Slicing a Harman Mark 1

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Storm
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Post by Storm » Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 10:13 am

Have a Harman 1 for a number of years. Works grate, but once in a few days ash builds up on the sides. Has anyone made a tool to get on the top of the grates to slice the ashes after a shake down?. I see from the front there seems angle iron just under the loading door. If I drill a slot at the edges right and left, use a flat piece of steel 1/8 thick. May have to bend the steel a bit so it lays flat on the grates. As anyone tried this. There is a Hitzer article on the first page that a similar idea. George

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 10:20 am

Poke it down from the top.

 
titleist1
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Post by titleist1 » Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 2:18 pm

I used a Mark III for years and had the same thing happen after a few days of burning. The tool i used was a regular fireplace poker and I scraped along the firebrick in the coal bed to get rid of the ash there. Worked well and was good to go for the next few days.


 
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coalvet
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Post by coalvet » Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 6:58 pm

I have a Mark 1 and never have this problem, not sure why it's happening to you. Are you shaking down the stove enough?

 
Storm
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Post by Storm » Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 8:19 pm

Yes shaking enough for clearing the ash. Get a12 hour burn at 425 degrees with a steady burn rate. It's every 3or4 day I get ash build-up. Some say to poke down on the edges. I do not poke the fire from above. I learn this from old timers. Oops I'am an old timer myself. Other than the ash event I am very happy with this stove. I use to own a Vigilant 1 w/coal conversion shake and slice the ashes. Had that stove for 35 years. G.

 
Storm
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Mark 1
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Post by Storm » Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 8:19 pm

Yes shaking enough for clearing the ash. Get a12 hour burn at 425 degrees with a steady burn rate. It's every 3or4 day I get ash build-up. Some say to poke down on the edges. I do not poke the fire from above. I learn this from old timers. Oops I'am an old timer myself. Other than the ash event I am very happy with this stove. I use to own a Vigilant 1 w/coal conversion shake and slice the ashes. Had that stove for 35 years. G.


 
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Homesteader
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Post by Homesteader » Sat. Dec. 16, 2017 8:49 am

My daily routine with my Mark II; I shake the ash down in the morning, then load back up with fresh coal, in the evening I empty the ash pan then I poke around the sides, back, and front with a piece of 3/8s threaded rod that I bent at a 45 deg. angle so I am poking straight down with the load door open. After that I give it a good shake down so I can see the light above the ash pan then load with fresh coal.

So my routine is tend to the stove twice a day (takes about 10 min.each time) and run the stove around 450 to 500. No ash bridging or dead spots.
Easy Peasy.

 
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SawDustJack
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Post by SawDustJack » Sat. Dec. 16, 2017 4:41 pm

G- I get what you are saying about the old timer rule for poking. I have a box stove that experiences this build up too, but I do break the rule once a week to clear the ash out of the corners and sides. It is very disruptive to the fire and I need extra time to help it recover, but it makes a big difference. I kind of think the rule applies more for daily tending. I use a 45 deg rod like Homesteader, but only once a week.

 
Storm
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Post by Storm » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 12:14 pm

Well, after reading all of your posts, I've decided to try it using a poker. It may make me feel younger. So thanks for your input on this subject. I am sure I 've got something in the barn I can use. Will keep you posted on my results. G. Also any Wisconsin and Minnesota coal burners out there?.

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