Coals on the front - WHY?

[carlo@ITALIA]

Hello !
I have seen more than one video/suggestion about the opportunity to move coals in the front of the stove when reloading.

What is the reason for this and does it work for bot vat and non cat?

thanks
carlo

 

[gthomas785]

In most stoves the intake air enters at the front, so the airflow will carry the heat from the coals back over the fresh wood and help it catch better. At least that's how I've always understood it.

 

[firefighterjake]

^ What he said. Plus the incoming air helps burn down the coals better so you don't end up with too many coals.

Me . . . generally I spread the coals out a bit vs. raking the coals towards the front.

 

[Ignem]

^ What he said. Plus the incoming air helps burn down the coals better so you don't end up with too many coals.

Me . . . generally I spread the coals out a bit vs. raking the coals towards the front.

Same. An even spread with a bias toward the front. I don't want a slope in the front to steal 2 or three inches of space for the new load.

 

[mark cline]

I pull the coals to the front then spread them width wise then put a stick of kindling front to back then put in 4 splits or so . The kindling allows air to get under the wood and catch fire quickly.