a hopper so fill it up once a decent fire is established.
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- Coal Size/Type: nut and pea
shawnwelcher wrote:and also by shaking the grates with a hot fire arent I just dropping hot coals into the ashpan sorry for the stupid question
When shaking you generally stop when red coals are dropping. With a fresh fire you should not shake until at least 12 hours. That fresh fire will gradually accumulate more ash as a few days go by and will need a bit more shaking so the general rule is to shake until you get a red glow in the ash pan.
- freetown fred
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What size coal are you using SW?
- McGiever
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There are different levels of how hard/fast to work that shaker handle.
And a super clean stove works different than one with some ash left behind...you might be more gentle at shake times.
And a super clean stove works different than one with some ash left behind...you might be more gentle at shake times.
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thanks for all the replies im using anthracite nut coal it says franklin on the bag im gonna attempt to start it tonight when I get home from work at eleven pm
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Im in constable about ten minutes outside of malone
- confedsailor
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Welp, is she burnin?