One important item : these stoves, while terrific while operating properly, can leak thru the gasket material on the inside of the stove. I'm not talking the doors, I'm speaking of the two chambers where the heat comes out the top front of the stove, they have a mesh covering over them. Make sure nothing leaks. Take some newspaper and start it then deliberately make it go out so that it smokes. If smoke starts coming out anywhere other than up the chimney you have a problem. The only remedy for where its probably leaking is to remove the top..remember its cast iron and will break.
I'm assuming you have the blower with the unit, it makes the stove SOOOO much better to distribute the heat. Takes very little electricity which is a nice feature. The thermostat just magnetically attaches to the back.
If you dont have the options ( blower, cast door inserts, metal strainer, cat converter ) you can spend hundreds to get them. For now I'd be more concerned with making sure its leak proof and go from there. Since you want to burn coal thats a no brainer. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. I would try nothing smaller than pea coal to start, you can always go up or down from there. Good luck..
*** if you have access to good hardwood, you can get burn times of 8 hrs if the weather outside isn't too cold and the cat converter is new.
:greenchainsaw: