The reason why the coal didn't burn very hot in the cage is because the combustion air was bypassing the fuel - basically choosing the path of least resistance and going around the fuel and straight up the flue. Coal needs it's air from below, where as wood doesn't really care. If you can devise a way to force the incoming air through the stack of fuel in the cage you'll find that it will burn much hotter. I have a boiler stove and I built a cage for the anthracite that covers the entire fire grate, thus ensuring that the combustion air has no alternative but to pass through the fuel. With a tweak or two I reckon you could make that lovely cage work as required. Love your channel by the way. Take care😊
Thanks for your detailed information, this makes perfect sense and I had never considered that before. I will look into making some sort of base to help force the air through the cage rather than around it. Thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated.
Coal cage. You may find that the ashes do not easily come out of the gaps in your cage as they could be too small. I didn't see a riddle lever on your fire - do you have one? I have a Coal Cage and keep it in all the time - if I need extra heat then I just stack the coal up around it as well as in the cage itself. Sometimes I use wood around the edge if I need a burst of heat. As for the thermometer - I have mine further up the flue but I don't think they are really designed for a boat stove because if you get the needle in the range it states then it is too hot in the boat. You will get to know your stove after a few burns and will find your own way. The weather, wind, rain, how many windows you have open and lots more things denote how the fire burns. I used to have an 18 inch chimney until it got knocked in the canal and lost so bought a 12 inch one - I feel that I do not get as good a draught up the flue than what I did with the 18 one. hope this helps.
Thanks for your advice and info, makes perfect sense now. Yes it has a riddle lever and I use it to drop the ash down on to the ash pan. Good idea to stack additional coal around the outside of the cage when more heat is required, I will try that. I am going to cut some larger holes in the bottom portion of the cage to help with lighting and ash dispersion. I agree with your comment about the thermometer. If the stove was in the correct range stated on it, then it would be far too hot in the boat. I had read somewhere that running the stove too cool can cause problems in the flue. Not sure how true this is? I will experiment more moving forward. Thanks again for your advice, it is appreciated by me who is new to this.
I watched the video yesterday and had a thought about the coal cage. Instead of it being a cylinder, would it work betfer if it was a basket that was flat with curved sides? I so think your thermometer was in the wrong place on the stove too. BTW, I know absolutely nothing about boats.
I dont know much about if you can already buy those cages it might be worth puting your name to it so people cant steal the idea and make money off tour idea, just a thought well done on the work so far
The cage is not my idea. I had seen someone else on TH-cam using one and looked in to it. This is my version of it as I like making things rather than purchasing them.
Ooo I'm loving the fridge wrap! Looking forward to seeing it on my girlie weekend on the boat next week! ❤
The reason why the coal didn't burn very hot in the cage is because the combustion air was bypassing the fuel - basically choosing the path of least resistance and going around the fuel and straight up the flue. Coal needs it's air from below, where as wood doesn't really care. If you can devise a way to force the incoming air through the stack of fuel in the cage you'll find that it will burn much hotter. I have a boiler stove and I built a cage for the anthracite that covers the entire fire grate, thus ensuring that the combustion air has no alternative but to pass through the fuel. With a tweak or two I reckon you could make that lovely cage work as required. Love your channel by the way. Take care😊
Thanks for your detailed information, this makes perfect sense and I had never considered that before. I will look into making some sort of base to help force the air through the cage rather than around it. Thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated.
Coal cage. You may find that the ashes do not easily come out of the gaps in your cage as they could be too small. I didn't see a riddle lever on your fire - do you have one? I have a Coal Cage and keep it in all the time - if I need extra heat then I just stack the coal up around it as well as in the cage itself. Sometimes I use wood around the edge if I need a burst of heat. As for the thermometer - I have mine further up the flue but I don't think they are really designed for a boat stove because if you get the needle in the range it states then it is too hot in the boat. You will get to know your stove after a few burns and will find your own way. The weather, wind, rain, how many windows you have open and lots more things denote how the fire burns. I used to have an 18 inch chimney until it got knocked in the canal and lost so bought a 12 inch one - I feel that I do not get as good a draught up the flue than what I did with the 18 one. hope this helps.
Thanks for your advice and info, makes perfect sense now. Yes it has a riddle lever and I use it to drop the ash down on to the ash pan. Good idea to stack additional coal around the outside of the cage when more heat is required, I will try that. I am going to cut some larger holes in the bottom portion of the cage to help with lighting and ash dispersion. I agree with your comment about the thermometer. If the stove was in the correct range stated on it, then it would be far too hot in the boat. I had read somewhere that running the stove too cool can cause problems in the flue. Not sure how true this is? I will experiment more moving forward. Thanks again for your advice, it is appreciated by me who is new to this.
I watched the video yesterday and had a thought about the coal cage. Instead of it being a cylinder, would it work betfer if it was a basket that was flat with curved sides? I so think your thermometer was in the wrong place on the stove too.
BTW, I know absolutely nothing about boats.
I'm not sure if a different shape cage would work? Only one way to find out........
I dont know much about if you can already buy those cages it might be worth puting your name to it so people cant steal the idea and make money off tour idea, just a thought well done on the work so far
The cage is not my idea. I had seen someone else on TH-cam using one and looked in to it. This is my version of it as I like making things rather than purchasing them.