Prepping for Next Winter.

So far I have my coal bunker complete except for installing the hinges on my door for the outside loading opening. I will finish that up tomorrow. Bunker is 8' square and 5' high. Next week I will order 3 1/2 ton of nut then next month another 3 1/2 ton to fill it on up. I built a chute in the front center for coal removal. The opening is 8" high by 17" wide. Hope it works. It would make getting the coal out easier. I figure if the opening is too big I can always downsize it. Above the chute I have 2X10's stacked and held in place by rails on each side so if needed I can get at the top of the pile.
Also got my tempering tank hooked back up. I havent had it since I got rid of the wood stove and it definitely helps the water heater by raising the incoming water temperature. I have it tucked in the right rear corner of the DS Machine. It's been some time but I guess I can still sweat a copper tubing joint. NO leaks I want to make a sheet metal heat collector for the left side of that stove and pipe it into my propane furnace system. I hope to boost the upstairs heat in the "almost" winter weeks by using the "fan only" mode on the propane furnace and pull some heat off the DS.
Pretty messy down there but I will get it straightened up soon

Lookin Good. You will appreciate the sweat you put into this project when that first frost hits@@!!

Nice work deepwoods. What kind of temp do you see in the tempered water leaving the tank. I want to do a similar set up for my oil HW heater this fall.

Nice DW. Now quit screwin around & get out & mow that grass!

Looks good deepwoods, that should serve you well.

michaelanthony wrote:Nice work deepwoods. What kind of temp do you see in the tempered water leaving the tank. I want to do a similar set up for my oil HW heater this fall.

I cant speak for this current setup but when the woodstove was running I normally had at least 70* and when pushed to 500* on outside of the stove I could see 110* on up to 130*. Those temps were usually during the evening when showers and dishwashing were done and it had time to recover. I am optimistic about using it with the coal stove because I can run a steady temperature MUCH longer vs. the wood which was up and down if I didnt stay at it keeping it fed.
I prefer the tempering tank because it is "basic". I would need circ pumps and extra places to move the hot water if I used a sidearm inside the stove especially on a cold night when the stove would be working at a high temperature. Tempering tank operates on natural convection and the only rule is that the temp tank needs to be on a lower level than the main water heater. Also, it needs no electricity just like my two coal stoves.

freetown fred wrote:Nice DW. Now quit screwin around & get out & mow that grass!

What are you Fred??? Clairvoyant??? Mowing has sure been on my mind for the last week or so but nothing but rain,rain,rain I took some pics of the 3 acres of what I'm up against, not counting the camp across the road, another 1/2 acre. My shoes are soaked from this picture outing. Five foot deck on the Kubota makes fairly short work of it but as heavy as it is it will slow me down. BUT>>>>>>coal and all things connected with it still comes first. This is the 1st year I am not out in the woods foraging for firewood and suffering lame back and bug bites to name a few maladies associated with it. Last year I was to the doctor twice after pulling deer ticks out of my hide and getting the necessary antibiotic for treatment. God Bless Coal
Oh! An afterthought, what better way to spend a rainy day than doing the coal thing

I hear ya, I still got to pick up a 6" T & a short piece of straight 6" both black inside. Looks like a nice chunk of land ya got there D.W.

Thanks dw!

Impressive piece of property that you got there, I see why you got the 60" deck on the mower.
Must be a commercial piece of equipment to keep up with it.

Good Luck D.W.

coal stoker wrote:Impressive piece of property that you got there, I see why you got the 60" deck on the mower.
Must be a commercial piece of equipment to keep up with it.

Good Luck D.W.

coal stoker, thanks for the compliment. I use a Kubota B7100 HST with mid mount mower. It's old (like me) but I fuss over it and keep it in good shape. It's a busy machine winter & summer. Also use a 75% restored 1964 Simplicity Landlord with 42" deck for tight spots and trimming under the trees. I might be able to finish the resto on the Simplicity this winter when I'm on coal heat. So easy and leaves lots of time for other things. Love it

I also am looking forward to catching up, with heading into my first winter burning coal with my Efm
I hope take advantage of the spare time that this stoker will provide, anything is better than the OW B I used to feed

Halfway there, 3 1/2 ton Yellow line is the halfway mark for the bunker although I think if filled to the top it could hold 8 ton or there about. It is 240 cu. ft. Other pic is of my bottom feed chute and it looks like it will work fine. I already tried scooping from it. I filled my scuttle three times and the coal only moves through the chute enough to scoop another scuttle. Auto refill, I like it. My only regret is that I didnt get with coal many years ago Next month I get the last 3 1/2 ton delivery and then it is simply a matter of waiting for the day I light em off Last pic is my loading door. Through the wood years I managed to bust the original window frame shooting wood thru the window opening. I made an impromptu cover for the hole but never made a real door. Now I have one. Left over 3/4" plywood and a pair of scrounged old heavy hinges (sandblasted & painted). Neat little hasp with a twist latch for closure. 2" hard foam insulation on the outside. Going to get started on insulating the basement walls. That would be a big help for holding heat in.

I envy your problem lawn!

ddahlgren wrote:I envy your problem lawn!

ddahlgren, in the Vietnam war era I was stationed at the Submarine Base New London-Groton Conn. It was great duty there compared to what came later and I have lots of fond memories like visiting the Charles W. Morgan whaling ship @ Mystic Seaport and eating fine food at the Chartroom restaurant in Groton. I almost became a Conn. resident, as at the time Electric Boat division of General Dynamics was offering guaranteed employment to Navy men familiar with subs when they were discharged from service provided they met certain qualifications. Wife won and we came home to Pa. when I left the Navy. At times we have had second thoughts about that decision.
As for the problem lawn I am considering downsizing it by a little over 1/2 acre. It too is getting a little old just as woodcutting did last year. This new coal thing might be making me just a little lazy and the farmer who owns and cuts the hay on the field behind my house would appreciate the extra hay.