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46
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Heating season is approaching!
« on: September 01, 2014, 06:09:20 PM »
I'm in big trouble, I got zip ready for this year. I'll get enough cut to get going with wood for shoulder season then switch to 75% coal while I get some cutting done. Luckily I have 20 acres of storm damage thats been blown over for the past 3 years.
47
Plumbing / Re: Have any luck with shark-bites?
« on: July 28, 2014, 04:41:33 PM »
Had sharkbites leak on hot water pex if it cooled down. Didn't reseal when heated back up. Shrinkage,you know...crimped on connections worked fine.
48
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Where do you purchase chimney pipe
« on: April 27, 2014, 07:08:24 AM »
Can someone explain how and why the draft changes with a forced draft stove? I wouldn't think extra height would change the draft enough to make a difference.
Somebody educate me.
Somebody educate me.
49
Fire Wood / Re: Shorts and chunks
« on: April 23, 2014, 12:51:44 PM »
They won't work in your stove. Bring them to me... 
50
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Heating with OWB fired with high density partical board
« on: April 05, 2014, 11:46:21 AM »Guys it's full of glue and crap, what you burn, your kids and neighbors breathe, PLEASE don't burn that in your OWB, no good will come from it!
What he said.
I might try burning old tear off shingles. I hear you can get them for free...
51
Fire Wood / Re: Coal vs Wood
« on: March 15, 2014, 06:43:56 AM »
Update
Have burned no wood for three weeks now. Have gotten the hang of the coal routine. Fan off, shake, empty ash pan daily, fan on, forget it. Still loading 2x a day. Will likely use 1 ton of coal per month in average temps. Johnson A419 controller set at 180°, 2° differential. Have installed a Maverick ET-732 barbeque remote temp sensor. Now I can watch temps from the house.
Next project is an ambient temperature sensor that will use the A419s offset feature. It will offset the set point to 160° when ambient temp is above 55°. I also need to clean up the install, it looks like a rat's nest inside the stove back. Maybe a nice box to mount everytnig in...hmmmm...
Enough for now, off to cut wood!
Have burned no wood for three weeks now. Have gotten the hang of the coal routine. Fan off, shake, empty ash pan daily, fan on, forget it. Still loading 2x a day. Will likely use 1 ton of coal per month in average temps. Johnson A419 controller set at 180°, 2° differential. Have installed a Maverick ET-732 barbeque remote temp sensor. Now I can watch temps from the house.
Next project is an ambient temperature sensor that will use the A419s offset feature. It will offset the set point to 160° when ambient temp is above 55°. I also need to clean up the install, it looks like a rat's nest inside the stove back. Maybe a nice box to mount everytnig in...hmmmm...
Enough for now, off to cut wood!
52
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Maverick ET 732 Temperature Probe - Best place to install??
« on: March 08, 2014, 06:37:03 AM »
Just installed my Maverick. This thing is the hot setup. Not too expensive and seems to work well. Installed at the boiler, 150' from my recliner. Now I can monitor temps without going to the basement, outside to the boiler and back. There is exactly a 10° ofset from my actual temps so its easy to convert. We'll see how it holds up. Just need to make some labels to replace barbeque and food...what were these people thinking? 
53
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: coal grates
« on: March 03, 2014, 03:05:24 PM »
NCs have fire brick, with spaces between them for forced draft, as the bottom of the firebox. I removed most of the firebrick which gave me a fully open 12"x24" bottom. I made the grate to fit this area. I still want to get some firebrick to line the sides of the firebox; not sure if having the, hotter than wood, coal in direct contact with the steel is a good idea. When you order the factory coal grates they recommend buying brick to line the firebox sides.
Had a 20 hour burn Saturday between loads in sub 20° temps.
For reference I used 6 cord from 28 Oct to 15 Feb.
Had a 20 hour burn Saturday between loads in sub 20° temps.
For reference I used 6 cord from 28 Oct to 15 Feb.
54
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: coal grates
« on: March 03, 2014, 08:06:44 AM »
I made a frame out of 1" angle with some cross members for support and covered it with expanded metal. It was originally just for experimentation but has been working so well I just kept using it.
I use a 3 prong cultivating hoe to "shake" out the ash. Just stab it into the coal bed and move back and forth a couple inches. Do this all over the coal. The ash sifts down into the ash pan. I then take a 1/4" rod poker and run under the coal bed right on top or the grate. Seems to be working well. Just be sure to turn the fan off before ash removal and don't "stir" the coal.
