Thanks folks!

Just got my new TLC-2000 installed today, my first coal stove.

I also have a US-STove "Franklin" recast made in the late 70's early 80s, but have only ever run wood in it.

The Harman replaces a godawful large wood-burner (flat bottom) that never held a consistant fire, and smoked to high heaven.

Anyway.. thanks to the insightful and informative info found here, I lit the first wood fire in it at 11:00, had coal running by 2:00 (after wood-firing it to 400 for two hours, to cure the stove) and am now ready to damp it down for the night and let it go!

I heard enough horror stories about how bad coal was.. but this is _far_ easier to deal with than a finicky wood fire, and far FAR more stable/even as far as heat goes.

Running Reading Anthracite bag coal, btw. Will probably do bags for the rest of this season, then try to find a good local supplier. I'm about an hour from Pottsville/Schuylkill cty.. so I could probably just take my trailer up, find an abandoned tailings pile, and mine my own.

Congrats on the new stove. Mind if I ask what you paid for it? Since no stove company list's MSRP on their sites I'm trying to compare stoves and prices from people online.

I think you'll like the Harman. I've had my TLC-2000 for 3 years now & love it! (You'll just have to get the hang of the Harman shaker mechanism which will allow you to dump you fire if you push/pull it to the stops) Good Luck with it!

The basic stove, no frills (black door, no trim ring on the shelf, no "decorative vent cover") was 1629, the blower (variable speed 130cfm) was 139, and the drop in grill was 39.

They charged me 500 for installation, but it was worth every penny as they got my old monster _out_ as well, and only had to use the sawzall twice to do it.

Dealer is KC Stove and Fireplace in Alburtis PA.

CBT69 wrote:Running Reading Anthracite bag coal, btw. Will probably do bags for the rest of this season, then try to find a good local supplier. I'm about an hour from Pottsville/Schuylkill cty.. so I could probably just take my trailer up, find an abandoned tailings pile, and mine my own.

You'll like the Harman, very well made stove.

Since you are so close you can get the good deep-mined coal for a good price. Using "left over" coal may give you problems, save the headache and buy a ton or two of the good stuff.
Been there, done that.

CBT69 wrote:The basic stove, no frills (black door, no trim ring on the shelf, no "decorative vent cover") was 1629, the blower (variable speed 130cfm) was 139, and the drop in grill was 39.

They charged me 500 for installation, but it was worth every penny as they got my old monster _out_ as well, and only had to use the sawzall twice to do it.

Dealer is KC Stove and Fireplace in Alburtis PA.

Thanks CBT69 enjoy your stove.

Wood'nCoal wrote:

CBT69 wrote:Running Reading Anthracite bag coal, btw. Will probably do bags for the rest of this season, then try to find a good local supplier. I'm about an hour from Pottsville/Schuylkill cty.. so I could probably just take my trailer up, find an abandoned tailings pile, and mine my own.

You'll like the Harman, very well made stove.

Since you are so close you can get the good deep-mined coal for a good price. Using "left over" coal may give you problems, save the headache and buy a ton or two of the good stuff.
Been there, done that.

Yeah. My Mom (Magnafire Mk2 and Mk3) has a guy that comes down from Pottsville and she does about 7 tons a year. I'll be giving them a call.

I noticed your sig file.. I also have a 1700's farmhouse, most of which is exposed stone, so an R-factor of 0. That was my impetus to get a coal stove. I really like the look of the house, but need a constant heat source round the clock to keep the wall temps up.

I'm going to be interested to see how it is 3 days in, as that seems to be the usual breakover point for temp change. As you probably know, it will get warm outside, and stay cold inside for about 3 days until the stone catches up. So I figure three days of constant heat inside, and I should get a real feel for the dynamics of the house, and airflow once the walls are warm, rather than playing oil-fired "heat the air" during the waking hours and letting it get down to 60 overnight.

I know all about the heat loss in these old places. It mostly stays comfortable in here until the outside temps go below 30, then the cold really starts to creep in. Check out this thread I started on old houses:

Old Houses

Thanks,

John

You won't look back. I'm getting bummed that the season is ending.

Charlie Z wrote:You won't look back. I'm getting bummed that the season is ending.

I hear you! I do like the spring & summer but the best time is in the fall, when it starts to get cold & you light that first fire & feel that nice (cheap) heat!

As much as I love burning coal, you guys are NUTS !!

I'll take 60* nights and 78* days over any winter weather anytime... except for when I hit the ski-slopes...which I haven't had time to do for several years..

Greg

LsFarm wrote:As much as I love burning coal, you guys are NUTS !!

I'll take 60* nights and 78* days over any winter weather anytime... except for when I hit the ski-slopes...which I haven't had time to do for several years..

Greg

My skis have been collecting dust for quite a few years now, I've just about given up on that idea.
It costs a small fortune to be a ski bum.
I prefer the spring, fall and winter. I have no use for summer's heat and humidity. If I could just figure out how to run the AC on coal.

[quote="Wood'nCoal
My skis have been collecting dust for quite a few years now, I've just about given up on that idea.
It costs a small fortune to be a ski bum.
I prefer the spring, fall and winter. I have no use for summer's heat and humidity. If I could just figure out how to run the AC on coal.[/quote]


I'm with you when it comes to humidity. I'm so bad that my wife even knows what the dew point is!

LsFarm wrote: I'll take 60* nights and 78* days over any winter weather anytime... except for when I hit the ski-slopes...which I haven't had time to do for several years..
Greg

Absolutely.