Random question: any accessories one would recommend for a new BK Ashford 30? I want to get a better cat thermometer if available, and I'd like a better way to access the ash removal plug. Any suggestions on that or other items are welcome.
2022-2023 BK everything thread
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Ashful
Minister of Fire
It comes with a tool for lifting out the plug, which also does a great job of cleaning the groove between the plug hole and bricks, so you're already covered there. Here's what else I keep near each of mine:
- Ash rake, which is more of a plow than a rake, bought from Woodman's Parts Plus.
- Metal ash pan and hand brush, used to sweep up wood crumbs after every reload.
- A pair of wood totes. It's much easier carrying two 40# satchels than one 80# unbalanced load.
- Hearth gloves, because pretending your a real man who doesn't need gloves limits your stove-loading Tetris game.
- Ash vac, for weekly clean-up around the stove
- Roll of 1/16" x 2" interam gasket, for any time you need to pull the combustor (usually only yearly cleaning, but also rare mid-season clogs)
BKVP
Minister of Fire
We did at one time make a adjustable kettle holder that attached to the side lip of the top plate of steel. No certain why we stopped, but I'll look into it. Look online...
![[Hearth.com] 2022-2023 BK everything thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/303/303938-318681903c2aa8fa25512604554ef188.jpg?hash=D7vE3J25lQ "[Hearth.com] 2022-2023 BK everything thread")
I think another cat gauge is not needed. You don't need the temperature because you can't make easy decisions based on that temperature. The only thing to know there is whether the cat is hot enough to close the bypass.
On the other hand, a flue probe is more useful.
On the other hand, a flue probe is more useful.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
That's it!! You simply rotate cw or cc to raise or lower the steel 6" plate. I kept lots of elk Chilli warm on my first King. Unofficial poll:
Hit like if you would want one of these...
BKVP
Minister of Fire
On a side note, I almost lost it the other day. I came home and my wife had a candle on the stove top. It was a candle in a metal jar. She said the stove makes it smell good. I asked her why she didn’t just light the candle, instead of putting it on the new $5,000 stove. .... 
But she also doesn’t think twice about putting a leaky house plant on top of my vintage Altec speakers, so it’s not a surprise. Haha
But she also doesn’t think twice about putting a leaky house plant on top of my vintage Altec speakers, so it’s not a surprise. Haha
Ashful
Minister of Fire
The owner of that BK pot holder has a thing or two to learn about coffee.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
Ugh! My 800W Sansui speakers from 1972 are locked in my shop! No candles or plants (even fake ones) allowed!On a side note, I almost lost it the other day. I came home and my wife had a candle on the stove top. It was a candle in a metal jar. She said the stove makes it smell good. I asked her why she didn’t just light the candle, instead of putting it on the new $5,000 stove. ....
But she also doesn’t think twice about putting a leaky house plant on top of my vintage Altec speakers, so it’s not a surprise. Haha
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Yes, I apologize for that. American coffee is what most Europeans would call "brown water".
There are a few on this forum who know good coffee, but we are a minority. Speaking of which, where's @Alberg Steve? Seems his profile has been deleted?
BKVP
Minister of Fire
Some just want the algave flavor, others want the Don Julio Real.I think some people just want the caffeine, and others enjoy the whole experience. I like both
Interesting, where is the air hole? Mine bk sometimes will stink in the summer too. A plug like you describe would seasonally fix the problem. I still want to install the “oak”, tired of opening window when running the clothes dryer or shower fan.
There is a rectangular "pipe" running down from the height of the thermostat in the middle of the back panel of the stove. The bottom of that rectangular pipe is open. That is where the air comes in.
On my stove (Chinook), but I thought the BKs were all similarly in this respect. (And I don't know how a fan would affect the visibility of this thing).
Also, in summer I take the stove pipe off and cap the flue and stove. (And have a lot of damprid in the stove.) No smell then at all. But I have a basement stove where aesthetics are less important.
On my stove (Chinook), but I thought the BKs were all similarly in this respect. (And I don't know how a fan would affect the visibility of this thing).
Also, in summer I take the stove pipe off and cap the flue and stove. (And have a lot of damprid in the stove.) No smell then at all. But I have a basement stove where aesthetics are less important.
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Thank you, I will check it out. Oh, this is the rectangular opening to accommodate the “oak”. That would require a large plug. Tinfoil tape will do the trick, me thinks.
On my princess ultra from 2012 the intake is just as stoveliker described. Square in the back facing down.
I have the BK outside air hookup. It’s great. Points down to the hearth with a tight fitting nipple. 3 or 4” versions are available.
Running the range hood, clothes dryer, or bath fan has no effect when the loading door is closed during a burn but if I open the loading door those things easily suck a big flow of air right down the chimney through the loading door into my face. The OAK doesn’t stop that!
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It is time to add “oak” to my list of spring projects. Wife will thank me. She hates opening a window in order to run the dryer (btw she most often forgets)😝
I have all the parts I need for the oak. Just gotta get out the hole saw and make the hole in the wall behind the stove.
I’ve thought about making a plug for the oak. Or even a flapper that could be turned to close it off. I figure you could maybe even use it during a chimney fire to kill the air if you had to.
Although my chimney looks pretty good so far. I’ve put 2/3 cord through the Princess so far. The chimney just has a very light coat of black ashy looking creosote in it.
Here’s how the air intake looks on my Princess. With and without the oak adapter plate
![[Hearth.com] 2022-2023 BK everything thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/303/303990-1fffe4124bfc87de89c24f7efe8b1407.jpg?hash=lcDsJ4-8k2 "[Hearth.com] 2022-2023 BK everything thread")
![[Hearth.com] 2022-2023 BK everything thread](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/303/303991-dacb40233526a9f1957b2520c8f86870.jpg?hash=th4f2WvV7P "[Hearth.com] 2022-2023 BK everything thread")
I’ve thought about making a plug for the oak. Or even a flapper that could be turned to close it off. I figure you could maybe even use it during a chimney fire to kill the air if you had to.
Although my chimney looks pretty good so far. I’ve put 2/3 cord through the Princess so far. The chimney just has a very light coat of black ashy looking creosote in it.
Here’s how the air intake looks on my Princess. With and without the oak adapter plate
I have, a time or three, resorted to flinging open the front door during the 2 minutes it takes to ignite a fresh load before the loading door can be closed while the drier is running. While preparing the load for ignition I can feel the cold chimney air blowing down so I know it’s going to be needed.
As far as a plug in the oak, I thought about then when I had a noncat. The BK is so controllable that I haven’t felt the need. I used 4” hvac duct for my OAK pipe. The hvac world has like key dampers that can go in the 4” pipe right under the stove or elsewhere in the system.
As far as a plug in the oak, I thought about then when I had a noncat. The BK is so controllable that I haven’t felt the need. I used 4” hvac duct for my OAK pipe. The hvac world has like key dampers that can go in the 4” pipe right under the stove or elsewhere in the system.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I have an easy solution for you: "honey, turn off the dryer a minute, while light this stove."
So I've been married a long time, most of my life to my high school girlfriend. It is easier for me to open a door to accomplish my brief task than to send the wife to first turn off the drier and then turn it back on. It's not like she's standing there with it and if I make her chore difficult then I'll be the one doing laundry!
This is only a few times a year. No big deal. I put the seat down too!
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