Coal Dust

Does anyone know how to prevent very fine peices of coal falling from the bottom of a stoked stove auger? I currently have a baking pan underneath it to catch the fine particles. I'm not sure exactly why it's doing this or if there is anything I can do. Any ideas? Thanks guys!

There has to be a gap or hole for dust to fall out...I'd say that plugging the gap or hole would stop the dust from falling out.

When I had the Alaska carpet-feed stove fines were piling up on the floor under the stoker, and the fan that was blowing horizontally across the stoker to keep it cool distributed fines and dust to the right side of the stove. Since the stove was in the cellar it wasn't a problem. I suppose it's inherent in that design, although improvements may have been made since.

Can you post some photos of that stoker?

Yea they were all over the floor at first then like I said I put the pan under it and solved it somewhat but I would like to fix it. Not sure what I could use.

I have a little piece of stocking over the fan motor so all the little particals don't get in there.

It's an easy fire. I got it for 150$ and installed it myself so I can't complain...

You have an old C&D stoker made in Schuylkill Haven Pa. probably during the late 70's to early 80's. I have one sitting in the garage and will be installing it in my sons house. It was rated at 70,000 BTU's and will burn rice coal all day long. Just feed it and take out the ash. It's a good stoker but it has a few quirks.

Don't try buck because it doesn't like that. Stick with good quality rice with not a lot of fines. On the bottom of the grate there should be a lever that fits into a slot. You will want to open that every month or so to let the fines drop out. You will need some welders gloves or the equivalent if you do this while it is running. I made a scraper out of heavy wire that I could insert into the narrow opening and drag the fines to the hole. You may find it easier to just unplug it, let it go out and cool down before trying this little operation.

The coal dust you talk about is coming out of the input shaft for the paddle stoker in the bottom of your hopper. You will hear what sounds like grinding or popping every once in a while. As the paddle turns back and forth it is going to grind some coal into dust. DO NOT USE DAMP or WET COAL!! The moisture will get absorbed by the dust around the bottom of the paddle shaft and it will harden and block good coal from getting pushed onto the grate. The paddle will push coal not coal dust or fines.

That little bit of coal dust that falls is in the design. No shaft seal and if you had one it would probably chew it up anyway. Your pan you have back there should do just fine. Just make sure you keep the universal joints in the reciprocating linkage lubed with some graphite. I tried a drop of 3-1 oil one time. It got messy but it worked. I just had to keep wiping the accumulated coal junk off.

You got a very decent stoker that will put out some heat. Happy times burning the black rocks to you!!!

Thank you for your very informative reply! You seem very knowledgeable about these stoker stoves.
I am currently burning rice coal that is wet when I get it, but after it sits in the basement for awhile it isn't very wet. But yes that's what I was afraid of, fine particles guming it up and causing problems. Also do you think the stocking I have over the fan motor is a good idea or isn't it necessary?
As far as the part you mentioned I have to clean once a month I'm not to sure where this is, I will have to take a closer look when I get home.
Again thank you for your information!

YES, stocking over the fan intake will help muchly!

As I mentioned this stove does not like damp or wet coal AT ALL. It will stick in the hopper and the ground coal dust will junk up at the bottom of the hopper causing you to shut down and clean it out.

I suggest you explore a metal oval utility tub in the 10 gallon range. Tractor Supply has em for around $20. You can put about 7-8 five gallon buckets worth in there and let it sit and dry out good. I have one that I put the "new" coal in on the left side and I scoop from the right side. As I scoop the dried coal flows from left to right. It sure keeps the mess down and I don't have to be concerned about the black coal water that stains permanently when it touches something.

If you have to shut down, take all the coal out of that hopper, scoop out the gunk that formed, put the coal back in and then relight, you will kick yourself for not investing $20 for the "coal drying tub."