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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Christmas Tea

« on: November 26, 2016, 03:26:06 pm »

I"m glad this was posted as I have never seen it.!

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Anyone know about Gray & Dudley Co Oil Burning stoves?

« on: November 26, 2016, 03:10:56 pm »

Kutrieb Co. built a stove similar to this in the 70's. It or one similar may still be available. It had a removable pot through the top that you cleaned once a day. One was used at a truck dealer I worked at back then. It had a small motor that turned a small blower and a piston pump that pumped the oil in the manner you saw. A valve controlled oil flow and thus heat output. The way these pot stoves work is by boiling a puddle of oil, turning it into a vapor (gas) where it burns. It has to be a vapor to burn, you can't burn a liquid. Gasoline has to be a vapor to burn. In an oil stove, the secondary burn that happens above the fire ring completes the combustion process and is what lets it burn efficiently without smoking. It is interesting!

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Anyone know about Gray & Dudley Co Oil Burning stoves?

« on: November 26, 2016, 12:15:23 pm »

I've forgotten about this column so here is an update "mart" may find helpful. I'd forgot my p.w. and just got it reset! I get most of my oil where I work as a heavy equipment mechanic, some from a friend who has excavating equipment. I burn only oil drained from a gas engine, transmission fluid, or hydraulic oil. Trans fluid and hyd oil burn very well. I do not like diesel engine oil as it has soot in it, is messy and thicker. Definitely no heavy gear oil. I am burning my stove now. The pot in the stove does need to be cleaned out after 7-10 gal of oil is burned. It gets an ash deposit in it that must be broken up and removed, similar to a "clinker". I use an old shop vac with a truck air filter in it to vacuum it out after breaking up the ash, wire-brushing the burner. Only takes about 10 minutes to clean it, pour in a 1/3 cup fuel oil, throw in a piece of paper towel that wicks up the fuel oil and light it. Adjust the flow control as desired and enjoy free heat! I did have to slightly modify the metering rod for the heavier oil. This set-up works well for me as I have used it almost 30 yrs now. It has its finical things to fuss with but is not difficult if you understand how it works. If anyone is interested I could try and include some pics if I can figure out how to post them as I'm not real computer savvy. I also used a "Siegler" oil heater that I modified a little. It had an electric blower on it. I had it set up with two oil controls, one for fuel oil and one for used oil. I probably like the Frogil stove better as it needs no electric.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Anyone know about Gray & Dudley Co Oil Burning stoves?

« on: December 08, 2011, 11:08:31 pm »

  Yes I have one of these, and I still use it! I have converted it to burn used motor oil. I burn appx 250 gal of used oil a yr. The "down draft" refers to the air tube in the top where it draws additional air for combustion in addition to the air pulled in from underneath. The oil is heated to "boil" in the pot. As a gas, it burns and heats the cast fire ring where secondary combustion takes place above the ring with the air coming down the draft tube hence the name "down draft".
   This is a great little stove. It is all mechanical control, no electric required which is great when the power is off for a heat backup. Metering is done with a carburetor which, with well filtered oil, is practically maintenance free. I've used it over 25 yrs and never had a problem. Just do routine maintenance as with anything.
   Even burning the used oil, all that comes out the pipe is clear heat, no smoke.