Thinking About Switching to Coal

Formulabruce · Post by **Formulabruce** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 4:13 pm

Draft is more important than Blower if I had to choose. But with 2 or Less 90 degree bends a rear draft chubby will be fine and use Easily less than half the wood once used ( given same BTU), and the coal will take up Much less space.
The Blower can, and has saved me from cracking my grate when stove got too hot I can cool in right down easily.
Here are some dancing Blue ladies...

.JPG | 189.1KB | DBL Chubby.jpg

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 4:19 pm

My old house is about 15-1600 sq/ft, and alternating between oil and coal, I'll use less than 2 ton a year. The oil comes on early mornings when the stove cools and allows the thermostat to drop off, but only on the coldest of nites.

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 4:20 pm

Formulabruce wrote:Draft is more important than Blower if I had to choose. But with 2 or Less 90 degree bends a rear draft chubby will be fine and use Easily less than half the wood once used ( given same BTU), and the coal will take up Much less space.
The Blower can, and has saved me from cracking my grate when stove got too hot I can cool in right down easily.
Here are some dancing Blue ladies...
DBL Chubby.jpg

That door is such a nice looking up-grade to those stoves. Very nice.

Formulabruce · Post by **Formulabruce** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 4:34 pm

joeq wrote:
Formulabruce wrote:Draft is more important than Blower if I had to choose. But with 2 or Less 90 degree bends a rear draft chubby will be fine and use Easily less than half the wood once used ( given same BTU), and the coal will take up Much less space.
The Blower can, and has saved me from cracking my grate when stove got too hot I can cool in right down easily.
Here are some dancing Blue ladies...
DBL Chubby.jpg
That door is such a nice looking up-grade to those stoves. Very nice.

Oh yeah, it really makes the Chubby an attractive sight!

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 4:38 pm

I would choose no blower if it meant having a single right angle instead of 2. I would not rely on a blower to cool the fire. Shutting down the primary air and the MPD will do that. Thanks to Dave for suggesting the ash vac. I just went out and bought one and don't know how I lived without it before!

Wood slave · Post by **Wood slave** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 5:20 pm

I will need to get the top vent chubby due to my thimble being about 5 ft off the hearth. So I will have a 90* bend from top of stove into the thimble then it obviously turns up in the chimney to vent.

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 6:50 pm

Ah I see. No problem. Top vent is what you want.

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 6:52 pm

And you can choose blower or not. Personal preference. I like it quiet.

Wood slave · Post by **Wood slave** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:18 pm

Formulabruce, that is an awesome photo of the chubby by the way!!

Wood slave · Post by **Wood slave** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:24 pm

Have a question for you all with a refurb chubby! When you order one are they painted already or can they paint one to your "spec" or ship it unpainted to you to finish?

Do have great news now, the wife said I can switch to "the dark side" next season lol. I'm ok with waiting till next season so I can take my time setting up the chubby and all. But, she said I have to sell my wood stove too and I don't wanna do that just yet:(. Not sure what to do!

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:26 pm

The paint job is very professional and an integral part of the restoration or new assembly.

Like would you buy a car unpainted?

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:29 pm

Wood slave wrote:Have a question for you all with a refurb chubby! When you order one are they painted already or can they paint one to your "spec" or ship it unpainted to you to finish?

Do have great news now, the wife said I can switch to "the dark side" next season lol. I'm ok with waiting till next season so I can take my time setting up the chubby and all. But, she said I have to sell my wood stove too and I don't wanna do that just yet:(. Not sure what to do!

She wants you to wait until next yr for a coal stove & she wants you to sell your wood stove right now ? No heat for this winter ?

ddahlgren · Post by **ddahlgren** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:49 pm

lobsterman wrote:And you can choose blower or not. Personal preference. I like it quiet.

Me too but have one seldom used but when gets really bitter cold below 0 it allows me to push the Crane 404 well beyond what is possible without it and keep the house warm rather than run oil or wear a coat indoors. I look at as a tool in the tool box and if not needed not used.

lobsterman · Post by **lobsterman** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:52 pm

For that application, agreed. The blower has its function.

Wood slave · Post by **Wood slave** » Sun. Nov. 20, 2016 8:58 pm

Windyhill, sorry bout that, I meant I'm finishing this season with wood and sometime this spring or summer I will get the chubby for the next burn season. I want to keep the wood burner stored for at least one burn season while using the chubby to make sure we like it, (well I know I'm gonna like it). She wants me to sell it to pay for the chubby so I don't know. That chubby will be in this house one way or anther lol:)