Finally Saw the Keystoker HFH-90 Hand Fired Stove Today ...
- lsayre
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- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
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- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
... and it was love at first sight. Made a road trip just to see it. They are amazingly well engineered and well built. The quality shows, but at a price to match. I've never seen better welds on any stove.
By my careful measurements the fireboxes (inside the firebricks) width and length dimensions are exactly 12" x 18", and by applying my rule of 375 that makes this an 81,000 BTU stove. A bit less than Keystoker's claim of 90,000 BTU's.
12 x 18 x 375 = 81,000
Of course in the real world this must be at least halved, so I'd call it a 40,000 BTU "capable" stove.
By my careful measurements the fireboxes (inside the firebricks) width and length dimensions are exactly 12" x 18", and by applying my rule of 375 that makes this an 81,000 BTU stove. A bit less than Keystoker's claim of 90,000 BTU's.
12 x 18 x 375 = 81,000
Of course in the real world this must be at least halved, so I'd call it a 40,000 BTU "capable" stove.
- lsayre
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- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
No pictures were taken. I'm an old man who barely knows how to use his ancient flip phone.Lightning wrote:What?!? Tease us like that with no pictures??!! Show us the goods partner!
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So brass rim or no? I remember getting pressured by this board about pics and had to trade in my rotary phone. They are a tough crowd, Larry they do not accept excuses.
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- Coal Size/Type: Nut Anth.
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i remember looking at this stove online when you first mentioned it. I got a ration from the Mrs. about why we didn't get one of those PRETTY stoves.
i still haven't seen any exploded views or description though.
what are the features that make it stand out ?
steve
i still haven't seen any exploded views or description though.
what are the features that make it stand out ?
steve
- lsayre
- Member
- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
The build quality is exemplary as previously mentioned (overall fit and finish is top shelf), plus the grate system looks particularly robust, and the hopper has the largest capacity of any hopper assisted hand fired stove I've yet to come across. I think you might be able to get nigh on 80 lbs. of coal into the hopper alone. Did I mention the hopper is stainless steel? The gasketing I saw looks terrific also, as does the really well done bi-metallic air inlet control system. And the optional glass top is really something. The lid is cast iron (sans for the glass of course). It comes standard with 2 ash pans, and it even comes standard with a form fit steel shield that fits into the door area while the stove is running if you want to open the door and let it cool down so you can clean the glass off while the stove is going about its business of fully functioning. And the air inlet wheel on the ash door is fully functional if you choose to use this method of air inlet control instead of the bi-metallic air inlet control (or in conjunction with the bi-metal control). And it just down right looks nice clear down to the feet.
This appears to be a case where you get what you pay for. That's probably the part that keeps people away from this stove though. With all of the bells and whistles like the glass top and the brass trim and the blower it goes for roughly $2,400.
This appears to be a case where you get what you pay for. That's probably the part that keeps people away from this stove though. With all of the bells and whistles like the glass top and the brass trim and the blower it goes for roughly $2,400.
- Lightning
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Awww bummer lol.. being the techkie type that I perceive you as, you'd love a smart phone once you learned yer way around on it.. Thanks for sharing your road triplsayre wrote:No pictures were taken. I'm an old man who barely knows how to use his ancient flip phone.Lightning wrote:What?!? Tease us like that with no pictures??!! Show us the goods partner!
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- Posts: 4837
- Joined: Wed. Apr. 03, 2013 1:24 pm
- Location: Elkhart county, IN.
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: 1 comforter stove works all iron coal box stove, seventies.
- Baseburners & Antiques: 2014 DTS C17 Base Burner, GW #6, GW 113 formerly Sir Williams, maybe others at Pauliewog’s I’ve forgotten about
- Coal Size/Type: Nut Anth.
- Other Heating: none
80#'s in the hopper alone, really something if acurate.
how deep is that 12 x 18 fire box ? if it's 9" we're talking about 56#'s in there too. that's alot of coal for a stove of it's measurements. pretty impressive.
how deep is that 12 x 18 fire box ? if it's 9" we're talking about 56#'s in there too. that's alot of coal for a stove of it's measurements. pretty impressive.
- lsayre
- Member
- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
That was the only major oddity that I noticed for the HFH-90. I doubt that the depth of its firebox is even 6 inches, let alone 9 inches. I should have measured it, but my admittedly eyeball guess is more like 5" depth based on the firebrick height. But then apparently this lack of firebox depth does not matter much (if at all) when you are burning anthracite and you have a hopper overhead.KingCoal wrote:80#'s in the hopper alone, really something if acurate.
how deep is that 12 x 18 fire box ? if it's 9" we're talking about 56#'s in there too. that's alot of coal for a stove of it's measurements. pretty impressive.
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Based on your information and that of the web site, I would expect of the stove:
Pea coal would work best with a 5 inch depth fire pot.
Tending times would be shorter with a 5 inch bed as opposed to 9 inch.
CO generation would be less with the shallow bed. It breathes easier.
What is the glass top for?
The stove is handsome.
The double skin on sides and top might require the use of the blower to keep stack temp. low.
Pea coal would work best with a 5 inch depth fire pot.
Tending times would be shorter with a 5 inch bed as opposed to 9 inch.
CO generation would be less with the shallow bed. It breathes easier.
What is the glass top for?
The stove is handsome.
The double skin on sides and top might require the use of the blower to keep stack temp. low.
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- Posts: 8601
- Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Chester, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
- Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
- Coal Size/Type: Rice,
- Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22
Still having trouble imagining the operation. A Youtube video would be great.
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- Member
- Posts: 8601
- Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Chester, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
- Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
- Coal Size/Type: Rice,
- Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22
YA see, I warned you.
- lsayre
- Member
- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
franco b, my intent (initially at least) would be to use it exclusively pea, as that is what I have in the bin for the AHS Coal Gun.
The hinged glass top is only for decoration. Under it is the cast iron cast iron top with gasketed cast iron hopper lid.
You bring up a good point regarding the double skin and the need for a blower, and this in fact may kill my dream. I do not intend to use a blower with a hand fired stove. It is only available as an option though, so I will call Keystoker and inquire of the heating functionality of the stove without the blower. It seems to me that if the blower is a requirement it should come standard. It is only a minuscule 45 CFM output blower.
Where is member SemperFi when I need him. He has burned this stove for about 7 years now. He would know for sure if this stove will work without the blower, and if it functions best with pea or nut. He only posts at most a few times a year though.
The hinged glass top is only for decoration. Under it is the cast iron cast iron top with gasketed cast iron hopper lid.
You bring up a good point regarding the double skin and the need for a blower, and this in fact may kill my dream. I do not intend to use a blower with a hand fired stove. It is only available as an option though, so I will call Keystoker and inquire of the heating functionality of the stove without the blower. It seems to me that if the blower is a requirement it should come standard. It is only a minuscule 45 CFM output blower.
Where is member SemperFi when I need him. He has burned this stove for about 7 years now. He would know for sure if this stove will work without the blower, and if it functions best with pea or nut. He only posts at most a few times a year though.
- lsayre
- Member
- Posts: 21781
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 23, 2005 9:17 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AHS S130 Coal Gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Anthracite Pea
- Other Heating: Resistance Boiler (13.5 KW), ComfortMax 75
I finally got around to calling Keystoker and discussing the HFH-90 with them. They assured me that it was designed as a stove to be used without the blower, and it will radiate heat just fine. Any opinions on this?