I’ve got this coal stove. It’s a Reading Stove Company, Mahantongo CS-45. Anthracite coal is what it burns, I think. You know, I wanted to try to get a little more heat for my garage, so I found this thing and figured, why not give it a shot?
Getting Started
First off, I made sure to grab a carbon monoxide detector. Safety first, right? It’s super important, especially when you’re dealing with burning coal indoors. Better safe than sorry!
- Picked up a carbon monoxide detector.
- Got a 4-inch power vent.
- Found a Fields RC barometric damper.
Setting It Up
Next, I figured out the installation part. It’s not that complicated, but you have to be careful. I got a 4-inch power vent, which seems to be the right size for this stove. I also picked up a Fields RC barometric damper. This thing helps control the draft, which is essential for keeping the fire burning just right.
The Learning Process
Now, lighting up the coal stove is an experience. This anthracite coal, it’s different than wood or regular coal. It takes a bit of time and some patience to get it going. You can’t just throw a match in there and expect it to blaze up. It’s a whole different way of burning.
Keeping It Going
So, I learned that these improved coal stoves have these smaller combustion chambers, grates, and air intakes. These parts direct the air right through the burning coal, from underneath. It’s pretty neat how it all works. The internal chimney baffles, they slow down the hot air, so you get more heat in the room. It’s a bit like a science experiment, but it really works!
Feeding the Stove
I found out that this stove has a hopper where you put the coal in. There’s a screw conveyor that moves the coal to a pulverizer. This pulverizer thing crushes the coal into fine powder. Then, in the burner, this coal powder mixes with air. There’s a fan that helps with this. It creates a high-speed airflow, mixing the coal and air, and that’s what makes it burn efficiently.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it was a pretty cool experience. It was like stepping back in time but also learning some pretty neat engineering stuff. It’s a lot more work than just flipping a switch, but hey, it’s satisfying to get that warmth knowing you did it all yourself. Plus, it’s a good conversation starter when people see it! “Yeah, I installed that coal stove myself, no big deal.” It gets a chuckle or two.