Crane Coal Cooker (Model 44) Pea Coal Grate Handle
Posted: Thu. Jan. 02, 2014 6:32 am
After recently getting a few requests for shaker handles and inquiries regarding the pea grate/shake handle differences on the Model 44 "Crane Coal Cooker", Im posting this thread so its recorded somewhere...
The Crane Coal Cooker was available with a Pea Grate option OR a Nut Grate option (the nut grate was shipped with about 90% of the units that went out). I have found the Nut grate had a stronger arm extension than the pea grate (which is the only reason I liked the nut grate better). Both burn fine and Ive used nut coal on the pea grate just fine (frankly, if I used the pea grate I would use a pea/nut mix for the best performance... but the difference is minor).
I will post photo's below of the pea grate & pea grate shaker handle (both are different than the nut grate and nut grate shaker handle). It is important with the pea grate to use the proper sized handle (which is essentially a piece of steel tubing you can get at almost any welding/fab shop). the inside to inside dimensions of this tube need to be 5/16ths x 13/16ths and the length can be almost anything you wish (from 12" to 18" long).
Now... here is a question for all my good friends who I know love a riddle (my dad is no longer here to answer it)
Why does the pea coal grate have those "sprocket like" things on the bottom of the casting to one side? (the nut coal grate never did)?
I assume early on he had intention of an external shake mechanism and just never completed it or used it? wonder what it would have been
The Crane Coal Cooker was available with a Pea Grate option OR a Nut Grate option (the nut grate was shipped with about 90% of the units that went out). I have found the Nut grate had a stronger arm extension than the pea grate (which is the only reason I liked the nut grate better). Both burn fine and Ive used nut coal on the pea grate just fine (frankly, if I used the pea grate I would use a pea/nut mix for the best performance... but the difference is minor).
I will post photo's below of the pea grate & pea grate shaker handle (both are different than the nut grate and nut grate shaker handle). It is important with the pea grate to use the proper sized handle (which is essentially a piece of steel tubing you can get at almost any welding/fab shop). the inside to inside dimensions of this tube need to be 5/16ths x 13/16ths and the length can be almost anything you wish (from 12" to 18" long).
Why does the pea coal grate have those "sprocket like" things on the bottom of the casting to one side? (the nut coal grate never did)?
I assume early on he had intention of an external shake mechanism and just never completed it or used it? wonder what it would have been
