Ah, I finally did something right at the beginning! I had gotten the same ash bucket as this one when I started burning wood, and before I started following the advice of you, Dennis. This was certainly not the cheapest ash container, but has been very effective at keeping fly ash out of the house. And it's so easy to empty.
So opening the ash pan door, sliding the ash pan out and dumping it and then slidng it back in is "more work" than: getting a shovel from the garage, sliding it into a hot stove, TRY to awkwardly scoop out all the ashes, pull it out of the stove (while spilling ashes all over the edge of the stove and hearth and create lots of nice ash dust), then try and dump the shovel into an ash pail and create more spillage and dust. Now you have a dirty ash and dust covered HOT shovel in your living room, and an uncovered pail of hot ashes (possibly smoldering/smoking/dusting...) to carry across the houe and dump... Yep, sounds much easier to me! There are 100's of these "How to deal with Ashes threads. There are virtually no "How to deal with the ahspan" threads. That should tell you something right there. Now, I do understand many of the ashpans are not as funtional and easy to use as the PH ashpan. That was one of the many reasons I selected the PH. Anyone with a PH without an ashpan is nuts in my mind.
Yup it's easier for me at least. We have had both ash pan stoves and stoves without ash pans. The one consistent problem is the ash getting stuck behind the ash pan which leads to having to clean the compartment. It's not all that hard really all I do is grab the shovel from right next to the stove take out a couple scoops every couple of days and that's it. It's not awkward at all for me the grey ash is in front of the stove so before we pull coals forward they get scooped out. As for the ash pan there is no lid and for us it goes outside to a 55 gallon metal barrel for disposal. The smaller ash bucket has a lid and can be kept close at hand outside the door and dumped once every couple weeks. As for the PH I don't think that has much to do with it ! It's more of a mindset thing to each his own. And yes there are a million threads but they do contain both sides of the argument pan vs no pan. What's happening now it always happens. And for the record I would never dump an ash pan in the house too much risk of fire nor would I walk through the house with it blowing dust around.
The PH ashpan is covered when you remove it, there is no dust anywhere. You dump it outside in a suitable container, not in the house. Lastly, after 1 year with it now I have cleaned out my ashpan compartment once, in May when I mothballed the stove for the season. There was nothing in it, just some dust in the corners, vacumed out in 2 seconds. There are many things which are personal preference, but I really can't see this as being one of them. Honestly, I could not even imagine having to dig out ashes in the PH, it's just so easy and fussless.
If the 30-NC had the ash pan system the PH has? I would definitely use it. But many stoves just have a plug that is removed and you must move the ash down small hole. So I scoop myself, but if it had the system on the PH? I would definitely use it. Buckets and shovels are a PITA. IMHO
Well, if someone who has never done this looked at your post, for sure it would scare them off. However, if someone who has done this both ways reads it, he has to laugh. That is, it is a bit overkill, is not a lot of work, it not awkward, etc. Also, one does not have to have a "dirty ash and dust covered HOT shovel" in their living room and an uncovered pail of hot ashes, etc, etc. As stated, you've gone a bit overboard with your description. I am not against having an ash pan at all nor am I against shoveling out the ashes. I do not think one is more work than the other. We've owned several different stoves and our present stove is the first we've ever had without an ash pan. So far after using it 6 full winters, we like this one the best. So, yes, in your mind, I am nuts. Thank you. I've been called much worse though.
I've got an ash pan in the VC Resolute Acclaim, and it is useless. First of all you have toi open the fron door to get at it, then it slides out, but it is 1 inch deep. So, pretty useless. When they aren't inside the stove and slip out on their own, or sometimes they have their own small door, then that's good, but sometimes the gaskets on the ash pan don't seal well, if there isn't a door. Then you've got a leakage problem. People use them as a added air inlet when lighting and that can really cause a stove to take off. Glad to hear it works really well with the PH.
You have it right Steve. Some stoves are designed well and others leave something to be desired. Machria is fortunate to have a good stove with a good ash pan. One of the nice things about dealing with good stove manufacturers.
I posted some pics of this in the "bullchitting" thread as I couldn't find this one, but it was this one that got me thinking I needed to get it done. Dust collects on the ceiling fan and it also needs a bit of oil each year.
I guess you guys missed or I didn't make it clear enough... I was referring to the folks that say they don't want an ashpan on the PH! Understood on some other stoves, the ashpan may not be very helpful. I saw a bunch of those when I was shopping/researching... I was amazed at how some of the setups were. But the PH's ashpan is really nice. It's also huge.
I pick it up of course Actually I used a 32 gallon metal trash can for the last 5 years or so. The storm that came through reeked almighty havoc on my little can soooo back to the barrel again.
Ok ok sheesh We tiped them on there sides and rolled them across the garden bed at Dennis place. Usually I dump them on my lawn but that wasn't necessary this year.
No ashpan here, so I have no other point of reference. I can say though, that if a stove I bought/owned had one that worked well and didn't get plugged so that it wouldn't close, I'd use it and be glad to have it. Sounds like the PH is that stove. I don't have too much of a problem shoveling ashes out, but as careful as I am, there is still a little ash that escapes. The shovel stays on/near the hearth as it's part of the whole woodburning process. I wouldn't keep it somewhere I had to go get it, anymore than I would keep a poker or ash rake somewhere other than next to the stove. That would be silly. The tools I use on an almost daily basis stay next to the stove. Since I live in the woods in sand, we need to sweep the floor at least daily. It's all part of the lifestyle and the world isn't a pristine place, so I don't worry about it. And no, the house isn't filthy, but it isn't spotless either. Sometimes, things aren't a matter of preference, but rather a matter of necessity. I'll stop now before I get banned.
Man that was like pulling a tooth eh Sav The oldest boy likes his gardening in the city so i pretty much just sit back with beer in hand and he fills his truck every once in awhile
There is no stove with an ash pan big enough for my cleaning frequency. When my stove gets cleaned out, that can is full. Still wish they had put a pizza oven in the base of the BK instead of that silly little steel container.
