Grate Casting Issue

Post Reply
 
ssettle
New Member
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri. May. 30, 2008 12:25 pm

Post by ssettle » Sat. Jul. 26, 2008 3:20 pm

Hello guys I have a question....I just picked up my furnace (Brunco) and was looking it over and notice that the slots in the grates are flashed over some from casting. I was thinking I should take my hand grinder and grind the flashing away to make the slot openings all the same so I get a better air flow up through the bottom of the furnace. Do you think this a bad idea? I'm not going to make them any wider, just remove the excss metal. Ssettle

 
User avatar
Steve.N
Member
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu. Feb. 21, 2008 3:26 pm
Location: Crown Point, NY East side of the state about 130 miles above Albany

Post by Steve.N » Sat. Jul. 26, 2008 4:00 pm

I would do it also, sounds like they just did a poor job of cleaning the castings

 
CapeCoaler
Member
Posts: 6515
Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove

Post by CapeCoaler » Sat. Jul. 26, 2008 4:54 pm

Smoother is better. Sharp edges cause hot spots which weaken metal. Better airflow means better heat and better shake downs, of the Anthracite kind!


 
User avatar
LsFarm
Member
Posts: 7383
Joined: Sun. Nov. 20, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Michigan
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Self-built 'Big Bertha' SS Boiler
Baseburners & Antiques: Keystone 11, Art Garland

Post by LsFarm » Sat. Jul. 26, 2008 5:01 pm

Do you have a photo of the flashing?? It won't do any harm.. but I think the coal fire will burn off any small thin flashing with the first few fires.. Might as well grind it clean.. it's too warm to burn coal yet..

Greg L

.

 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Sat. Jul. 26, 2008 6:18 pm

It would be a good idea, it may just cause some grief if the grates choke up on ash. I would remove the parting line too, just lightly enough to make it disappear. It is a good idea to fit them and check clearances (they grow a bit when they heat up), you don't want to find out it's rubbing somewhere with a full load of coal in it. Don't forget to go easy with the first fire for a while so the grates season nicely.

 
CapeCoaler
Member
Posts: 6515
Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove

Post by CapeCoaler » Sun. Jul. 27, 2008 2:04 pm

Gas grill does a nice job of breaking in the grates, just need one big enough.

Post Reply

Return to “Hand Fired Coal Stoves & Furnaces Using Anthracite”