What Brand of Stoker Stove is Best

Right now I would say the best brand of stoker stove is one that you can get purchased and installed before winter.

Hello. Well I think I am in the right topic.

I live in Franklin Mass and think I want a coal burning stove that has some sort of feeder mechanism. I can
find two in this area. One is a stoker that is 90K BTU, very nice, and is $2800. The "other one" seems to be
the "Vermont" which is not a self feeder and runs around $1500.

I am wondering if there are other self feeders for less money. And also if I could figure out a place or way that
is accessable to me that I could buy one. I see a lot of names listed here, but don't seem to be able to connect
the dots on price, type, or availability.

In other words I'd like to buy an affordable stove that I can get my hands on!!!!! This is like finding a needle in a haystack.
(And the weather report says "extreme cold coming in about 6 months".....

if you can find one,you should buy it yesterday! stoves are sold out just about every where.the stoker at $2800.00 sounds reasonable if it is Leisure Line. Keystoker,Alaska,Harmon,or Reading to name a few.beware of others ask questions here before you purchase any others or you might get "burned".there are a lot of people here that can and will give you free advise if you ask.good luck !

mogul397 wrote:Hello. Well I think I am in the right topic.


I am wondering if there are other self feeders for less money. And also if I could figure out a place or way that
is accessable to me that I could buy one. I see a lot of names listed here, but don't seem to be able to connect
the dots on price, type, or availability.

In other words I'd like to buy an affordable stove that I can get my hands on!!!!! This is like finding a needle in a haystack.
(And the weather report says "extreme cold coming in about 6 months".....

You can get a good hand fired for about 1/2 what you'll pay for a stoker & they are not all that much more work. (I shake my hand fired down once a day) They also need no electricity to run & are silent.
Just something to consider

While I wanted a Leisure Line or maybe a Keystoker the Alaska Channing 3 was best for our installation because of its height. We needed a stove that wouldn't cover the window it was next to.

What brand/make is the stoker for $2800?? Make and model please..
If for example it is a Harman Magnum, like suggested above,, buy it yesterday.
If for example it is a Reading stoker,, that is about double it's retail price, and quality and value is suspect..

Get on each of the major maker's sites, do some research on who makes what..

www.harmanstoves.com
www.hitzer.com
www.alaskastoves.com
www.LeisureLineStoves.com
www.readingstoves .com
www.bakerstoves.com
www.keystoker.com

All a bove links may not work, if a link doesn't work, google the maker's name and you will find the correct site address.

Greg L.

I am also new to this and am looking to get rid of having to pay the high fuel oil prices.

I found a couple dealers around here for Harman and Leisure Line. Has anyone here used these models that can give me any pros/cons. The models I'm currently looking at from Harmon are the Mark II or III and the TLC2000. From Leisure Line, the Pioneer LE.

I live in a two-story home and I want to put this in my living room on the first floor. I'm guessing that I may have to use a fan to blow it toward the direction of the stairs to get the heat up there. ?? I'm hoping that whichever one I get will heat well enough that I don't have to buy any fuel oil. Or are they only meant to supplement your main furnace?

Also what is required for maintenance? I'm a single mom, I'm not helpless by any means, but just want to know what I'm getting into. Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

A Harman Mark stove is a hand feed, it will require loading of coal and emptying of ash roughly every 12 hours.. A Leisure Line Pioneer is a stoker stove, it is a lot easier to deal with, won't need tending but once every 24 hours or more. The Leisure Line Pioneer also comes with a set and forget digital thermostat, called a Coal Trol.

All stoves are supplemental heaters.. a boiler or furnace is a replacement for your main heating system. However a supplemental heater will keep most of the house quite comfortable for most weather conditions.. for a fraction of the cost of oil heat.

Greg L

ive owned two stoves first one was a alaskan that would burn out a small bearing in the blower motor once a heating season The other stove i currently own is a harman magnum stoker and i love it I gave my alaskan to my sister and they bought anew blower motor and havent had a problem the tech at alaskan told me they have since changed manu on the blower motor and it should no longer be a problem hope this helps you

Thanks gang for the insight, I do feel like I'm going back in time, its been many years since I had to tend a coal stove at dad's, but not afraid to do so again. Plan on buying a Leisure Line Pioneer soon, have looked at several brands, I know the steel is not as heavy or thick in this model but with its welded reinfocements I feel it should do fine. Also like the power vent and coal trol, will be installing in a finished basement of a ranch house and plan on heating the entire house all winter with it, I vow (or trying ) not buy oil, they make enough money from me with my diesel truck and 94 economy S/W. But hosnestly any other advice on this brand of stove would be appreciated.

Thanks.

When I was looking for a stove or furnace, I was trying to get info on line and be up on the products beforehand but there just wasn't that much information out there, this forum is a big help for those who are now looking and need info. I bought based on what I saw in the back of dealer's (visited a few) shop or location - many used Keystoker Kokers to heat their places (works for them, then works for me) - hell, it didn't look like much (no brass or tiles on it) but it looked well constructed, the motors were all Dayton (easily purchased from Grainger when they quit) and unit was headed to the basement and wasn't going to be viewed by anyone but me (the basic black was perfect for me).

After owning one for 5 seasons, still think it's pretty good for what it has to do - save my family money - paid for itself in two seasons - keeps me warmer than the old gas furnace (much warmer) and it's still black.

For those looking for a stove or furnace - look at the guage of steel used, look at replacement parts, review this forum top to bottom and overall buy something now - I wish I made my purchase 10 -15 years ago.

My brand is best of course. There all good. Leisure Line has Jerry and there isn't anyone who I met who knows more then that guy.

I have a Reading Lehigh and am about to put he ACutron Thermo on it. Why is it that they are not looked well on? It looks like a very well made stove, seems to be simple and not overengineered. Comments?

Nothing better Than a HYFIRE II and a COAL-TROL themostat.

That is LEISURE LINE HYFIRE II