The temps are going down for a few days and I needed a fire. I tried out the ash pit tonight; first time. I took the plug out and raked the ashes into the ash pan through the hole and I was very please. I noticed that very little fly ash came out. I had a lot of ashes and the pan filled before I completely cleaned out the stove. I didn't use the ash pit last year because I didn't have a coal rake and I would have raked my coals along with my ash. I looked at the blacksmith shop at the fair but they did not have coal rakes; I guess because their stuff is just decorative. I am going to make a rake; I can cut out notices with my angle grinder. What is a good spacing for the notches on a coal rake? Here is my nice fire.
Thanks, looking good and warm. I inspected the chimney today and it does need cleaning so I need to get the equipment to do so.
What are the tongs used for? I found that my ash shovel was perfect size to clean out the ash plug area so I could sit the plug back in. I should have been using that all along because it was far less messy than shoveling ash out the door.
Mostly used if a coal falls out on the ash tray or hearth while pulling coals forward , once in a while to move wood around a little bit
Yes, I have had that to happen. I think I will visit the Dollar Tree and get a set of tongs and add to my stove utensils.