Minor Explosion in Coal Stove

KingCoal · Post by **KingCoal** » Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 4:01 pm

that's why i'm confused IOF has a DSM 1600, same internal set up.

unless................his comments are about another unit ?

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 4:04 pm

I used a Mark III for over 15 years (no secondary air control) and could avoid the explosions by doing basically what kingcoal stated. open ash pan to liven up the fire for a couple minutes prior to shakedown, after it 'livened up' add as much coal as possible leaving a corner exposed for the flames to come through there, leave ash door open a couple more minutes, blue flames would get established on new coal and then close it up. I could go back in about 1/2 hour if I wanted and cover that exposed corner at that point.

Post by **Lightning** » Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 4:26 pm

KingCoal wrote:that's why i'm confused IOF has a DSM 1600, same internal set up.

unless................his comments are about another unit ?

His draft is very weak where yours is strong.

KingCoal · Post by **KingCoal** » Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 6:35 pm

seems like all the more reason to get it burning hot before the refill process.

coalcracker · Post by **coalcracker** » Sat. Dec. 07, 2013 12:50 pm

Did you have a stove pipe damper closed off ? If so, that's why. Also see below.

SuperBeetle · Post by **SuperBeetle** » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 2:41 pm

coalcracker wrote:Did you have a stove pipe damper closed off ? If so, that's why.

You don't need a damper closed off on order for this to happen. I have seen this happen in many different types of set ups and the one thing they all had in common was lack of over fire air.

Post by **Lightning** » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 3:06 pm

SuperBeetle wrote:
coalcracker wrote:Did you have a stove pipe damper closed off ? If so, that's why.
You don't need a damper closed off on order for this to happen. I have seen this happen in many different types of set ups and the one thing they all had in common was lack of over fire air.

I agree. You could have the manual damper wide open but if there is lack of secondary air to keep the volatile gases diluted then yer in for a boom.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 3:10 pm

coalcracker wrote:Did you have a stove pipe damper closed off ? If so, that's why. Also see below.

Yep - done the BOOM several times in both my Harman MARK I and MARK III stoves ... wait for it ........ WITHOUT a DAMPER. Imagine that?

Post by **franco b** » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 3:15 pm

Lightning wrote:I agree. You could have the manual damper wide open but if there is lack of secondary air to keep the volatile gases diluted then yer in for a boom.

I agree with this but also consider that after shaking a surplus amount of primary air can penetrate the coal bed if the air damper is open to then act as secondary air. You can still have a boom but the chances are much less.

SuperBeetle · Post by **SuperBeetle** » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 3:45 pm

Yep I've had a few booms myself. No damper installed. I have a few buddies that have had the same thing happen one with a damper wide open and two others with no dampers installed. In all cases there was no over fire air. In order to solve this my problem in my application, I leave the load door cracked so it pulls in some secondary air. Works well.......... ya just gotta remember to latch the door after it lights off.

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Mon. Dec. 09, 2013 10:06 pm

Don't matter if there is a damper or not, it's the lack of overfire air that causes it. When reloading I always leave a little spot uncovered so the flames can burn off the gases.

ridgeracing · Post by **ridgeracing** » Sat. Dec. 21, 2013 10:23 pm

I am just chimming in hear, with my ds1600 having auto secondary air, daily after a 12-24hr burn I shake down 1st fully covering all red coals and reload. 30-60 seconds later I have blue flames. Never any explosions . Never opening any doors or touching mpd.

Maro · Post by **Maro** » Sun. Jan. 05, 2014 4:11 pm

I just had a little pop happen yesterday. I shook the bed down thus moving fresh coal from the hopper (gravity fed) to the bed then I opened the hopper door (top loading) and it made a blue flash and a popping sound. There was no damage done. It startled me more than anything.

SuperBeetle · Post by **SuperBeetle** » Sun. Jan. 05, 2014 4:15 pm

Wait till ya have a nuclear blast and see the ash cloud going across the room

SWPaDon · Post by **SWPaDon** » Sun. Jan. 05, 2014 6:19 pm

SuperBeetle wrote:Wait till ya have a nuclear blast and see the ash cloud going across the room

You been watchin me fire my Clayton? Where did ya hide the camera?

I've singed my eyebrows, mustache and arm hair more than once. Last time it happened, I stood up just in time to watch the flames completely wrap around my waist.