Some one may have already suggested this, so I am not claiming anything new. I saw some threads on what to do with extra coals. The zipper method sounds good for those that load N-S. However, my stove is much better for E-W loading. I have become a true believer in top down fires because, for a non-cat burn tube stove, it heats up the burn tube area the fastest, thereby activating the secondaries in short order.
This time of year when I do a lot more reloads than cold starts, I have found that if I have excess coals when I am going to pack the stove for the overnight,
1. I move the coals up to the front
2. Put a large, 4-6" round or large split in the back with another med-large split next to it.
3. Put a split that fits on top of the back split (second tier split in the back)
4. Shovel 3 or 4 stove tool shovels full of hot coals along on top of the second bottom split and in front of the back second tier split
5. Fit one or two more medium splits on the bottom, in the front
6. Put a small soft wood split or two on the second tier, in front of the coals
7. Pack the rest of the stove
I use mostly oak, especially when doing an overnight load. I found that if I did not get a top fire going, it took longer to get the secondaries going. So using this method, I can get the reload going very fast and button up the stove for the night faster. Call it the "top down reload", unless someone else has named it. It is also a great use of those excess coals for us E-W burners.
This time of year when I do a lot more reloads than cold starts, I have found that if I have excess coals when I am going to pack the stove for the overnight,
1. I move the coals up to the front
2. Put a large, 4-6" round or large split in the back with another med-large split next to it.
3. Put a split that fits on top of the back split (second tier split in the back)
4. Shovel 3 or 4 stove tool shovels full of hot coals along on top of the second bottom split and in front of the back second tier split
5. Fit one or two more medium splits on the bottom, in the front
6. Put a small soft wood split or two on the second tier, in front of the coals
7. Pack the rest of the stove
I use mostly oak, especially when doing an overnight load. I found that if I did not get a top fire going, it took longer to get the secondaries going. So using this method, I can get the reload going very fast and button up the stove for the night faster. Call it the "top down reload", unless someone else has named it. It is also a great use of those excess coals for us E-W burners.