DAKA 521

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 8:50 pm

This is my first post to the forum, and the first full season of burning coal in this furnace. I would first like to say thank you to everyone that contributes to this site. It is a wealth of information and experience that can't be found anywhere else.

I am heating a 2500sf block building with only insulation in the ceiling and no windows (normally an icebox in the winter). So far this furnace is holding its own. It had some help from the pellet stove the last week or so with the single digit temps we had, but the cold was short lived.

I have been inspired by forum member Lightning to modify my furnace to be better suited to burn anthracite. In addition to secondary combustion air, I have added a window to the load door, and retrofitted a real set of shaker grates. The "shaker grate" from DAKA left a lot to be desired. I have since fitted a set of shaker grates from a woodchuck 2900 furnace and couldn't be happier. Tending is now a few throws of the handle instead of 20 minutes of poking, raking,and bouncing grates.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 9:10 pm

NICE!!!

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 9:56 pm

Yup, real nice! Love the squair tubes!

Post by **Lightning** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 10:07 pm

Welcome to the coal board and thank you for the honorable mention. That's some pretty snazzy modification work you did with that furnace!

Yeah man, I get where you're coming from with the lousy grates. After I broke them again recently I went off the wall and put a flat wood grate in and use a bar to clear ash with. I know it sounds absurd lol but I've actually had some very pleasing results so far.

So, stick around and enjoy the fun. We occasionally scrap like siblings around here but we all have the common denominator of being enthusiastic coal burners

Thanks for sharing

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 10:24 pm

Thank you for the kind words. I own a welding and fabrication business, so the mods were no big deal. Lee, I have been following your thread about riddling instead of shaking and i am happy to see it is working out for you. It truly shows that every unit has a different method to get the best results. If you need a custom riddle bar in the future hit me up, I can cut it for you on the cnc plasma table and send it up to you.

Post by **Lightning** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 10:36 pm

Cool! That's a generous offer and I greatly appreciated it. I just might come looking for you at some point.

I'm willing to bet you could sweep up a little business around here fabricating coal tools and stove parts.

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 10:48 pm

No problem. Send me a PM if you need anything. I will have to do a search for the most common tools and put a post in the classified section, thanks for the idea.

Gian4 · Post by **Gian4** » Sun. Jan. 14, 2018 9:50 am

Welcome aboard
Your modifications are impressive and I just want to add a second on the tool fabrication idea. I have been using a strait poker to "riddle" ash on my Hitzer for years. I think a flat serrated bar would be more effective. I think if you decided to develop a line of coal oriented tools and offered them up on the board you could do well.
Gian4

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Mon. Jan. 15, 2018 7:55 pm

Thanks Gian4. I may have to start another thread to get a idea of what tools will be most useful and start from there.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Mon. Jan. 15, 2018 8:07 pm

Gian4 wrote: ↑
Sun. Jan. 14, 2018 9:50 am
Welcome aboard
Your modifications are impressive and I just want to add a second on the tool fabrication idea. I have been using a strait poker to "riddle" ash on my Hitzer for years. I think a flat serrated bar would be more effective. I think if you decided to develop a line of coal oriented tools and offered them up on the board you could do well.
Gian4

Put me down for a serrated poker!...I can't wait for the prototype and all the R.D. here willing to help with the design. This could be the start of something wicked cool for us antique stove freaks

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Mon. Jan. 15, 2018 10:18 pm

I will put you down for one. Let me know how long you need. I am putting together a design that will take the shape of a saw tooth ( think of a band saw blade). I will post up some pics when I get the drawing finalized and actually cut one.

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Tue. Jan. 16, 2018 7:22 pm

Any Interest in a riddle bar like this? Cut from 3/16" steel. It can me made to any length required.

Post by **Lightning** » Tue. Jan. 16, 2018 7:55 pm

cdindustries wrote: ↑
Tue. Jan. 16, 2018 7:22 pm
Any Interest in a riddle bar like this? Cut from 3/16" steel. It can me made to any length required.

I don't think your pic came thru on this thread.

cdindustries · Post by **cdindustries** » Tue. Jan. 16, 2018 8:46 pm

Would help if I added the attachment. Thanks for the heads up.

fig · Post by **fig** » Sun. Nov. 03, 2019 2:38 pm

Is this the Daka shaker great you originally had in your daka?

https://store.dakacorp.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id ... 2809798544

When you put the wood chuck grates in did you buy their grate frame too?

DAKA 521

Attachments

Attachments

Attachments