Still experimenting with Hitzer 254

Last year was my first year with 254. I discovered the 254 will go 24+ hours between tending times, on 40# (or less) of coal. Not just during the shoulder months, but all winter. That's pretty darned good. But still in the experimental mode, looking for new tips & tricks to try. Anyone here have any suggestions for me to try?

How hard you burning? Temps?

I’m burning off of one grate at Dean’s suggestion, with no modifications other than unhooking the back grate.

Seems like I’m burning lower now that I was for my yearly average of .8lbs/hr. I’m roughly at or lower than that now and tending in 24 or 30 hrs whichever I choose. Easier to keep track of on the 24 though.

Already had one burn where I was (approximately) at .66lbs/hr. Didn’t weigh it out, but was judging by the amount used in the hod and left in the hod. Thirty (30) hours on about 20-22 lbs. I really should be weighing it to be sure, but hod wasn’t totally healing full and there was about 8-10 lbs left. I can get 30-32 lbs in my hod, I think.

Strangely enough my draft is higher in one grate than in two it seems.

I haven’t tried tending in 24 in the peak of winter, but I don’t think I ever burned more than 30 lbs in a 24 hr period.

I’ll start tomorrow and keep some notes so we know for sure and I’ll post them in my burning on one grate thread. All I did this morning was took yesterday’s ashes out. Never shook or added until this evening about 9pm. It’s working real nice. Almost don’t have to for it. LOL!

Scott, I been tendin the 50-93 1X daily @ 40 lbs. temps mid to low 20's night & around upper 30'mid 40's day--seems to be workin well so far--- I know--nothin to do with the 254--just sharin!!!

freetown fred wrote: ↑

Mon. Nov. 29, 2021 7:59 am

Scott, I been tendin the 50-93 1X daily @ 40 lbs. temps mid to low 20's night & around upper 30'mid 40's day--seems to be workin well so far--- I know--nothin to do with the 254--just sharin!!!

That's what this forum is all about Fred....... Sharing .

Are you thinking about modifying the stove or leaving it completely as is? Im betting leaving it alone.

I think its mild weather where you might be able to save some coal by letting it choke up with ash or an air bypass, longer tending times, you know the drill. A couple spinners on the side for mild weather would help if you want to modify it lightly.

One tending in the last 28hrs added 20.4lbs.

Billy, what's your sq. footage & where do you keep the temp?

OK--read one of your other MANY posts--Good Lord Billy, you're all over the place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

See my burning on one grate thread, Fred. I provided that info there.

Just wanted to provided a little info to Oliver and other readers since our stoves are basically cousins, the 354/254 stoves. Not wanting to hog his thread.

warminmn wrote: ↑

Mon. Nov. 29, 2021 9:43 pm

Are you thinking about modifying the stove or leaving it completely as is? Im betting leaving it alone.

I think its mild weather where you might be able to save some coal by letting it choke up with ash or an air bypass, longer tending times, you know the drill. A couple spinners on the side for mild weather would help if you want to modify it lightly.

Yes, You bet right Warminmn, I'm leaving the stove completely as is. I'll try to be a little more clear. All my coal stoves have had hoppers. The 254 doesn't have a hopper. It's batch fed through the front load door. I'm doing pretty good running the stove. What I'm looking for are little tricks to tending / running a non-hopper hand fed coal stove. Different things to try / experiment.

Cold weather you need the heat so its mild weather you can play. Not shaking and throwing a scoop of coal in a spot, poke a little instead of shaking in that spot, doing that thru warm spells. Im not one to weigh coal but I did it for 3 days last year and only used 7 pounds a day for 3 days and then it got cold again. Thats on one grate. I wouldnt be surprised if you could do 5 pounds as could I. I did have a 1" hole of overfire air which you dont have. I was using Blaschak nut coal.

One thing that seems to waste coal with my Riteway is firing it hot right after I refill it. Now once I see some orange/red color thru my 2" window I shut it up except my over fire air. Then i shut that a bit later. Its noticeable how much more i use if I dont close the bottom door quick enough. Thats something I didnt notice with 2 other stoves Ive used, not counting my Chubby. Your Hitzer would be more efficient than mine so it may or may not matter.

Tonight, after a 27 hour burn, I threw 2 shovel full of coal in the stove. A little light shaking, and that's it. Once blue flames started, I pushed the damper all the way in, and called it a night.

Cool! How big a shovel? Any idea how many lbs that was, as a comparison for me? So you added then shook?

Your temps ramp up pretty quick? Mine seem a lot faster on one grate. I assume you’re burning on both grates still.