Hand Fired: The right tools for the job?

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 9:31 am

Nearly 40 years ago, and for wood burning, I purchased a cheap set of tools that includes a rather small hod, a brush, a poker, and a flimsy/narrow shovel. The brush, poker, and shovel have roughly 18-20 inch length shafts. I bought this kit mainly as a decoration to sit beside the stove and look nice, though I've used the hod and shovel for ash removal. Before I attempt burning anthracite coal in my DS ComfortMax stove (which does not have a hopper), what "real" tools should I acquire?

As an aside, how are you getting your 'bagged' coal into your living room stove area? Do you bring bags right into your living room, or load a few hods or pails from the bags and bring them to the stove area?


 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
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Post by McGiever » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 9:40 am

Coal is bagged wet and handling bags are sometimes prone to drip or ooze black 'juice'.
Momma ain't gona like that. :hangover:

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 9:46 am

Load the hods outside or at least in an outbuilding.

Using a scoop to put coal in a stove works ok but is a little more dusty. You could oil the coal to stop that. One of Lightnings videos probably shows how he dumps a pail into his stove and that is more/less the same way I do it. Do it quickly.

Not really many special tools needed other than a poker. I havent made one yet but a container to sit your ash pan into with a cover would be nice for taking ash out.

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 10:15 am

Remember wet bagged coal can freeze if left outdoors when cold enough.

Could you get a scoop of dryer bulk coal in your pickup truck?
Last edited by McGiever on Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 10:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 10:17 am

McGiever wrote:
Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 10:15 am
Remember wet bagged coal can freeze if left outdoors when cold enough.
I only have 5 bags of Nut, and they have been sitting in my heated garage for 2 years.

 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
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Post by McGiever » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 10:21 am

Another member acquired this to "slide" rather than "tumble" the coal into the stove:

Image

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 4:43 pm

Here's another option, I've seen guys use (I think I saw one on Larry Trainer's Chubby video) an aluminum animal feed scoop or one of those big aluminum ice scoops. You could store some coal in a tote near the stove area and scoop into the stove directly. Keep the tote covered so the coal stays damp to limit dust.


 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 2:59 pm

Any idea how many pounds of nut this coal scuttle will hold? Will this work well for feeding a front loading coal stove?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BZJ5K4/ref= ... _qh_dp_hza

 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:11 pm

Larry,

With the top hand grip of that Amazon bucket that close to the open end, I don't see that one being able to get the coal much past the stove's door sill. Even with a glove on, as you tip it your hand is going to have to be inside the stove. That type is better for top loading stoves.

Even an old coal bucket will dump the coal further into a front loading stove than that one. As you tip a regular coal bucket, the bail handle swings back away from the tapered snout of the bucket, letting the bucket reach further in without your hand having to go in, too.

Only type that reaches further in is one like Mac pictured above

Paul
Last edited by Sunny Boy on Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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windyhill4.2
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Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:12 pm

lsayre wrote:
Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 2:59 pm
Any idea how many pounds of nut this coal scuttle will hold? Will this work well for feeding a front loading coal stove?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BZJ5K4/ref= ... _qh_dp_hza
I'll guess around 15 #

 
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Sunny Boy
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Coal Size/Type: Nuts !
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Post by Sunny Boy » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:15 pm

McGiever wrote:
Tue. Feb. 06, 2018 9:40 am
Coal is bagged wet and handling bags are sometimes prone to drip or ooze black 'juice'.
Momma ain't gona like that. :hangover:
Some plastic drop cloth with newspaper spread on it can keep Momma from getting mad at ya. ;)

Paul

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:18 pm

Sunny Boy wrote:
Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:11 pm
Larry,

With the top hand grip of that Amazon bucket that close to the open end, I don't see that one being able to get the coal much past the stove's door sill. Even with a glove on, as you tip it your hand is going to have to be inside the stove. That type is better for top loading stoves.

Paul
My firebox is only 12" deep (inside the fire bricks).

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:18 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote:
Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:12 pm
I'll guess around 15 #
Thanks windy!

 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:21 pm

Would this coal scuttle work any better? I was thinking that the top handle designed one (above) would make it easier to carry when full with coal.

https://www.amazon.com/Minuteman-International-CC ... al+Scuttle

 
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windyhill4.2
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Post by windyhill4.2 » Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:34 pm

lsayre wrote:
Wed. Feb. 07, 2018 3:21 pm
Would this coal scuttle work any better? I was thinking that the top handle designed one (above) would make it easier to carry when full with coal.

https://www.amazon.com/Minuteman-International-CC ... al+Scuttle
That would be a bit better,But.. i think Sunnyboy has a very valid point about the "reach" of those .Might need to pop rivet an extension on similar to what Lightning did to a bucket.Then you could drop the coal into the stove precisely where you want it.


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