Converting A VC Wood Stove to Coal

PABurner · Post by **PABurner** » Sat. Jan. 24, 2009 2:07 pm

Hello all,
I have a Vermont Castings Defiant II that has a catalytic converter in it and I want to try to convert it to coal. For a couple reasons, wood storage space, time to split and season, not to mention if I buy wood it goes for $200 a cord and with an annual usage of 3+ cords a year can be expensive.
I was younger and had more time when I bought the stove, which is a great wood burner. However time is now precious and with a good stove and a all fuel chimney I was considering converting to coal. I am a Pipefitter/Welder with a chemical company and have the ability to make pretty much anything out of Mild steel or Stainless steel. I have an outside air kit installed so combustion air is plentiful, and it will “auto dampen” along with the manual damper control. It has an ash pan and I have burned successfully for up to 15 days continuously between shut downs for cleanings.
Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Sat. Jan. 24, 2009 2:28 pm

Buy a 'coal' stove.
VC are cast iron, way too much trouble to do a conversion.
Only kits that VC made were for the old Vigilant wood burners.

baldeagle · Post by **baldeagle** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 11:21 am

PABurner --- Have to agree with Capecoaler - you would have to change everything below the fill door to burn coal; addition
of shaker grates, lengthening the sides. Look on this site for the Jotul thread, they/contributors stated that
used Jotuls are available very inexpensively? baldeagle

Post by **franco b** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 3:48 pm

Cut a series of slots in the bottom of the stove to act as a grate.

Cut short slots in the front of the stove just at grate level to admit a 1/8 thick poker to slice the grates to clear ash. Provide covers for them.

Line the grate area with fire brick.

Fabricate a 1/8 thick steel receptacle with door to hold an ash pan and bolt to bottom of stove with flanges bent on receptacle. Must be airtight.

re-configure thermostat to admit air to ash pan area.

Much easier to just buy a used coal stove, though it wont be as handsome.

Richard

maurizziot · Post by **maurizziot** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 4:02 pm

coal is just as exspensive as wood better heating

SuperBeetle · Post by **SuperBeetle** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 4:14 pm

maurizziot wrote:coal is just as exspensive as wood better heating

Huh?

Post by **coaledsweat** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 4:33 pm

PABurner wrote:I have a Vermont Castings Defiant II that has a catalytic converter in it and I want to try to convert it to coal. Any advice will be appreciated.

Sell it and buy a good coal burner.

rockwood · Post by **rockwood** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 4:45 pm

SuperBeetle wrote:
maurizziot wrote:coal is just as exspensive as wood better heating
Huh?

I think they meant if you are spending money on wood you would be better off spending it on coal.

grizzly2 · Post by **grizzly2** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 6:56 pm

[quote="PABurner"]Hello all,
I have a Vermont Castings Defiant II that has a catalytic converter in it and I want to try to convert it to coal.

Take the time to do some reading on this site and you will see that even some stove manufacturs are not able to design and build a stove that burns coal realy well. Learning to burn coal is Definitely worth the time and effort, which can be fun, but only if you have a stove that has a chance of giving you that long and efficient burn you want. Sell your stove, or do as I did with my stove and install it in the garage. By reading here, you will get an idea of stoves that are popular and don't give thier owners much grief.

Tell us more about your situation, i.e. chimney material and height, how long you would like your stove to heat without tending, square footage you need to heat etc., and we can at least give you suggestions for stoves that will most likely meet your needs.

Jeddbird · Post by **Jeddbird** » Sun. Jan. 25, 2009 7:30 pm

I agree. Buy a coal stove to save lots of agravation.