Opinions on Alaska Kodiak III Hand Fired
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- Member
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Mon. Oct. 19, 2009 10:41 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
Im thinking about buying coal berner's recon. of a '98 Kodiak III hand fired, and Im wondering what your experince has been with this model stove if you have one.
Don;t want a stoker yet cuase I don't want it to be dependent on electricty.
need long low temp burn times to keep the pipes in basement from freezing. Dont need big BTUs - just need to be able to leave it unnatended for 24 hrs, and get 3 or 4 days out of a fillup.
Right now im using a wood stove cause I moved the Hitzer up to my bedroom. Hate having to refuel that woody 2x daily. Id like something that really will go 3 or 4 days.
Anybody have hands on experience with the Kodiak III ?
Does it hold a fire well? Is it hard to dump the grate ? Any bad tendancies that this model is known to have ?
Any caveats or issues I should know about ?
Don;t want a stoker yet cuase I don't want it to be dependent on electricty.
need long low temp burn times to keep the pipes in basement from freezing. Dont need big BTUs - just need to be able to leave it unnatended for 24 hrs, and get 3 or 4 days out of a fillup.
Right now im using a wood stove cause I moved the Hitzer up to my bedroom. Hate having to refuel that woody 2x daily. Id like something that really will go 3 or 4 days.
Anybody have hands on experience with the Kodiak III ?
Does it hold a fire well? Is it hard to dump the grate ? Any bad tendancies that this model is known to have ?
Any caveats or issues I should know about ?
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- 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
Even my DSM wants to be shook every 48 when burning spring and fall...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...
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- Member
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Mon. Oct. 19, 2009 10:41 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
shake every 24 and refill every 72 would be the goalCapeCoaler wrote:Even my DSM wants to be shook every 48 when burning spring and fall...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...
-
- 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
Do not count on that...
Shake and fill every 24 hours...
Even in the spring and fall with the DSM running at 180*...
I shake every 24 and load every 48 or less...
That is with night time temps upper 30's and days in the 40's...
And my DSM holds 180# of coal...
You will be running the stove hotter than that...
At least 250*...
Every 24 hours is realistic...
Shake and fill every 24 hours...
Even in the spring and fall with the DSM running at 180*...
I shake every 24 and load every 48 or less...
That is with night time temps upper 30's and days in the 40's...
And my DSM holds 180# of coal...
You will be running the stove hotter than that...
At least 250*...
Every 24 hours is realistic...
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- Member
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Mon. Oct. 19, 2009 10:41 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
hmmm...really don't wanna go stoker yetCapeCoaler wrote:Do not count on that...
Shake and fill every 24 hours...
Even in the spring and fall with the DSM running at 180*...
I shake every 24 and load every 48 or less...
That is with night time temps upper 30's and days in the 40's...
And my DSM holds 180# of coal...
You will be running the stove hotter than that...
At least 250*...
Every 24 hours is realistic...
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- 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
Still have to empty the ashes on a stoker...
Either way once a day ain't too bad...
Either way once a day ain't too bad...
- Coalfire
- Member
- Posts: 1029
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 23, 2009 8:28 pm
- Location: Denver, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 96K btu Circulator
- Coal Size/Type: Nut
If you find a hand fed like that smokey let us know everyone will want onesmokeyCityTeacher wrote:shake every 24 and refill every 72 would be the goalCapeCoaler wrote:Even my DSM wants to be shook every 48 when burning spring and fall...
Realistic situation would be checking on it every 24 hours...
But that depends on how much heat you need...
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30300
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Smokey,what,you're getting lazy how does the 30-95 work in the bed room???--either you have a real big bedroom or you're not useing the stove full capacity wise??? On simmer,my 50-93 will go about 2 days--but,I know I should still shake & top off every 12-16 hrs
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- Member
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Mon. Oct. 19, 2009 10:41 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
I use the Hitzer on idle in the bedroom except when its 13 deg. and the freezing wind is coming in the those original 1880 windows and doors.freetown fred wrote:Smokey,what,you're getting lazy how does the 30-95 work in the bed room???--either you have a real big bedroom or you're not useing the stove full capacity wise??? On simmer,my 50-93 will go about 2 days--but,I know I should still shake & top off every 12-16 hrs
In bad weather a 30-95 is not overkill in a 17 x 20 bedroom with high cielings and several lage leaky window in un inslulated masonry.
A little fan blowing the hot air out the top of the door pulls the cold in from the hall and other rooms - its not overkill.
I guess Im looking for the lazy mans hand fired coal stove :+)
the Kodiak is prolly about the closest ill get since it has a 120# hopper.
- Poconoeagle
- Member
- Posts: 6397
- Joined: Sat. Nov. 08, 2008 7:26 pm
- Location: Tobyhanna PA
the kodiak is a great unit. on low idle I have got 40 hours. nut blashack... it likes to make heat with .05-.06 draft
with the blower unit on it is sweet.
with the blower unit on it is sweet.
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- Member
- Posts: 768
- Joined: Mon. Oct. 19, 2009 10:41 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 30-95
looksl ike the KODIAK is my best bet for extended burns w/out a stokerPoconoeagle wrote:the kodiak is a great unit. on low idle I have got 40 hours. nut blashack... it likes to make heat with .05-.06 draft
with the blower unit on it is sweet.
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- 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
DSM Basement #4...
36 hours untouched at 350*...
36 hours untouched at 350*...