Wood Stove Grates

[GreenMountainBoy]

I'd like to hear your opinions on either steel or cast iron grates that fit in your wood stove. I see the advantage to using one in a fireplace, but is there any benefit to using one in a wood stove? Have you used one? Did it help in any way? Go wherever you want to go with your answer.

 

[DAKSY]

If there ISN'T a grate in the stove as marketed by the manufacturer, it isn't needed.
Using one in a newer stove is inadvisable, since it was not tested with one in it.
Your home, your call.

 

[begreen]

Many newer stove manuals specifically advise against adding a grate.

 

[XmasTreefarmer]

I'd like to hear your opinions on either steel or cast iron grates that fit in your wood stove. I see the advantage to using one in a fireplace, but is there any benefit to using one in a wood stove? Have you used one? Did it help in any way? Go wherever you want to go with your answer.

Not quite a direct answer to your question, but I use a "burnable grate" when I lay up a fire in my Oslo. I lay two 11" pieces, about 1" square, north-south one on either side of the front air intake and then then load my splits east-west on those pieces. I do all of this from the side load door. Then I light a top-down fire ... having those bottom pieces up just a bit really seems to let the air in below the wood and it just fires right up. Depending on your stove - this may or may not work the same for you.