How do you manage the build up of coals ?

[English BoB]

Tonight, here in upstate NY it was a balmy, windless. sunshine blessed 25 deg at 4.00pm when I arrived home.

Stove had a large bed of coals / ash approx 3' deep. So instead of reloading I sifted the coals into a large pile
in the center and placed a shield in front of the opening and just let the coals burn down.
90 minutes later the pile has reduced maybe 30% still throwing out heat. Iam going to give it another 30 mins then spread them out and reload.
This is the method I use to reduce the coals and get back to full loads. It is dependent on a break in the weather.
I also run oil as a back up.

Care to share how you manage your build up of coals

Bob

 

[northwinds]

Rake forward, toss a piece of softwood or low ash wood on top of the pile. Let it burn down.

On a reload, I don't spread the coals out. I keep them in a single line in the front so that the fire burns front to back.

 

[Swedishchef]

I rake them forward, leave the door open 1 inch for 20-30 minutes and watch the glow.

Andrew

 

[Wood Duck]

I pull the coals to the front of the firebox and make a groove in the pile that allows air from the doghouse air outlet (below my door opening) to pass through. Then I put a single split on top of the coals and open the air intake wide. This gives me a reasonably good heat output and reduces the coals. I might have to repeat a few times until the coals are low enough for my liking.

The stove won't be at peak temperature this way, but I mostly do this in the morning when I don't need as much heat as I needed overnight.

 

[jeff_t]

Wow, 25° sure does sound nice.

After three full seasons with this stove, I finally made up a coal rake, mostly because I acquired a welder over the summer. I now get much more meaningful heat out of the deep BK belly full of coals, because I pull way less ash up to the door compared to using a shovel to scrape them up. I've also taken much, much less ash and charcoal out to the garden. The coal rake has become indispensable.

In short, I just take them forward and burn them down. I can get a few hours of 400° stove top, but I've seen the front of the stove close to 700 before. Still throws lots of heat.

 

[Knots]

Rake forward, toss a piece of softwood or low ash wood on top of the pile. Let it burn down.

On a reload, I don't spread the coals out. I keep them in a single line in the front so that the fire burns front to back.

I can't say it any better than this...

 

[Rockey]

I can burn around the clock at 500-600 without any coal buildup. During periods when it is extremely cold like this we mix 50/50 with eco bricks. You can vary the amount to suit your needs. Its not the most cost effective but you will definitely be able to burn for an unlimited amount of time at peak temps without coal buildup to get you through.

 

[bobdog2o02]

ash approx 3' deep.

3 Feet Holy <heck>

 

[bobdog2o02]

I use pellets now, Ive used about 1 bag this year. Rake forward then sprinkle the pellets on top of the coal pile. They light up quick and then proceed to increase my stack temp and thus increasing draft. Works very well for me.

 

[DougA]

3 Feet Holy <heck>

+++1
If it's a typo and only 3", well no need to fuss.

 

[firefighterjake]

a) Not reload as often or as soon when possible

b) When not possible due to heating requirements . . . rake coals forward, increase air and either leave as is for a half hour or so or better yet put a small to medium sized split on top of the coals with a softwood split being the wood of choice . . . wait a half hour. Reload.

 

[drewmo]

With good success, I've been pushing the coals to the back of the stove and loading a split or two east/west in the very front. Thinking here is that if the stove burns front to back, load the front with fresh wood to give it time to burn down. The coals in the back have a head start. After a couple cycles like this, the temps in the house have remained steady and the coal bed is pretty well managed.

 

[velvetfoot]

I just got a machete. I sweep the coals to the left or right, then can load up N/S and put maybe a thin piece on top of the coals. It seems to work.
PS: It's a Fiskars machete.

 

[tarzan]

I rake them to the front and burn them down topped by a couple small splits as others have said. I will also say that in the past if I needed heat and they were in the way they ended up melting snow. Sometimes life's just easier that way.

 

[wood4heat]

I often burn down the coals just as others have stated and use this as a good time to let the NG furnace run for a bit.

 

[Creekheat]

Take forward to seperate ash. Scoop out ash. Toss on small split. This helps burn down coals and increases heat output. Repeat as needed until small pile of coals left.

I was spreading them out and reloading but this was causing me to burn too hot.

 

[Creekheat]

It's funny. A lot of people think if there are no big flames on alike of wood your not getting good heat but some of my best heat comes from the coaling phase.

 

[drewmo]

I just got a machete. I sweep the coals to the left or right, then can load up N/S and put maybe a thin piece on top of the coals. It seems to work.
PS: It's a Fiskars machete.

I like this approach, too, for those who can load n/s. Not sure what to think about the machete, though.

 

[Charles1981]

I think it has to do with the VC design but I love 3 inches of good coals for reloading. Wood takes off quicker, Catalyst lights off faster, and I can shut down the air control very quickly without worrying about backpuffing.

The manual for the VC states you should reload on 2-3 inches of coals anyway and I ind it doesn't really change the amount of wood I can stuff in the firebox that much...

 

[firefighterjake]

I like this approach, too, for those who can load n/s. Not sure what to think about the machete, though.

Multi purpose tool . . . coal/ash sorting tool, personal home defense tool and if the 1973 burnt sierra shag carpet in the living room gets to be too much he can hack away at it Indiana Jones style.

 

[firefighterjake]

I just got a machete. I sweep the coals to the left or right, then can load up N/S and put maybe a thin piece on top of the coals. It seems to work.
PS: It's a Fiskars machete.

Hehheh . . . Velvetfoot's Sling Blade?

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[velvetfoot]

Just used it again this morning. Can pile the coals real high leaving room for wood on other side. Managed to put a split on top of coal pile as well. Possible disadvantage is that the entire load doesn't spontaneously ignite, but starts from one side and goes to the other, but it doesn't take that long.
Edit: I fluff things up with a poker before moving coals.

 

[bsruther]

I've gotten to the point where I just let the coals burn down. Sometimes I'll rake them forward and put a small split of wood behind them.

 

[velvetfoot]

I've gotten to the point where I just let the coals burn down.

It does take a while though.

 

[7acres]

I just got a machete. I sweep the coals to the left or right, then can load up N/S and put maybe a thin piece on top of the coals. It seems to work.
PS: It's a Fiskars machete.

I was just thinking yesterday a machete would be a perfect fireplace tool to add to my bespoke set for raking coals around. Would double as a good tool for batoning splits into kindling as well.