Coalpail.com Forum

I have been trying to purchase a SF360 boiler for about 4 months. Tried 4 different dealers, all eager when I first call, promise to get price, freight charges etc. Don't call back,then sort of vague about supply when I call them back.
Anybody heard anything ? Is there some problem with Harman building them, etc.

Thanks

Robby

Squeaky wheel get's the grease. Call them back, every day if needed!

I don't know how Harman is keeping up with demand. I know all solid fuel appliance factories are backed up. From what I saw on TV, most orders with a cash deposit last week will see delivery in the mid to late Fall.

Thanks for your reply. Today I called a dealer some miles away. No problem, have in stock, will ship ASAP. I remarked that I had difficulty buying SF360. He had no idea why, maybe to lazy. Lots of dealers sort of take summer off. Don't know, don't care.

Robby

Hi Robby, check with your dealer,, see if he has a Harman VF3000 stoker boiler in stock.. if so let us on the forum know,, several members are on a wait list for one. It would be nice to find one in stock at a dealer.

Greg L

One of my co-workers has been trying to get a Harman hand-fed boiler as well, he ended up making quite a few calls before he found a dealer that has one in stock. I have always wondered how well the SF-XXX boilers burn coal, it would be interesting to see one of them in action.

I know the only plase in Maine I could find a Harman in stock was Damariscotta hardware, they had a Mark 5 in stock and many others, I bought my Mark 1 there, delivery was reasonabe, and it came with 1000lbs. of coal too!

I am happy to check on VF3000 supply. Does it not burn only antracite? or rice coal? If so there is no chance he would sell them here. We have real good quality bituminous, and lots of it, but no anthracite.

I have also purchased two, 20 tube, 70mm evacuated tube solar panels to heat water in off boiler system. I know a little bit about coal, a tiny bit about boilers, but any info or comments on these would be more than appreciated.

Robby

Why the interest in a hand fired? Wouldn't a used stoker cost about the same? Scott

He says he has Bituminous coal only... Stokers won't burn eastern Bituminous coal.. only rice or buckwheat anthracite.

Greg L

i did not think there would be a VF3000 within a thousand miles, but guess what, there just may be. Contact this dealer http://www.noutilitybills.com/enter.html/

He may have one.

Reason for picking this stove. I have a Harman TLC2000, works as good or better than advertized. I have a PC45 Harman grain stove. Works as good as advertized. I found out grain is not a great fuel, but the stove works as advertized.
Therefore from information from this site, my success with Harman and that I have 1000 gallon of water storage if I decide to use it, did not make hand firing seem to arduous. Also the ability to burn wood in slack heating season was a factor.

Robby

Still I would wait a little while longer and see how the boys over at EFM make out with their new Bit prototype. You might be able to get close to the front of the line because of a members patronage Scott

Evacuated tubes are the way to go with solar hot water. Make sure your water storage tank has the proper capacity for your array. You do not want to over heat the solar array. If you garden bury some pex pipe there to act as a heat dump and grow the plants quicker.
Good links for solar info:

http://www.radiantec.com/index.php
http://www.radiantsolar.com/index.php

I see there is a Harman coal boiler on the E-bay. Looks in good shape. Scott