Maybe not the best solution but it works for a tightwad like me. The regular shaker grates for my stove are $300. I've got $20 in this setup.
I use a 3 prong cultivating hoe to "shake" out the ash. Just stab it into the coal bed and move back and forth a couple inches. Do this all over the coal. The ash sifts down into the ash pan. I then take a 1/4" rod poker and run under the coal bed right on top or the grate. Seems to be working well. Just be sure to turn the fan off before ash removal and don't "stir" the coal.
Maybe not the best solution but it works for a tightwad like me. The regular shaker grates for my stove are $300. I've got $20 in this setup.
55
Fire Wood / Re: Coal vs Wood
« on: February 26, 2014, 02:47:45 PM »
Send me about 5 tons of that $75 bituminous!
New mix, bituminous nut and red ash anthracite nut. By far the best!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vxfuu9bib4oci0j/20140226_070112.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oa8oq7t8p90d6fb/20140226_070122.jpg
New mix, bituminous nut and red ash anthracite nut. By far the best!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vxfuu9bib4oci0j/20140226_070112.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oa8oq7t8p90d6fb/20140226_070122.jpg
56
Fire Wood / Re: Coal vs Wood
« on: February 23, 2014, 10:25:43 AM »
Update:
Johnson A419 installed today. Had to run a neutral wire to the A419. No big deal.
Temp set at 175°, diff at 2°. Damper full closed, no constant air. We'll see how that works.
Fan cut off at 175° just like it was supposed to. Temp climbed to 179° and seems to be holding.
Will check later to see if its has dropped.
Johnson A419 installed today. Had to run a neutral wire to the A419. No big deal.
Temp set at 175°, diff at 2°. Damper full closed, no constant air. We'll see how that works.
Fan cut off at 175° just like it was supposed to. Temp climbed to 179° and seems to be holding.
Will check later to see if its has dropped.
57
Fire Wood / Re: Coal vs Wood
« on: February 20, 2014, 06:28:14 PM »
This bit is the shiz! Have had fire since yesterday at 1600. No problems. I put 3 pieces of wood in the boiler yesterday to get the coal mix started, have not put any wood in since. 100% coal burning well at 45° ambient, which means lots of idle time. No trouble refiring. Have tended/loaded 2 times since original fire. This will take me through tomorrow morning or maybe afternoon.
I will still burn wood beause I have so much available to me but I am sure liking the coal right now. We'll see how long the infatuation lasts...
I will still burn wood beause I have so much available to me but I am sure liking the coal right now. We'll see how long the infatuation lasts...
58
Fire Wood / Re: Coal vs Wood
« on: February 20, 2014, 03:46:10 AM »You might try the Jonson A-419 aqua-stat controller, I'm running mine with a 1 degree differential on my chip boiler right now and it's set at 202 degrees FThanks slim. Will be putting one on this weekend. I had looked at Ranco but it looked like it was only 3° diff. Glad to find the A-419.
Also got some bituminous nut size coal yesterday. Mixing it with anthracite stove size. Stayed fired all night.
59
HeatMaster / Re: anyone burning coal in their heatmaster?
« on: February 17, 2014, 10:57:51 AM »
Google nepacrossroads forum. They are the coal gurus. Just be prepared to take abuse for having a OWB. Its like you are a baby seal killer or something...
60
Fire Wood / Re: Coal vs Wood
« on: February 14, 2014, 04:43:40 AM »
Slim, diff at tight as it gets, 5°. Just a no frills Honeywell a-stat.
Was awake most of the night with back spasms and didn't hear the oil kick on at all. Fought the urge to go look at the boiler until about 0530. Found a 6" deep, nicely burning coal bed, fan on, 175° water temp. This means that the boiler ran through at least 1 cycle since the fan was off when checked last night around 2100.
Turned the fan off, ran the poker along the grate under the coal bed to clear the ash, added 5 coal shovelfuls of wet stove size coal and turned the fan back on. Now I wait to see if it takes off.
Stay tuned, same coal time, same coal channel!
Was awake most of the night with back spasms and didn't hear the oil kick on at all. Fought the urge to go look at the boiler until about 0530. Found a 6" deep, nicely burning coal bed, fan on, 175° water temp. This means that the boiler ran through at least 1 cycle since the fan was off when checked last night around 2100.
Turned the fan off, ran the poker along the grate under the coal bed to clear the ash, added 5 coal shovelfuls of wet stove size coal and turned the fan back on. Now I wait to see if it takes off.
Stay tuned, same coal time, same coal channel!