I have this old wood, well actually coal, stove. It is a Coalchief, made by the Suburban Mfg Co, model CC378. I never found a manual for it, and even contacted the manufacturer. The sent me a manual for a similar stove, and I ran with it. I had some back-puffing issues in the beginning of the season, but have corrected the behaviors that caused it. The air intake is controlled by a thermostat (the vice grips in the first picture) connected to the flap you see in the second picture. As you can see in the second picture, there are adjustable bypass holes (open about halfway). In the third picture, you can see the hole that is at the top of the firebox, also about halfway. How do I adjust them? I mean, I can adjust them, but how do I figure out the best way to set it?
Second question- Because this is a coal-burning stove (only used for wood now) it has grates at the bottom. This means, as the coal bed burns down in the early morning hours, the thermostat opens the intake more and more, and burns my coals down faster and faster. The grates can be rotated to be flat (fourth and fifth pictures). Would I be better off burning in this position, or would I have problems with air-flow (which comes in from below the grates).
Finally, in the last picture you can see the firebox and the stovepipe going out (straight out the back and out through the exterior wall). I've seen postings about people modifying their stoves, and am looking for ideas how I can make this stove work better for me for the next few seasons until I get a house built (and am heating with something better than this old hand-me-down). I have a welder, and access to a friend who is a professional welder, so any ideas are welcome.
Thanks!
Second question- Because this is a coal-burning stove (only used for wood now) it has grates at the bottom. This means, as the coal bed burns down in the early morning hours, the thermostat opens the intake more and more, and burns my coals down faster and faster. The grates can be rotated to be flat (fourth and fifth pictures). Would I be better off burning in this position, or would I have problems with air-flow (which comes in from below the grates).
Finally, in the last picture you can see the firebox and the stovepipe going out (straight out the back and out through the exterior wall). I've seen postings about people modifying their stoves, and am looking for ideas how I can make this stove work better for me for the next few seasons until I get a house built (and am heating with something better than this old hand-me-down). I have a welder, and access to a friend who is a professional welder, so any ideas are welcome.
Thanks!
