ash vaccuum?

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One can save a lot of dollars simply by learning the technique for emptying ashes. There is no need for ash dust if you do it right. I learned this a few years ago when I was a very young lad. Of course, in the learning, I had to dust the entire house after my first try. Believe me, it was no fun but it surely made me be very careful from that point on because it became one of my chores to empty the ashes. I found that is very easy to do and don't think anything has changed since then. Oh, by the way, that was during the 1940's when I learned. I haven't yet forgotten.
 
msk said:
Dennis...What is your secret?
Click to expand...

No secret at all. Imagine you are handling some very fragel eggs. Do not over fill the shovel. Move extremely slow. Move ash shovel to the bottom of the bucket very, very slowly trying to not let any ashes fall. When at the bottom, never try to dump the ashes off the shove. Instead, slowly slide the shovel out from under the ashes. Do this and there will be no dust. Can't be much simpler but many have posted about this annually. I think it is another case of wanting to get the job done quickly and that won't work. I think I was age 5 or 6 when I learned this and all I was told was to slow down and don't dump the ashes. After that first time (and I was so proud to be helping) of dusting the whole house, I learned quickly. ;lol
 
If the flue is still drawing holding the bucket close to the door opening helps also. I wanted the vac for the hearth and the ash lip that get dust/ash on them. That and for the pellet stove in the basement. Its ash ends up in boxes on each side of the burn pot where an ash shovel won't fit. And of course for when I am brushing both flues. Both of my pipes terminate inside the house. Not tees outside.
 
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I used my shop vac to clean out behind the cat when the pipe was out.
Stove was not yet fired for the season.
So I was vacuuming away and admiring my work till my wife came in hollering you're getting black dust all over...so I looked over at the vacuum and the exhaust and holly crap it was flying out of it big time. Dummy me had used it for a vet vac and never thought about putting the filter in. Spent a good part of a day cleaning up..dang.
 
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Backwoods Savage said:
No secret at all. Imagine you are handling some very fragel eggs. Do not over fill the shovel. Move extremely slow. Move ash shovel to the bottom of the bucket very, very slowly trying to not let any ashes fall. When at the bottom, never try to dump the ashes off the shove. Instead, slowly slide the shovel out from under the ashes. Do this and there will be no dust. Can't be much simpler but many have posted about this annually. I think it is another case of wanting to get the job done quickly and that won't work. I think I was age 5 or 6 when I learned this and all I was told was to slow down and don't dump the ashes. After that first time (and I was so proud to be helping) of dusting the whole house, I learned quickly. ;lol
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OOOhh....I"m doing it right!! ==c The only time I get ash all over the place is when my puppy dog decides he wants to either investigate what I am doing and sticks his big wet nose in the ashes or when he decides he wants to have fun and knocks mama around when she has a pile of ashes in her shovel >>
 
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Backwoods Savage said:
No secret at all. Imagine you are handling some very fragel eggs. Do not over fill the shovel. Move extremely slow. Move ash shovel to the bottom of the bucket very, very slowly trying to not let any ashes fall. When at the bottom, never try to dump the ashes off the shove. Instead, slowly slide the shovel out from under the ashes. Do this and there will be no dust.
Click to expand...

In addition to that, I have a piece of cardboard I set over the bucket in between scoops, and open it just enough to let the shovel down. I used the ash pan a couple times, and called that enough. ;)
 
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Anybody ever use one of these Ashdragons? They look like a good alternative to the Vac, although, about the same money! Maybe I'll try to make one...;)
 

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The ashdragons work very well.
 
Hoozie said:
In addition to that, I have a piece of cardboard I set over the bucket in between scoops, and open it just enough to let the shovel down. I used the ash pan a couple times, and called that enough. ;)
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Good idea Hoozie. Some even resort to wet rags over the ash bucket. I've just never felt the need.
 
HotCoals said:
I used my shop vac to clean out behind the cat when the pipe was out.
Stove was not yet fired for the season.
So I was vacuuming away and admiring my work till my wife came in hollering you're getting black dust all over...so I looked over at the vacuum and the exhaust and holly crap it was flying out of it big time. Dummy me had used it for a vet vac and never thought about putting the filter in. Spent a good part of a day cleaning up..dang.
Click to expand...

Did something similar years ago but the shop vac was out on the deck with a long hose into the house. Tugging on the hose had turned the exhaust toward the open door when a piece of long cold charcoal nuked the paper filter. When I pulled my head out of the stove the room was dark. ;em It took more than part of a day to clean the family room, kitchen, dining room and living room.
 
In my shop, I use an old milk can... It's like a 20 gallon milk jug? I use a wide funnel, actually I think it's flashing for a roof vent pipe? It works great! I empty all my ash into the can. In the winter, I dump the ash in my fire pit I use during the summer.... And leave it. Any hot ashes go out on there own or by snow/rain. In the spring, I scoop out the fire pit over a course of 3 weeks and send it out with the garbage.
 
I am a Volunteer Fireman, one call was a fully involved structure fire where the maid had vaccumed the fireplace with the central vac in the house. The whole house was lost. ooops. I would suggest not using a shop vac either.
 
While the vacuum Powersmith PAVC101 may work fine on a dead cold stove or grill, my concern is that during the winter, I may not have the time to let my stove die before I clean it. I would prefer one that can work with warm coals, in case I miss some when I rake.. The Dustless Technologies vacs are too expensive, I can shovel it for $220. For $115, you can get the US Stove AV 15 at Woodland direct, with free shipping. Or they are $119 at Home Depot.

Found it on Amazon prime for $102.30.

The reviews say it doesn't have the fine tips for pellet stoves, and is only powerful enough for ash removal, but I will only use it on an insert, anyway.
 
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