How do you manage the build up of coals ?

[hamsey]

Tried the pellet thing yesterday. Nice flame up but nothing to help with the coals. YMMV

 

[brenndatomu]

I use pellets now, Ive used about 1 bag this year. Rake forward then sprinkle the pellets on top of the coal pile. They light up quick and then proceed to increase my stack temp and thus increasing draft. Works very well for me.

I was thinking about this last night... why/how it works. I would say that it just buys you time. Throwing pellets (or softwood) on the coals gives you active flame, that provides more heat, and this buys more time for the coals to burn down...but without adding to the coal pile.

Tried the pellet thing yesterday. Nice flame up but nothing to help with the coals. YMMV

Maybe not enough pellets? Dunno, never personally had the coaling problem...

 

[velvetfoot]

Warm-ish today here, but deep freeze again tomorrow. I am going to let it burn down to ash today and empty it.

 

[tarzan]

The pellets or soft wood creates more draft to help revitalize the coals. Also buys time as mentioned above.

 

[westkywood]

While I'm at home and can tend to the stove, I burn softer wood or burn smaller pieces of hardwood so that I have more constant heat and less build up. I give the stove a bit more air so it will burn hot. When I do get a lot of coal build up, I do as most have said on here. I rake em forward, put small splits in and pour the air to it or I just leave the stove door open for bit.

 

[Flammen_Kopf]

The best $10 I ever spent was on one of these. I use it to move all of the coals around, as well as it being rigid enough to clean out the ash from the corners, and out of the ashpan area when it overflows. The design also is strong enough to move wood around once its in the stove.

what is it, and where can we get it?

 

[husky345 vermont resolute]

I just open my secondary damper and primary damper for awhile. Coal problem solved

 

[Dieselhead]

what is it, and where can we get it?

Looks like a BBQ brush to this author

 

[Light in the Dark]

what is it, and where can we get it?

Yeah, just a triangular grille brush. Got mine at Home Depot. $10 maybe? Can get them anywhere.

 

[Flammen_Kopf]

Yeah, just a triangular grille brush. Got mine at Home Depot. $10 maybe? Can get them anywhere.

sounds cool. thanks.

FWIW, I used a few tricks from this thread re coals, and they work! many thanks to all the great folks and knowledge here.