My sister just got a used, but in new condition Schrader woodstove. It has firebrick lining, and she was planning to use coal, as well as wood in it this winter. Brother advised she MUST use a cast iron grate, also. True or not? We were advised not to burn coal in our stove, as it has neither a grate nor firebrick in it, so I don't know what to advise her. No instruction manual with the stove, either. Thanks for any advice, Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), October 10, 2001

Answers

did it EVRE have a grate,, if so,, then you problaby should use one. As to coal,, it all depends on the style, type,, ect,,,. HAve her start slowly with it,, add a littel coal to the wood, and see how it goes. Would help if you could contact a manufacturee

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 10, 2001.

If you aren't absolutely 100% certain that this stove was designed for coal burning and has everything with it to accomodate that, don't try it. Coal burns way hotter than wood and while this stove may be safe for wood, it may not for coal. If you're going to error, error on the side of safety. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 10, 2001.

Our very first wood stove that we had was a Schrader wood stove in the early 80's during the oil crisis. Liked using it very much but ours was not made to use coal. I belive you need to have a grate so the air can circulate under the coal and the ashes must be able to drop down. Coal will burn a lot hotter than wood and releases gases too. They only problem I had with my Schrader was when I needed to empty the ashes I had to let it burn down to do that. Can get mighty cold waiting to do that and restarting your stove if that is all you have to keep warm by. We presenlty have 3 stoves in our old house. A Coalmaster (a brown box) that we use both the coal and wood with a grate a great heating stove, an old Kalamazoo 1920's palor stove coal and wood too.... coal and wood and our homemade 55 gallon barrel stove in the basement that heats like crazy but only uses wood. . Need to let the fire out to clean the ashes here too. Have a kitchen cook stove that uses both wood and coal with grates. Good Luck with you Schrader !!!!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), October 11, 2001.

Thanks for the ideas--I'm back in Colorado, and the stove is in Utah, so have to contact them and see what the model is, and see if I can contact Schrader for her. She doesn't have email access right now, so I'm doing the leg work, so to speak. Thanks for the answers, I really appreciate all of you! Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), October 12, 2001.