Hot Coals and the zipper method, something else to try. ****EDIT*** Pics at end of thread

OK so as we get deeper and deeper into the 24/7 season the situation with a large coal bed and the want/need for heat, and the battle for firebox space and what to do will continue. I have a waste not want not attitude when it comes to my BTUs. I work way to hard processing my wood to not get the maximum use out of it. With that in mind I have tried many ways to address the large coal bed (I burn mostly Oak). So with some experimenting with the drag it forward, lay a split across the pile method, with some but not great success, I was experimenting with another method, which I call the zipper method, which works, at least for me, much better.

I am sure somewhere on this forum, someone has presented this, so I apologize in advance to whoever that is for stealing your idea.

Instead of dragging the coals all forward towards the air I make a pile, front to back, directly in front of the "dog house". I then refill my stove, starting on either side of my centered pile. I then place wood, all of the pieces n/s and fully load the stove.

I then operate the stove exactly like I usually would, Within a short time-frame, primary air is or is nearly completely closed, secondaries flaming away.

Because the airflow from the doghouse is so direct and intense, the dog house works like a forge, creating a huge amount of heat and burning down the coals, while using the BTUs effectively. Add to this that I am able to essentially run the stove full, the coals act like a big split in the middle of the stove, there is not an issue with the house cooling down, as it would sometimes do when trying to burn down the coals.

This is just another way, for me, a better and more efficient way, to burn down the coals. Is it a "better mouse-trap"? Maybe, maybe not, but it is for me. I would encourage anyone with the "I have to many coals" issue to try this method.

Stump_Branch said:

I am interested in this, mostly because my firebox is smaller the a pillbox. But also due to how you describe the effect of "the doghouse" and getting faster flame ups and faster dampen down times. what is the Dog house as you describe? is this particular to the hearthstone, or is this the area where the primary air enters?

hmmm pictures....

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On the Mansfield, which has a large firebox, there is at the front center, a square box. This box has 2 air holes that supply the firebox O2. There is an intense source of oxygen from this area when the primary air is open and/or closed. This is what I mean by the dog house. I have attached a pic of it, close up, and one of the burn it provides. By staging my coals in a n/s fashion with wood piled on either side and on to it burns up the coals efficiently without a cool down. It seems to me that this is the best way for me, with my stove, to utilize the hot coals. I hope the pics help explain. If not let me know, I will try and get better ones.

If you are interested I will take a bunch of pics during the next reload. Now that won't be till this evening but.... Let me know.

maxed_out said:

yes take some pics on the next reload. Thats a big box!

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3.2 cubic foot box so yeah its a big one. This evenining when I do a full load I will snap some pics and post em either tonight or on Thursday.

Dakotas Dad said:

My favorite method if I need to burn 'em down. My firebox is about half the depth of yours, so I have to scroung up some shorties, I build a "crib" around/over the coals, and then load the stove as close to normal as possible. Burns 'em down quick.

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6 in one half dozen in another. Sounds like we are doing the same thing, center pile, pretend its a split, pile more splits/rounds all around, good burn down with no wasted BTUs.

Stump_Branch said:

Thanks, the pics help quite a bit. does this run the entire length of your firebox? I have a smallish box (small stove) in the front where the primary air enters, its only a few inches deep, the fact that I have such a small box in the first place is why I love the n/s, Im wondering if it burns better as well becuase of this. I will give her a try tonight.

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That first pic is all it is, um say 2 inches by 2 inches, box center front. 2 air supply holes. If I put a split here the heat is so intense it will burn a hole into the CENTER and begin to hollow out the split an inch or two.

So here are the pics of what I mean by the zipper method, (i hope them come out in the correct order). The reason I call it the zipper is because air from the doghouse, unzips the pile of hot coals, in an inverted V from front to back. With in a half hour this large pile of hot coals was burned back at least 3 or 4 inches using this method. Now that may not seem like alot but consider that the pile to start was 4-5 inches high from the bottom of the stove. If I do this regularly, it keeps the coal bed manageable and allows for more or less full loads every time.

So if I add these pics correctly they should be.

1 . found coal bed
2. centered coals w/ 2 medium rounds
3. even out with smal rounds
4. add 3 large splits on top
5. fill her up with small stuff
6. secondaries with doghouse burn
7. secondaries with doghouse burn lights off

I hope this helps someone, and as always this is valid at participating locations only, subject to change without notice, and mileage may vary.

I never get the order correctl ! Damn.... I am still trying to figure out how to post a pic then text under it, then another pic, and so on.

Well you get the idea.

CJRages said:

One thought I have is for those of us who mainly burn east-west due to firebox configuration... If you have a limited supply of shorties, then try loading the shorties first similarly to what shawneyboy did - on either side of the coal pile. Next lay the longies east-west across the top and fill 'er up. Looks like a great plan! Thanks for posting the idea!
:cheese:

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+1 for E/W load burners. Let me know how it works for you. It works well for me.

bump for those wanting pics