Greetings and introductions

[Hot Habibi]

Hi everyone, my name is Gerard Habib from Johannesburg South Africa. I have join here as I need some advice on fireplaces and stoves.

I have always loved a fire and even Morso stoves.

 

[begreen]

Welcome. Morso makes nice stoves. Tell us more about your plans and how large an area you are trying to heat.

 

[Hot Habibi]

so instead of creating a new topic I will ask here on my introduction...

I have reciently bought myself a preowned Godin Petit Small Oval multi fuel fireplace as well as 3x vintage Anthracite heaters 1 more vintage than the other 2, and I need some suggestions and advice, I have searched on Google and this forum already but not got any decent answer so hoping a direct question would be better.

1. Regarding the Petit Godin multi fuel. I intend to burn wood (specifically Bluegum) higher density alien wood in South Africa from Australia aka Seligna.

I have read that the Godin can also burn anthracite but my question here is can these units be burned 24/7 or should they be relit daily?

2. I have also got 3x anthracite cast iron stoves these I know from previous similar stoves i have owned can be run 24/7 but I can find NO information on if and or should I run only anthracite or can they also burn the same wood as I will use on the Godin.

Anthracite stoves.
a. Circa 1920 Artesse No.2
b. 2x Circa 1980 Becker 444 (local brand I think)

thank you for reading this message and hoping for some answers


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[Hot Habibi]

Welcome. Morso makes nice stoves. Tell us more about your plans and how large an area you are trying to heat.

sorry moreso was a auto correct

the area I will be heating is about 100sqm with the Godin from one end of our living space... the Artesse will warm about 40sqm and is on the opposite side of the house so hoping to have both units working together to warm the whole area

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[paulnlee]

Isn't it always hot down there?

 

[Hot Habibi]

Isn't it always hot down there?

Johannesburg is on the escarpment at about 1700m above sea level (5500ft) so it is hot in summer but our winters can be bitter although seldom into negative temperatures Centigrade our chill factors and the fact most homes are not well insulated makes our winters cold. I myself am good with the cold my my wife and lady that works at the house calls my place the mortuary... due to a constant bone chilling temperature through winter... I like the cold but also like making fires

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[begreen]

The coal burners will provide steady background heat. The Godin will probably go 2-4 hrs or so on a load of wood, but check the rear label to see what fuel it is designed for. If it says Coal then it's going to go through wood pretty quickly and inefficiently.

 

[Hot Habibi]

The coal burners will provide steady background heat. The Godin will probably go 2-4 hrs or so on a load of wood, but check the rear label to see what fuel it is designed for. If it says Coal then it's going to go through wood pretty quickly and inefficiently.

The Artesse what I have found online is it's a multi fuel but this is from a sales advert

https://trademe.nz/marketplace/building-renovation/heating-cooling/fireplaces/listing/1983560832

do you guys think it can burn wood or should I just stick to anthracite

as for the Godin Petit the links I have found also say Multi fuel so maybe one of you can suggest more on this please

(broken link removed to https://www.lawton-imports.co.uk/shop/godin-cast-iron-multifuel-petit-godin-3726-7kw-small-oval/)

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[begreen]

In this case "multifuel" may mean coal, lignite or briquettes. The air flow and venting is not designed for good wood burning.

 

[Hot Habibi]

I will make the assumption with the Artesse that multi fuel means anthracite, coke, coal and smokeless fuel bit with the Godin this is what I found

"With a timeless design dating back to the early 19th century, the "Petit Godin" stove is one of the most famous French icons when it comes to wood burning stoves and solid fuel space heaters. It is also a very environmentally friendly slow combustion wood burner, as all Godin wood heaters are 70% efficient or more, and CO emissions rate equal to or below 0.5%. As top loaders, these extremely compact slow combustion stoves can take logs up to 500mm long. They are made of heavy gauge steel and cast iron, and come either in black and grey paint, or with a black body and a choice of green, blue or brown enameled cast iron components. These wood burning models can also run off anthracite. The inside is lined with fireproof concrete lining. The front door is glazed and fitted with a fresh air adjustment"

 

[begreen]

It'll burn wood, just not as well as with coal. Split the wood small, stack the wood vertically and try it out. This is a small room heater, so don't expect miracles, but it should be better than nothing. Tell us what you think. We haven't had a posting on this stove in years.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/godin-woodstove-help.125144/

 

[Hot Habibi]

Thank you for the link to the previous page, I will also try experiment before i go buy wood by the cord I will get some bags of wood and then also a bags of anthracite do a test over a weekend

Unfortunately the weather here is still hot to really see how much of my home it warms up but this way I will be able to at least confirm which fuel suits the stove based on burn time warmth clean up and cost...
Pros and cons (from what I assume already)
Wood
Burns clean
low CO emmisions
nice smell

Con
Expensive compared to anthracite
wont burn as long
takes up more packing space

Anthracite
Cheap
small space for the same weight packing

Con
Higher CO
Messy when packed and after burnt

I have just called my local wood supplier and got a price of wood delivered per 60kg...

Wood Price about $12.40 per 135lbs
Anthracite about $17.60 per 135lbs

if i burn 135lbs of wood and 135lbs of anthracite am I correct to say that the burn will give the same heat (if the fireplace is set the same) but the anthracite would burn for longer. or is my thought incorrect

Can someone also confirm if they know if I use anthracite in the godin can this stove run slowly for an entire winter or do they need to be re-lit daily for longevity of the stoves.

 

[Hot Habibi]

Okay I think I have just answered myself on this question when we buy a fuel we are not buying its weight BUT rather the possible BTU/kg,

So if I assume I am thinking in the right direction then
Anthracite burns at a rate of 28million BTU/ ton thats 28000/kg of anthracite burned
Eucalyptus Burns at a rate of 34million BTU/cord thats about 7320 pounds of wood thats about 10million BTU/ton which inturn is 10000 BTU/Kg

with the above noted then the price per heating BTU of the Anthracite is far cheaper than that of the Eucalyptus so essentially it will cost me less to maintain a warm home with the Anthracite than with wood... in terms of the fuel only.

Am I on the right direction or getting further each time I type a response

 

[moresnow]

Lots of info to be had here. You might also check out coalpail.com That site is really aimed at coal use. Sounds like a interesting project! Post a few pics of your place. Curious of what its like there. Welcome to Hearth.

 

[begreen]

Wood will not burn cleanly in either stove. I doubt efficiency would be over 50-60% and emissions about 25 times modern EPA stoves. Anthracite, burned properly may actually be cleaner. Both are burning carbon and will create CO2.