Almost There Need Some Advice Yet.

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 1:43 pm

I finally have this mostly figured out, but I need to extend burn time. I have a Vogelzang Rancher, and I cannot seem to get past 6 hours or so. I tried Blashock pea coal last night and it seemed nice. N where as hot as nut, but I really thought it would last me the 8 hours I am shooting for. Is it possible to go to pea/rice mix. Also would a barometric damper really help. I would have to get one I could splice in. They seem expensive, and I can't even find any. I just want to get 8 hrs so I could run all winter, and the size of coal doesn't seem to be helping much. Thank you.


 
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Devil505
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Post by Devil505 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 2:14 pm

Can you run the stove a little cooler for longer burn times?

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 2:18 pm

I did everything I could to burn cooler. It was made for bit coal. I created a refractory cement firebox inside. Sealed every gap. Gasketed around ash door as best I could. I have the ash door as tight as possible using magnets. HAve the draft on ash door tight and closed, with a manual damper closed 8" up stovepipe.

 
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Devil505
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Post by Devil505 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 2:20 pm

How hot is it running with everything closed tight?

Edit: From the sound of it, once you light the stove you have absolutely no control over it....A very dangerous situation!
(Before you light it each time, as Dirty Harry would say: "You have to ask yourself one question:........Do I feel lucky?" :lol: )
Seriously, that's not a safe situation. Do you have a barrel of sand nearby to smother the fire if need be?

The fire is getting air from somewhere. Blow smoke towards the stove & see where it's drawn in & see if you can seal it off better....Don't follow the ash door held with magnets line?? Is there no mechanical mchanism to keep the ash door closed?

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 2:56 pm

Thank you for the concern. I do appreciate it. I have no safety concerns - in modifying this stove I have found that I can't get answers easily because everyone keeps talking about safety. 10" up stovepipe I have around 200 -250 using pea. Nut gives me a reading between 250 and 350.

 
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Devil505
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Post by Devil505 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 3:08 pm

OK...No more lectures. I would use smoke to trace where the air is leaking into the stove & try to seal it up so that your air inlet wheel (on the ash door) gives you some control. Once you have some control just lower the temp a bit for longer burns. I don't think physics will give you longer burns at those temps since your stove is too small to hold more coal.

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 3:18 pm

Sorry forgot to mention that I get no pull from my cigar anywhere on the stove. I have done this numerous times and cannot see any pull. I have this stove sealed everyway I can find. The ash door, by the way, didn't have a latch. I made one, and the magnets were my idea to seal it tighter. I sealed where the firepit joins the base airtight with furnace cement. It has a tin floor to the ashpit so I cemented the entire inside, and the seams underneath. I double gasketed the ashdoor. That is the only place air could get in, and I can't do anything else there.


 
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Devil505
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Post by Devil505 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 3:22 pm

Then I'm fresh out of suggestions. I'm guessing that the air is leaking in around your ash door. You'll have to figure a way to close it tighter, even if you have to prop something (like a brick) against it to force it closed or devise a latch for it.

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 3:26 pm

Thank you very much. It is appreciated. Someone PMed me about the baro. Do you think it would help?

 
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Devil505
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Post by Devil505 » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 3:41 pm

Joe B wrote:Thank you very much. It is appreciated. Someone PMed me about the baro. Do you think it would help?
I doubt it as you have to figure out a way to stop the unwanted, excess air from entering your stove in the first place. Maybe someone else thinks differently, but I think a baro may be good to save coal & fine tune your system AFTER you solve the air leak problems.

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 4:31 pm

I am glad you mentioned the air leak again. I finally found it. It is the top of the ash door. You have to have the cigar right on the door to see the flow. I have no idea what to do though. The door is designed to fit snugger at the bottom. I made a latch, but that doesn't correct the top. I have gasket all around the door, but it is formed around the shaker handle , and that is where the leak is. It would have to be an outside fix.

 
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Post by rberq » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 4:53 pm

How big is your firebox, and how many pounds of coal do you load when you fill it? That info will give us a better feel for how many hours of burn you SHOULD be able to get.

If your major air leak is around the shaker handle, I wonder if there is some kind of temporary packing you could use, say fiberglass insulation, to plug the leak. You would have to remove it for shaking and reinstall it afterwards each time.

I agree with Devil -- until you get control of the input air, don't bother with a baro -- after that it might be helpful. And running with the manual damper fully closed sounds a little scary. Do you have a CO detector? (That's not a safety lecture -- we all have them. Of course, the cigar may set off the alarm....)

 
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Post by coaledsweat » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 5:11 pm

Do you have any spare rope gasket? Stuff it in the hole. Maybe some fiberglass insulation? Roll it up like you are making a snake with clay and wear gloves. I don't know what kind of gap you have or where, but maybe a roll of solder could help you out too, back up the gasket where it's open or wrap around the shaker shaft. That stuff can be tapped into a whole new shape very easily.

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 5:17 pm

Thanks. Gave me a few ideas to try. Do have 3 co detectors. I have closed the damper after starting every fire, even in the beginning when I overfired. I do have a very strong dradft though. Thanks again.

 
Joe B
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Post by Joe B » Wed. Oct. 08, 2008 6:13 pm

Sorry, didn't see the question. 20lbs 10 " deep. I max it to around 25lbs.


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