Safe Temp of Full Coal Bed in Polar Stove

since I am new to burning coal in this stove like I said in past post I found a picture I took while it was running a while back. when running at a normal rate should a full bed of coals look glowing red? what would be a good sign of it getting too hot, I have had this stove full in the past and the 11 inches of pot was bright red up to the top, was that ok as a high setting. the picture I will attach now was about half way full fire box running for a few hours. it seemed perfect running temp but as I asked before how hot can I get this and still be safe,

swattley01 wrote:since I am new to burning coal in this stove like I said in past post I found a picture I took while it was running a while back. when running at a normal rate should a full bed of coals look glowing red? what would be a good sign of it getting too hot, I have had this stove full in the past and the 11 inches of pot was bright red up to the top, was that ok as a high setting. the picture I will attach now was about half way full fire box running for a few hours. it seemed perfect running temp but as I asked before how hot can I get this and still be safe,

Most of the people using the antique stoves on here put a magnetic thermometer on the top of the barrel to monitor the temps. I would not operate mine over 600°, but there are some who will go to 700°. I have only had to take my stove to 600° a few times, during the Polar Vortex last year.

Randy

i have couple of them, I have one actually on the cast iron fire box itself. before the install of the molded fire brick, that ribbed cast iron part would glow red along with the hot coals that were lay up against it, now with the fire brick it never gets that hot but I think the other night the guage was up around 600 but since the stove has dual jacket design it would be much lower temp taken up towards the top of the barrel. I do plan on putting one back up there and one on the stack under the baro damper.
i just wonder when you have a good burn to coals should you always see glowing red under the top layer no matter how deep the coal bed is?
another problem is I only get up to that cabin on weekends to practice

swattley01 wrote:i have couple of them, I have one actually on the cast iron fire box itself. before the install of the molded fire brick, that ribbed cast iron part would glow red along with the hot coals that were lay up against it, now with the fire brick it never gets that hot but I think the other night the guage was up around 600 but since the stove has dual jacket design it would be much lower temp taken up towards the top of the barrel. I do plan on putting one back up there and one on the stack under the baro damper.
i just wonder when you have a good burn to coals should you always see glowing red under the top layer no matter how deep the coal bed is?
another problem is I only get up to that cabin on weekends to practice

It depends on the outside temperature and how much heat you need. Early in the season, I have the stove turned down so much that there is no red coals showing on top at all. With the outside temps that we have been having, there are red coals showing on top.

Randy