Operating instructions

The SF250 is approved for use with coal only. Burning wood or other such fuels in this stove, except for the purpose of igniting a coal fire, is prohibited.

Starting A Fire

Begin by opening the draft control knobs on both the load door and the ash door. Open both doors. Be sure all items have been removed from the ash pan (i.e. touch-up paint, warranty registration, etc...)

Place aproximately eight sheets of newspaper, crum- bled, on top of the grates. Lay some kindling on top of the crumbled paper. This kindling should be dry and no larger than 3/4 in. diameter. It should be layered in a criss-cross fashion to allow good air flow. Now place some slightly larger pieces of wood (about 2” diam- eter) on top of the kindling. Using a match or grill light- er, ignite the paper at the bottom just inside the door. Close both doors and allow the the kindling and larger wood to catch fire. After around five minutes, open the load door slightly, for a few seconds and then open completely. This is a good practice to get into as it will allow any smoke and gases to clear away from the door opening. Add small compact pieces of wood when the kindling is burning hot. When a substantial bed of hot wood coals is established, start adding coal in small amounts at a time. Allow a few minutes between coal loadings to be sure that what you’ve added is ignited. You can keep the ash door open through this process, but NEVER LEAVE THE STOVE UNATTENDED WITH A DOOR OPEN. Once you have a bed of burning coal, you can load coal into the stove to the top of the firebricks. Always make sure there is some flame showing through the coal. This will ensure the gases are being burned and not accumulating in the firebox. After a good coal ignition, set the draft controls on the load door to about 1/4 turn open. The draft control on the ash door is used to control the rate of burn. After starting a fire, keep it about 2 full turns open for about 30 minutes. Then, adjust further closed to the proper output level. Normal operation will be between cracked and one turn open. Since coal re- sponds slowly to draft adjustments, make only small adjustments and allow time in between.

Loading

Coal should only be added when there is a reasonably hot fire. The coal bed should be bright and vigorous. If the fire is burning hot and there is a deep bed of coals, full loads can be added. If it is not as described, add coal in small batches only.

Increasing Heat From A Low Fire

Every effort should be made not to let a coal fire burn so long that it has started to die. This will cause the reloading process to be much longer, and there is a good posibility of losing the fire.

Do not shake or stir a low fire.

Open the draft control all the way until the fire gets as hot as possible. Start adding small batches of coal and follow the instructions for starting a fire.

Once there is a good bed of burning coals, the grates may be shaken to remove ashes.

Shaking Ashes

Shaking should be done only when there is a hot fire burning. The frequency of shaking will depend on the degree of burning. Shaking should be done at least once per day, preferably twice.

The best results from shaking will occur when short choppy strokes are used, rather than long, even strokes. Grasp the shaker handle with one hand and shake it, only moving the actual handle 1/2 inch or less. Do this until you start to see hot coals falling into the ash pan, then stop. Do not rock the grates, as this will allow burning coal to fall through, and you’ll lose the fire.

Ashes

The ashes should never be allowed to accumulate in the ash pan. Excess ash will block the required airflow through the grates and cause them to warp and sag. Neglect is not covered by your stove’s warranty.

Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. This closed container of ashes should be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the ground, well away from any combustible materials, pending final disposal. If the ashes are disposed of by burial in soil, or otherwise locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.

Fuel

The SF250 is approved for burning anthracite coal. Pea, Nut, and Stove sized coal are all suitable.

Grates

The functions of a grate system are to support the fuel load, while allowing air flow to the fire in a balanced amount. Another function is to allow for ash removal without losing the fire. The SF250 grate system pro- vides for all of this and can be removed with no tools required.