Can I flip the plug?

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I never use the ash pan in my stove. It's dinky and useless. The "plug" in the floor of the stove is essentially a small steel plate with a loop protruding into the firebox. It makes raking coals and shoveling ash a pain. Is there anything wrong with just flipping that plug over so the floor of the stove is relatively smooth? Is there any reason I should actually be using the ash pan? As opposed to just shoveling out the ashes as needed and carefully transferring them into a bucket? I currently use a 1 gallon galvanized bucket and dump the ash into an abandoned armadillo hole out back. If the stove was warm while cleaning and the potential for stray coals exists, I wash the ash down the armadillo hole with my water hose.

And if you're wondering how I know the armadillo hole is abandoned, see my blog post here: Gruesome Tragedy Stuns Local Citizens
 
Good idea,
I might cut the little handle off mine, It is a PIA when shoveling out the ashes.
 
Interesting thought that thing is annoying. I might try it. If it will fit down in there it should seal up with ashes.
 
Is the late John Tupp buried in the hole under the ashes? You might have a mummified armadillo out back.
 
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