Last year was our first Winter running the F55 or any wood stove for that matter. I wanted to identify what I needed as I went along instead of investing in an ash vacuum and a set of fireplace tools up front. For anybody running a wood stove with the need to transport hot coals you've needed to solve this problem one way or another.
At first I made due for a couple months with just a 17" metal dust pan simply scooping up a load of hot coals and carefully walking them outside the house where I would dump them and put them out with water. After putting too many burn spots in the wood floor from the inevitable coal that would get loose on me I engineered the following solution. I used it the remainder of the season last year and it proved to be a great design that totally filled my need. Here's what I made and some blurry pics of how it is used.
Notice the tab that points inward.
In storage. The wood stove is directly opposite the wall where this lives.
Step 1: Set it down on the hearth and slide it under the stove.
Step 2: Get a nice big scoop of hot coals. As tall of a scoop as you can.
Step 3: Carefully remove the dust pan from the stove and slide it inside the metal guard. Lift up on the dust pan handle and pull toward you. The pan catches on the inverted tab.
Step 4: Walk outside with the secured and protected coal load. Setting the load on the ground effectively pushes the guard away from the dust pan allowing you to remove the pan and discard the coals. Some coals will be left inside the guard. Simply dump those out too. Put the dust pan back inside the guard and walk back inside. Repeat 1-4 until your coal bed is reduced to where you want it. The whole process takes 1 minute. I can have my stove coal-free in just 3 scoops.
I designed it using AutoCad 3D. Just kidding. Only used a piece of cardboard to design a pattern.
Then I made all the folds on a commercial metal forming brake press. Eh, kidding again. Just used the sharp edges of my old cast iron table saw wings, some clamps, a pine board and a little elbow grease. My neighbor did the welds to the galvanized sheet metal as we both held our breath to prevent inhaling the toxic wisps of smoke.
Serial #000001 has passed all testing. I like it a lot. Not sure there's demand for more than one of these units though
At first I made due for a couple months with just a 17" metal dust pan simply scooping up a load of hot coals and carefully walking them outside the house where I would dump them and put them out with water. After putting too many burn spots in the wood floor from the inevitable coal that would get loose on me I engineered the following solution. I used it the remainder of the season last year and it proved to be a great design that totally filled my need. Here's what I made and some blurry pics of how it is used.
Notice the tab that points inward.
In storage. The wood stove is directly opposite the wall where this lives.
Step 1: Set it down on the hearth and slide it under the stove.
Step 2: Get a nice big scoop of hot coals. As tall of a scoop as you can.
Step 3: Carefully remove the dust pan from the stove and slide it inside the metal guard. Lift up on the dust pan handle and pull toward you. The pan catches on the inverted tab.
Step 4: Walk outside with the secured and protected coal load. Setting the load on the ground effectively pushes the guard away from the dust pan allowing you to remove the pan and discard the coals. Some coals will be left inside the guard. Simply dump those out too. Put the dust pan back inside the guard and walk back inside. Repeat 1-4 until your coal bed is reduced to where you want it. The whole process takes 1 minute. I can have my stove coal-free in just 3 scoops.
I designed it using AutoCad 3D. Just kidding. Only used a piece of cardboard to design a pattern.
Then I made all the folds on a commercial metal forming brake press. Eh, kidding again. Just used the sharp edges of my old cast iron table saw wings, some clamps, a pine board and a little elbow grease. My neighbor did the welds to the galvanized sheet metal as we both held our breath to prevent inhaling the toxic wisps of smoke.
Serial #000001 has passed all testing. I like it a lot. Not sure there's demand for more than one of these units though
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Of course the ultimate solution is to only use perfectly seasoned wood and practice what Grisu described above (which I do most of the time).
