Newbie-? About Sparks Toy Stove

 
Rockon75
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Post by Rockon75 » Mon. May. 21, 2018 9:53 pm

Hello all. I have a sparks toy stove and was wondering if anyone had some advice on whether or not I could fire it with some coal? I've seen some videos of people burning wood in them, but was just curious if the cast iron would hold up to coal. I can get anthracite or bituminous. If so, what size coal should I try?
Thanks for any advice you all may have.
Josh


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:06 pm

We need some pix of YOUR stove J

 
Rockon75
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Post by Rockon75 » Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:16 pm

91766f8b0ded14a8292d2868a2eb5cc3.jpg
.JPG | 16.3KB | 91766f8b0ded14a8292d2868a2eb5cc3.jpg
Looks like this one. It is less than 2 feet tall.

 
Rockon75
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Post by Rockon75 » Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:18 pm

This is a different brand but the pop can shows the "scale" of the stove.

 
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Post by Rockon75 » Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:19 pm

Here is a link to a guy using one with wood.

 
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Post by franco b » Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:28 pm

A few small wood fires first to cure the iron and let it expand slowly.

I would try pea coal.

 
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Post by Rockon75 » Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:34 pm

Thx for the advice. Will pea coal, in general burn a little cooler than nut?


 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Mon. May. 21, 2018 11:09 pm

Rockon75 wrote:
Mon. May. 21, 2018 10:34 pm
Thx for the advice. Will pea coal, in general burn a little cooler than nut?
''Welcome Rockon.

Cute stove. Looks to be about half the size of the small-ish pot belly I used for a few years. Gave it to a friend when he built a small log cabin.

Pea coal burn cooler than nut ? Not in the sense of temperature, but heat volume (BTU). Both being the same fuel will burn at the same temperature. However, the pea coal having smaller air spaces to breath through will burn slower than nut coal, thus put out less heat volume, which is less heat stress on the stove ,...….. and a bit longer burn time as a result, too.

And I second Franco's advice to have a few small wood fires in it first to help with stress relief of the cast iron, That will help to reduce the possibility of cracking any castings.

Paul

 
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Post by Rockon75 » Tue. May. 22, 2018 7:07 am

Sunny Boy wrote:
Mon. May. 21, 2018 11:09 pm
''Welcome Rockon.

Cute stove. Looks to be about half the size of the small-ish pot belly I used for a few years. Gave it to a friend when he built a small log cabin.

Pea coal burn cooler than nut ? Not in the sense of temperature, but heat volume (BTU). Both being the same fuel will burn at the same temperature. However, the pea coal having smaller air spaces to breath through will burn slower than nut coal, thus put out less heat volume, which is less heat stress on the stove ,...….. and a bit longer burn time as a result, too.

And I second Franco's advice to have a few small wood fires in it first to help with stress relief of the cast iron, That will help to reduce the possibility of cracking any castings.

Paul
Thank you Paul. I will burn a few wood fires first and then attempt a coal fire with pea coal. As the doors and vents seem a bit "leaky" choosing a small coal to limit air flow may be the answer. It will be trial and error for a few fires. Thanks all, Josh.

 
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Post by Sunny Boy » Tue. May. 22, 2018 9:39 am

When you get to starting the coal fire, start with wood, or BBQ charcoal.

Get lots of hot embers and then start adding layers of coal on top, as you switch over the main air supply to mostly through the lower air damper - called the Primary damper.

The damper in the loading door is the secondary, or over-fire air damper - used more for wood only fires.

Don't ever bury the firebed in fresh coal. You want to be able to see some flames coming up through each fresh layer to help ignite and burn off the volatile gases that the coal will release as it heats up. Otherwise they gasses might get to explosive proportions.

When each layers stops snapping and popping and you see it has flames, then you can add the next layer of coal.

Coal burns best with a deep firebed. Build up the layers until the firebed gets to about the bottom of the loading door.

Once the firebed is full and burning well, you can experiment with how much opening will be needed for the primary damper, and the stove pipe's MPD (Manual Pipe Damper) to control the heat output, plus help slow the exhaust down to lengthen the burn time by not letting a lot of the heat race up the chimney.

Then, you can put a kettle on, have a hot beverage, and sit back while you enjoy the steady warmth. :yes:

Paul

 
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Post by franco b » Tue. May. 22, 2018 10:40 am

Pea coal will sustain a fire less deep than a nut coal fire as well. The fire pot depth in such a small stove is probably too shallow for nut.

 
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Post by Rockon75 » Tue. May. 22, 2018 11:14 am

Advice well taken. My officemate lives in Mountaintop. He's bringing me a bag of pea to try, of course not until I've run a few wood fires......

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Tue. May. 22, 2018 3:07 pm

I'd love to see some pics of that little stove with a pea coal fire going. What diameter stove pipe do you use on that?

 
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Post by Sunny Boy » Tue. May. 22, 2018 5:08 pm

Lightning wrote:
Tue. May. 22, 2018 3:07 pm
I'd love to see some pics of that little stove with a pea coal fire going. What diameter stove pipe do you use on that?

Ditto !

Although I did find the You Tube video with the wood fire going to heat the guy's camper.

I didn't realize just how small that stove is until I saw that he had it set up on the kitchen table. :o

I think that is the cutest stove !!!!

Paul

 
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Post by Rockon75 » Tue. May. 22, 2018 5:48 pm

3" pipe.


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