30-NC Ash Option

[Backhoe]

As has been posted on hearth.com many times, ash cleanout on the 30-NC leaves something to be desired. The various methods described on the forum created too much fly ash to suit me so I started to think about other ideas. I have attached two pictures of my solution which is to put a screen in place while raking ash so that only the light ash falls to the pan and the working coals stay in the stove. I get virtually no fly ash into the house using this method. This is only a working model made from 1/2 " hardware cloth / screen. I doubt the working model will stand up to repeated heat application but I have used this about 10 times and its still pretty much together. After burning for two days I generally get a little less than one pan full of fine ash. I just thought I'd pass this along and maybe others have refinement ideas.

 

[Rowski]

I'll have to give it a try. I don't like using an ash bucket either, to much ash dust.

That's the only complaint I have with the stove, under sized ash pan.

Because I am using the the legs I'm going to fabricate a large ash pan, someday!

 

[blades]

I like it, never thought of doing that. as I am at my shop and do not remember the dimensions' I will make up a flat plate to lay across. large enough to bump up at the front so I can just drag the ash and bits over it.

 

[Backhoe]

My first prototype I made level with the fire brick but I found out quickly that would get snagged as I dragged ash across it so on my second build I made it so it was about 1/4 inch lower than the fire brick and that worked much better. I think I'm going to make a heavier duty version this week out of some old floor register cast iron I have around and I think that the extra weight and fitting lower will work a little better.

 

[heus]

Even though I love my NC-30 the ash pan is useless. I will never use it again. I simply make sure the ash can is partway into the stove and let the draft suck up any fly ash when i scoop up the ash and dump it into the can.