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Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Fri. Oct. 26, 2007 1:54 pm
by Richard S.
This would apply to larger furnaces like a Van Wert, EFM or other models that use the upside bell, I'm sure you could adjust for smaller stokers. If you do it right you'll have no smoke in the house and fire ripping in 10 minutes.

Get a 2x4 and cut two 4 inch lengths. Split them into about 20 pieces each. Each piece should be no wider that about 1/2 inch. Dig down into the bell to remove any ash or coal. Ball up about 4 or 5 pieces of newspaper and place them in the bottom of the bell, place half the wood on the newspaper preferably the smaller pieces directly in the center. Light the news paper and close up the furnace.

Wait about 3 minute or so until the wood is burning good then place the rest of the wood on the fire. Wait another 2 or 3 minutes until that has time to catch. At this point you should have a pretty good fire going.

To avoid getting wood smoke in the house you have to do this step quickly, Shovel a good two or 3 inch layer of coal onto the fire. Close the furnace up and turn it on. Note if you look into the furnace at this point it will most likely appear that the fire is out. you should start to see little blue wisps of flame penetrating the coal shortly. At this point shovel on another 3 or 4 inches. You're done.

Within about 5 minutes you should have a full bed of burning coal. Generally at his point I turn the furnace off if it's a warmer season because it will take a quite while to get the water temp up. If you allow it to keep going you will have a huge fire going. The furnace may not run for while and go out.

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Fri. Oct. 26, 2007 2:25 pm
by jpen1
greg the max continious temp for 409 stainless is 1450* F as it will start to scale after that point.

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Thu. Nov. 01, 2007 9:05 pm
by Yanche
Fired up my AHS S-130 for the season yesterday, Oct. 31. More than a week later than last season. My new deep mined coal burns hotter than the coal I've used in past years. Many thanks to "coalberner" for all the info on the best NEPA coal sources. The stoker has yet to push any of the new ash into the ash pan so I'll have to wait and see what the new ash looks like. I've had a running time meter on my oil burner all summer so I have good data on oil usage for domestic how water heating. Given that data I'll be able to determine how much oil was used for those "just need to take the chill off" days. In past years I started burning coal way to early. Once I analyze my data I'll post my conclusions. Photo shows how easy it is to start my stoker! Start to a hot coal fire 5 minutes. I wanted Julie to do it but she said it was a "girle man's job". Did get her to take the picture though.

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Thu. Nov. 01, 2007 10:20 pm
by LsFarm
Hi Yanche, I thought you used the torch from underneath at the bottom of the firebox/grate. And the combustion blower pulled the flame up through the bed of coal.

I'm kind of surprised the top of the coal will light from the inspection port, I'll have to give it a try when I fire up my AA boiler in a week or two .

Greg

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Fri. Nov. 02, 2007 1:27 am
by coal berner
You are welcome Yanche / John anytime
By the way you Girly man sure use the
oddies things to start a coal fire :lol:

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Fri. Nov. 02, 2007 7:52 am
by Yanche
LsFarm wrote:Hi Yanche, I thought you used the torch from underneath at the bottom of the firebox/grate. And the combustion blower pulled the flame up through the bed of coal.

I'm kind of surprised the top of the coal will light from the inspection port, I'll have to give it a try when I fire up my AA boiler in a week or two .

Greg
Well, there's nothing to lite from the bottom grate. I load some of last seasons ashes first. This makes a bed of ash on the grate. Next the coal goes in. It falls down atop the ash and fills up the burn cylinder. I torch what I can see from the inspection flapper, aiming the torch down. In a minute all you need is O2 from the cutting head on the torch. Makes the coal really burn. :-) Soon the combustion blower spreads the burning coal to the other coal pieces.

For my very first season I didn't have any ashes. I just loaded up with coal and followed the same steps. Then just picked out the unburnt coal from the ashes. I first tried an air/accy. plumbers torch. Didn't work, not hot enough.

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Sun. Nov. 04, 2007 7:00 pm
by crmoores
Trying to locate the magnesium coal mice on line, any help? I can't find these locally...
Thanks!

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Sun. Nov. 04, 2007 7:08 pm
by jpen1
alaska dealers or there home showroom will carry them they are $1 a piece there.

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Sun. Nov. 04, 2007 8:46 pm
by spc
crmoores wrote:Trying to locate the magnesium coal mice on line, any help? I can't find these locally...
Thanks!
http://www.stovepartsplus.com/Merchant5/merchant. ... de=FRSTRTS

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Mon. Nov. 05, 2007 7:43 pm
by Paul Waelder
have you checked out the igniter movie on the coal-trol web site? I currently have it on all 3 of my stoker stoves' (Leisure Line, Keystoker 90, Alaska Hearth) in my house. No smell, just push a button and walk away!

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Mon. Nov. 05, 2007 8:30 pm
by crmoores
Paul Waelder wrote:have you checked out the igniter movie on the coal-trol web site? I currently have it on all 3 of my stoker stoves' (Leisure Line, Keystoker 90, Alaska Hearth) in my house. No smell, just push a button and walk away!
I have not. I googled coal-trol and found just thermostat info. Do you have the site?

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Mon. Nov. 05, 2007 8:53 pm
by coal berner
crmoores wrote:
Paul Waelder wrote:have you checked out the igniter movie on the coal-trol web site? I currently have it on all 3 of my stoker stoves' (Leisure Line, Keystoker 90, Alaska Hearth) in my house. No smell, just push a button and walk away!
I have not. I googled coal-trol and found just thermostat info. Do you have the site?
Hi crmoores Hear you go http://www.coaltroldigital.com/ Just scoll down on the main page
you will see Photo and the video clip I was one of the severole members at the live demo
it was Quite impressive to see Anyone with a stoker should think about Purchasing one
When there are available

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Tue. Nov. 06, 2007 9:04 pm
by Saber 5
Anyone know of a website for a dealer who sells these "mice" you guys are talking about. Sounds like a great way to light up and I would like to give it a shot

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Thu. Nov. 29, 2007 12:18 pm
by WNY

Re: Lighting a Stoker

Posted: Fri. Nov. 30, 2007 9:53 pm
by Ed.A
Saber 5 wrote:Anyone know of a website for a dealer who sells these "mice" you guys are talking about. Sounds like a great way to light up and I would like to give it a shot
From my own NOVICE experience....and MAJOR help on this here forum. I tried the mice, they came with my Alaska stove. Do it with dry coal, I'm sure they do great.

Start with "Dry" bundle up some readily available Chunk Charcoal, get it lit....add coal (ie: let the stoker get on) and away she goes. :)