Now that it is colder

Running the stove hotter and the glass no longer gets dirty. Finding that a 500 degree stove keeps the glass clean, and even though we may decrease air with some temp drop, the glass stays clean even throught the coaling process. Starting to understand the new stove a little bit more

Even though we tried to burn small, we still foung the glass darkening - maybe just an issue with the Castine not known for great air wash. The stove is sitting on Blue Stone - approx. 2 inches thick that is also sitting on top of 2 courses of brick/raised hearth. The mantle is also Penn. Blue Stone.

Nice rake!

Very nice.

That looks sweet, D

Love the brick

found the rake at a stove shop in west springfield Ma. It stand up on its own which is nice.
Even though you did not comment on the other fire tools - these are antiques I am sure. My parents bought them for me over 35 years ago during a trip they took back home to Arkansas. I imagine they were brought over from some "old country"

The other fireplace tools are very nice. But a good size rake like that makes things a lot easier.

It does help with this sove that loads east west. We use it to rake ash into the ash box and also at night to rake the coals forward to make space for a large rear split. Very handy for sure

500 degree fire is a hot fire ( twice that in the firebox), your burning all the bad stuff up. I like the rake also, I need to find one.

I don't think 500F is a hot fire.... the PE cruises @ 700+ on the door front... the 13 cruises @ 600F stove top.

What Im saying is 500 degrees is hot enough to keep glass clean reburn the smoke, obviously we can burn hotter.

During the coaling stage there is nothing to make the glass black at that point. Burning marginal wood will definitely make black glass though.