GJ-5-C Gentleman Janitor
- BunkerdCaddis
- Member
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Sun. Jan. 18, 2015 10:26 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Bairmatic-Van Wert
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II working when I feel the desire, Waterford 105 out on vacation, Surdiac Gotha hiding somewhere
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Van Wert VW85H
- Coal Size/Type: pea/nut/rice/stove-anthracite, nut/stove bit when I feel the urge
- Other Heating: oil fired hydronic
Nice! That is one bowl full of happiness there!
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7662
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Thanks!
Trying to solve the GJ pot and bin pipe dilemma now. It doesn't look like standard pipe. The NOS pipe that I have for the pot is 2.50" O.D. and 2.25" I.D. and 14" long.
The rusty bin pipe that came with the stoker is 2.375" O.D. and 2.125" I.D. 42" long. I don't think this is the right size pipe, just something a previous owner put on there. My guess is that this is tubing, not pipe. Found something that might work at OnLineMetals.com.
https://www.onlinemetals.com/en/buy/stainless-ste ... 3A2.5%2522
It's 304 stainless and pretty expensive. It's 2.50" O.D. and 2.26" I.D. which is real close. Maybe I'll get a piece of aluminum to check it out.
-Don
Trying to solve the GJ pot and bin pipe dilemma now. It doesn't look like standard pipe. The NOS pipe that I have for the pot is 2.50" O.D. and 2.25" I.D. and 14" long.
The rusty bin pipe that came with the stoker is 2.375" O.D. and 2.125" I.D. 42" long. I don't think this is the right size pipe, just something a previous owner put on there. My guess is that this is tubing, not pipe. Found something that might work at OnLineMetals.com.
https://www.onlinemetals.com/en/buy/stainless-ste ... 3A2.5%2522
It's 304 stainless and pretty expensive. It's 2.50" O.D. and 2.26" I.D. which is real close. Maybe I'll get a piece of aluminum to check it out.
-Don
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7662
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
I called Joe today. He told me a few things I did not know.
1) The pot auger and bin auger are different sizes.
2) The pot and bin pipes are different sizes.
3) The pipe for the pot auger is a special size, not standard. Joe makes these when needed.
4) the bin pipe is standard 2", Black Iron, schedule 40 pipe.
I'm planning on using the pot auger and pipe from my NOS, GJ-51 stoker. Today I picked up a piece of schedule 40 PVC, 2" x 44" to try out. Got the PVC for 30 bucks, Black Iron would have been $130.
-Don
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7662
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Thanks Ziggy!
Scrapper says the boiler and augers are all welded up and ready to go. If all goes well, I'll be heading up there next Friday or Saturday. I can probably swing by on the way home.
-Don
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7662
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
THE LITTLE BOILER IS BACK!!!
Took a trip up to Coal Country this morning and picked up the boiler and the augers from Scrapper. Then I headed over to Ziggy's place and picked up a spare tailgate for the truck and a 10 foot stick of 2" black iron pipe for the bin auger. Ziggy is going through a pretty rough patch in life so keep him and his family in your prayers. Welded up augers. That's never gunna leak again! Before I put the boiler away I did a quick clean up and sprayed it with a few coats of shiny Silver. -Don
Took a trip up to Coal Country this morning and picked up the boiler and the augers from Scrapper. Then I headed over to Ziggy's place and picked up a spare tailgate for the truck and a 10 foot stick of 2" black iron pipe for the bin auger. Ziggy is going through a pretty rough patch in life so keep him and his family in your prayers. Welded up augers. That's never gunna leak again! Before I put the boiler away I did a quick clean up and sprayed it with a few coats of shiny Silver. -Don
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 1233
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
Looks great Don! That is one small boiler vessel from the looks of it! I trust you're getting ready to fire up the trusty Axe soon!
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7662
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
NOPE!Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Sat. Sep. 23, 2023 9:12 am I trust you're getting ready to fire up the trusty Axe soon!
All 3 are for sale pretty cheap if you want one.
-Don
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 1233
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7662
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
A little bit of both I guess.Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Sat. Sep. 23, 2023 8:25 pm Is this a matter of the Axe no longer meeting your needs or just boredom and being ready for a new project?
I learned a LOT about feed rate, boiler internal surface area and airflow while tuning the Axeman. Another thing I learned is that my house, garage and DHW only require a maximum of about 60,000 BTU on the coldest day. Most of the time it's much less.
I've always struggled getting the Axeman to run right under light loads. Meanwhile, my Van Wert runs perfect under light and heavy loads. I think this little GJ will be very similar to the Van Wert.
We'll see!