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Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Mon. Oct. 01, 2012 1:12 am
by beemerboy
The grate pieces look very similar to the ones in my mom's Crane 404
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Mon. Oct. 01, 2012 10:49 am
by rockwood
wsherrick wrote:What you have there is a, "circulating stove," which dates from the 1920's. These are very common in throughout the Country as they are designed to burn Bituminous and other soft coals. Your stove works by drawing in cold air from the bottom and it is warmed as it rises inside the enamel outer shell, it comes out of the top of the stove as hot air. These stoves are rugged, basic units that can take a lot of abuse. You need to replace the mica panes in the front window in the loading door, take the stove apart and reseal all of the seams with new furnace cement. You also need to replace all of the old bolts with new ones. It sounds like a lot of work but it is really pretty easy. Just plan on getting dirty.
Once you fix it up then it will give you many decades of good service. This stove is perfect for the type of coal that is available out west where you live. Not only will the stove keep you warm. It will also keep you secure as it will work no matter what happens with electric power, etc.
The best part is that the stove will save you thousands, I mean thousands of dollars in heating bills. It's worth a little effort and some education to learn how to use it.
Again, this is a coal stove, NOT a wood stove. You can burn wood in it, but; the difference in how the stove performs with the fuel it is made for will amaze you.
wsherrick (William) is right as usual
The only thing I would add is that I don't see a grate shaker tool in any of the photos.
Here's a photo of what this tool looks like.
Looking at the photos of your stove, the grates run side to side so there should be a hole in the side (probably the lower right side) of the enameled shell where a square shaft should be visible. Putting the grate shaker on the shaft and cranking back and forth will rotate the grates causing ashes to drop in the pan in the ashpit area. BTW, you're lucky you have the ash pan with this stove...like the shaker tool, they are often missing.
If you don't have the grate shaker, you can find them for sale online.
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Mon. Oct. 01, 2012 6:03 pm
by Utahstove
Wow, so many replies! You guys are a wealth of knowledge. Thanks so much for the help, when we have a bit of money (hopefully the next month or two) I'll work on fixing this up. I have a lot of questions, but I'll read through the forum more first. I'm sure I'll be relying on you for advice along the way.
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Wed. Oct. 03, 2012 2:57 pm
by Utahstove
I would just like to add that I read all of your replies, and I'm really looking forward to fixing this baby up. I found the square shaft, pictured below, so I've begun searching ebay for a replacement. The HVAC guy came yesterday to check out our (electric) furnace and was really excited by our stove, saying we should fix it up and "It's not just for decoration, you know". At which point I began telling him waaaay too much about my stove plans.
You've created a coal-consuming monster!
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Wed. Oct. 03, 2012 6:32 pm
by Dennis
Utahstove wrote:I would just like to add that I read all of your replies, and I'm really looking forward to fixing this baby up. I found the square shaft, pictured below, so I've begun searching ebay for a replacement. The HVAC guy came yesterday to check out our (electric) furnace and was really excited by our stove, saying we should fix it up and "It's not just for decoration, you know". At which point I began telling him waaaay too much about my stove plans.
You've created a coal-consuming monster!
Just wait till you recieve your first electric bill after running the stove. You will be estatic
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Wed. Oct. 03, 2012 6:44 pm
by SteveZee
Bingo! There's the shaker I was talking about that I couldn't see! Good Call Rockwood.
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Wed. Oct. 03, 2012 10:49 pm
by freetown fred
Welcome to your new addiction Utahstove
Re: New Stove, New House, Very Unsure of Myself
Posted: Thu. Oct. 04, 2012 2:10 pm
by Vinmaker
That is a very interesting stove you got there. Thanks for sharing.
Wish I could help you but I can't. Sorry.
Welcome to the forum.
Vin.