fireworks

[brad wilton]

hi guys,just wondering what happened.was putting my poker into the embers don't start with the jokes lol anyway I actually had mini fireworks outside the stove literally .any ideas what happened just curious

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

I get that sometimes as well. Freaky little fireworks show, hundreds (thousands maybe???) of tiny sparks popping and exploding all over inside and outside of the stove...... I don't know what causes it either though.....

 

[begreen]

Locust and mulberry will do that if you poke at the hot coals.

 

[jeff_t]

Some wood makes tons of sparks like that. Mulberry is really bad. I've had similar experience with shagbark hickory, and to some extent, red oak.

 

[Smoke Stack]

I get this as well. Best thing I can come up with is that unburnt particulate matter burns off with the rush of fresh air, and maybe gets drawn towards it and sometimes burns off outside the stove.

Where's all the science people on this? What exactly is happening there? It is cool though...

 

[lopiliberty]

It is cool though...

Not when they land in your hair

 

[Smoke Stack]

Not when they land in your hair

I bet! That's just another benefit of being bald.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Well the thing is, it ain't the wood that's sparking and poppin and exploding, it's more like hundreds or more random tiny little sparks start exploding in mid air all around the poker, both inside and outside of the firebox.... I repeat, it's not the wood spitting and popping at all, it's like tiny electrical sparks shooting off in mid air inside and outside of the firebox; I think it's some kind of heat & friction reaction going on with the cold steel poker acting as a sort of catalyst that sets off the reaction when it is suddenly thrust into a bed of hot coals and agitated quite vigorously (maybe something akin to how lightning is generated up yonder in the clouds... agitating positive and negative ions or some such you know what.....)..

 

[Nelson]

hi guys,just wondering what happened.was putting my poker into the embers don't start with the jokes lol anyway I actually had mini fireworks outside the stove literally .any ideas what happened just curious

I've noticed this with certain types of wood, especially Black Cherry. In addiition, it's more pronounced if I'm raking coals a little too soon (ie. they could stand to burn down a bit longer).

 

[Woody Stover]

I don't think you get any Hedge to burn up there but if you poke that stuff, you'll think its the 4th of July.

 

[brenndatomu]

Well the thing is, it ain't the wood that's sparking and poppin and exploding, it's more like hundreds or more random tiny little sparks start exploding in mid air all around the poker, both inside and outside of the firebox.... I repeat, it's not the wood spitting and popping at all, it's like tiny electrical sparks shooting off in mid air inside and outside of the firebox; I think it's some kind of heat & friction reaction going on with the cold steel poker acting as a sort of catalyst that sets off the reaction when it is suddenly thrust into a bed of hot coals and agitated quite vigorously (maybe something akin to how lightning is generated up yonder in the clouds... agitating positive and negative ions or some such you know what.....)..

I've had it happen with just opening the door, no poking...

 

[begreen]

Yes, me too. Poking just stirs it up worse.

 

[rideau]

Yes, happens with or without using the tool. Sugar maple does it. Probably almost all wood, judging by the species already mentioned. I just close the door quickly and wait a moment. And agree, for me happens more often when there are still lots of coals still sort of in log shape...tap those, they break and sparks fly.

 

[firefighterjake]

I always figured it was mini explosions caused by the infusion of additional oxygen . . . which would explain why this sometimes happens when you simply open the door to reload . . . or when you stir up the coals . . . either case would allow additional oxygen to get at the heat source.

But what do I know . . . just a dumb firefighter . . . seriously . . . I don't really know . . . was always just a guess on my part.

 

[BobUrban]

Some mysteries are to best left alone because the answer is never as fun as the ideas that float around. Just enjoy the show as if it were the Gods of Fire rewarding you for all your hard work.

 

[Jags]

Osage orange is another culprit of spitting tiny little sparkler sparks around. Its pretty cool, but can take you by surprise when they get all up in your grill N stuff.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

I always figured it had something to do with all the cold air rushing into the stove with the door open. I get it with sugar maple.

 

[Ricky8443]

i get them with red oak all the time. its insane. i always thought it was the increase in temperature combusting small superheated, but unnburned wood particles that have coaled and haven't yet lost their cell structure (like popcorn if you will).

 

[farmboy05]

I thought it was from tiny trapped pockets of water that gets superheated. Then when you poke it or after the wood around it burns through enough, POP. Kinda like popcorn only hotter lol.

 

[brad wilton]

pretty sure it's sugar maple living here it's a staple wood to burn with. just thought it was cool to see and that i wasn't imagining things

 

[Offset]

I only burn hard maple and beech and I on occasion have it happen. It is odd that it does not happen consistently, just the right set of circumstances but what they are are a bit of a mystery. I kind of believe the cold poker theory but I too have had it happen just by opening the door.

 

[PowersTree]

Happened to me today right after I read this post. Was burning a load of Ash and it happened when I opened the door.

 

[CenterTree]

Well the thing is, it ain't the wood that's sparking and poppin and exploding, it's more like hundreds or more random tiny little sparks start exploding in mid air all around the poker, both inside and outside of the firebox.... I repeat, it's not the wood spitting and popping at all, it's like tiny electrical sparks shooting off in mid air inside and outside of the firebox; I think it's some kind of heat & friction reaction going on with the cold steel poker acting as a sort of catalyst that sets off the reaction when it is suddenly thrust into a bed of hot coals and agitated quite vigorously (maybe something akin to how lightning is generated up yonder in the clouds... agitating positive and negative ions or some such you know what.....)..

It's probably just a malfunction in your Flux-Capacitor.

.

 

[brad wilton]

so wheres bill nigh the science guy when you need him