My Go To Woodstove Tool

[Longknife]

I don't exactly remember the impetus that led to me making this tool, I just remember grabbing a piece of rebar, welding on a flat plate and attaching a handle off an old pruner, thinking that I need something with more reach for my stove (or something). It has proved to be a winner though.

The long length makes it ideal for reaching in and raking out a hot coal bed without burning your hands and I'll often use it in place of a poker, placing/moving around wood in the stove. What I normally do at an end of a burn is push everything forward from the door, rake back any coals and embers to the front and then push the remainder of the ash to the back where I'll mound it before removing approx. twice a week. I know this isn't exactly an orthodox method, but it's seemed to work very well for me and I never have an overwhelming ash bed and can manage my coals well. There is usually very little coals or unburned wood in my ash when I remove it. The flat plate is ideal for pushing the ash around and with a little finesse, coals can be plucked out easily enough. I have thought of making one side of the plate more of a rake, but I don't want to add to it's overall height and when I really just want to pick out a few coals from a pile of ash, I'll just use a traditional poker.

I would seriously miss having it and can't see myself running a stove (of this style anyway) without one anymore.

Anyone else use something similar?

 

[BIGChrisNH]

I have a very similar tool that is a long handle ash rake meant for guys who run bbq pits. I love the thing it’s perfect for taking coals forward and the handle is long enough to keep you away from the intense heat.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

Similar to what I use with my Super 27 just with a longer handle. For my 17vl I use a long flat pry bar I had laying around the shop.

 

[Northern NH Mike]

I purchased this rod iron rake when I bought the stove intending to buy a "set" later on. I haven't needed anything else as this is an all-purpose for me. I do the same in terms of stirring up the ash and coals after a burn and raking the coals to the front when reloading.

 

[jsab9191]

I’ve used this stove rake since the late 70’s when I had my Ashley stove. Had many stoves since then but have alway kept the same rake.

 

[Gearhead660]

Built a tool with flat stock on one side and a rake on the other. Push ash, rake coals.

 

[weatherguy]

I have the same tool as NHMike, bought it when I had my first stove and cant live without it.

 

[tadmaz]

This is what I ended up buying. Real cheap.

Bayou Classic Steel Ash Rake - Black, Model# 500-586

Check out our Bayou Classic Ash Rake, Steel Model# (500-586). We pride ourselves in bringing the best products to you.

www.meatprocessingproducts.com

 

[Prof]

I put the head of a hoe on a metal stair baluster and painted everything black. Looks good and is very functional.

 

[BIGChrisNH]

You can't go wrong with that price!

 

[paulnlee]

Similar to what I use with my Super 27 just with a longer handle. For my 17vl I use a long flat pry bar I had laying around the shop.

Longer handle, where the hell are you standing in the back yard

 

[Northern NH Mike]

I have the same tool as NHMike, bought it when I had my first stove and cant live without it.

Got mine from the good folks at Stove and Flagworks in Montpelier, VT.

 

[jsab9191]

It interesting that ever since I started using a coal rake I have never used my poker . Rake and shovel only.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

Longer handle, where the hell are you standing in the back yard

I meant his had the longer handle

 

[BIGChrisNH]

It interesting that ever since I started using a coal rake I have never used my poker . Rake and shovel only.

I’ve found the same, no use for a poker anymore

 

[Longknife]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who can't live without this style of tool. I was honestly not aware of them when I originally slapped it together.

 

[sweedish]

I use a similar thing, it’s a flower garden rake. Reloads it helps sorting out the coals and I push them in the back. The handle is just the right length where if the firewood is at the same length or shorter, it will fit in a north/south load. Over it’s an east west piece

 

[fvhowler]

It interesting that ever since I started using a coal rake I have never used my poker . Rake and shovel only.

Yep...same here.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

I don't exactly remember the impetus that led to me making this tool, I just remember grabbing a piece of rebar, welding on a flat plate and attaching a handle off an old pruner, thinking that I need something with more reach for my stove (or something). It has proved to be a winner though.

The long length makes it ideal for reaching in and raking out a hot coal bed without burning your hands and I'll often use it in place of a poker, placing/moving around wood in the stove. What I normally do at an end of a burn is push everything forward from the door, rake back any coals and embers to the front and then push the remainder of the ash to the back where I'll mound it before removing approx. twice a week. I know this isn't exactly an orthodox method, but it's seemed to work very well for me and I never have an overwhelming ash bed and can manage my coals well. There is usually very little coals or unburned wood in my ash when I remove it. The flat plate is ideal for pushing the ash around and with a little finesse, coals can be plucked out easily enough. I have thought of making one side of the plate more of a rake, but I don't want to add to it's overall height and when I really just want to pick out a few coals from a pile of ash, I'll just use a traditional poker.

I would seriously miss having it and can't see myself running a stove (of this style anyway) without one anymore.

Anyone else use something similar?

View attachment 254623

A $3 children's hoe from Walmart. It's all steel, except for the end cap. Perfect for this application. It's a little to much hoe, and I've been meaning to cut about 3/4 inch off. If I put it off long enough, it'll wear down from scraping the bricks.

 

[Stonehousekennels]

I couldn't find coal rake I liked so welded up a kids rake. I couldn't be happier with out how it turned out. Works great for pulling coals forward and pushing ashes back.

 

[BIGChrisNH]

I couldn't find coal rake I liked so welded up a kids rake. I couldn't be happier with out how it turned out. Works great for pulling coals forward and pushing ashes back.

Looks similar to what I have, just has a shorter handle. Perfect tool for a woodstove

 

[jmdavis984]

I couldn't find coal rake I liked so welded up a kids rake. I couldn't be happier with out how it turned out. Works great for pulling coals forward and pushing ashes back.

I did the same thing. I bought a kids garden rake from the local DIY store and cut the handle down. I don't weld, so the wood handle might need to be replaced every so often, but it's just what I need.

 

[Shaun643]

Mines made form 3/4" stainless rod with 1/4" stainless plate

 

[cesc]

I made one with the handle of an old sandwich press and a name plate soon after I got my insert and have never used anything else. Seemed so natural/obvious to have some sort of rake to work with the insert.