In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Coal burn down/prep for emptying ashes

Discussion in 'Modern EPA Stoves and Fireplaces' started by bogydave, Dec 4, 2013.

  1. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Started the coal burn down;
    Rake coals forward, lay a split on top & burn on high.

    No flash:
    DSCF2043.JPG

    Flash:
    DSCF2045.JPG
     
  2. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Raked again
    one more split
    Still getting a lot of heat output.
    Does that look like near 2/3 cord of birch ? Amazing
    DSCF2046.JPG

    DSCF2047.JPG

    split added
    DSCF2049.JPG

    1:30 PM
    Should be good to empty by 3 or 4 PM

    22 ° F outside now :)
     
  3. Pyroholic

    Pyroholic

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    I guess I've never had to worry about burning coals. My defiant seems to have that job done every day when I get home. Still enough for relight, but barely.
     
  4. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Good info you have been posting, Dave, for me with my first EPA stove
     
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  5. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

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    I just find it entertaining, how different style of stove burn. :thumbs: Thank you & keep posting, sir.
     
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  6. bogydave

    bogydave

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    With OATs ranging above 15°f at night & mid 20s daytime.
    I don't have many coals, they get burned down to where not much left after 24 +/- hours.
    When getting the -17°f nights to near zero daytime temps, I need the heat from a good fire, so I
    reload after about a 12 hour burn & have lost of charcoal.
    Takes about 8 hours to burn down this many coals, yet still put out enough heat
    for todays 20° temps, using the on split on top.
     
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  7. Oldhippie

    Oldhippie

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    It really is amazing!
     
  8. Oldhippie

    Oldhippie

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    So the one split on top keeps the temps up while not adding yet too much more charcoal to get burned down? Do you do that with the cat engaged and full open air, or wide open without the cat engaged? ..or some other settings?
     
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  9. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Get lots of coal burning down, one splits worth of coals not noticeable.
    Cat engaged, Stat on high 3.5, blower 75%
     
  10. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Crack door (bypass is open) for 15 to 20 minutes just to cool it off enough
    to work with welding gloves.
    Rake most the coals to one side, realizing, the stove is hot & so are the ashes & charcoal.
    Shovel to bucket

    DSCF2050.JPG

    DSCF2051.JPG

    close door, cracked open
    Hurry up with the 1st bucket to the garden. Make some steam.
    DSCF2053.JPG

    Rake coals to the other side, shovel & to the garden. 3/4 bucket full
    DSCF2055.JPG

    Stove clean with some hot coals left to start the new fire.
    DSCF2057.JPG
     
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  11. bogydave

    bogydave

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    Couple more pictures of the new fire on top of the coals.
    1/3 load since it only has to burn 6 hours
    then full load for the night & it's warmed up to 24°f outside :)
    DSCF2058.JPG
    DSCF2065.JPG

    Close bypass, run in med -high , with fan 60%
    Good to go.
    DSCF2071.JPG
     
  12. Oldhippie

    Oldhippie

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    Beautiful routine! How much does the ask help the garden do you think?
     
  13. bogydave

    bogydave

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    I put it between the raised beds, keeps many of the bad bugs away & most of the weeds out .
    .
     
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  14. BrowningBAR

    BrowningBAR

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    What model Defiant are you running?
     
  15. Pyroholic

    Pyroholic

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    1975. Parents bought it new in 1979 for $900. Heated their house until about 95. I pulled it out of storage from the back corner of dads barn last winter.

    That is the exact point when hoarding, cad, etcetera first began.
     
  16. BrowningBAR

    BrowningBAR

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    Ah, the original Defiant. Okay, the burn time makes sense. I had the old Vigilant from the same time period. Good stove, just not the most efficient.
     
  17. papadave

    papadave

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    Right where I want to be.
    For the first time, I've been doing the same thing with every load of ashes this year.
    Need to build some raised beds this winter too.
    Keep up the pics and info Dave......love it.
     
  18. Blue2ndaries

    Blue2ndaries

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    Nice work and process Dave. This may be a silly question but do you have a pic of the rake you are using? I am working on my process of ash cleaning with coals present. Don't really like waiting for everything to burn down all the way to clean up the box. Thanks in advance.
     
  19. bogydave

    bogydave

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    That would be one thing I need , a better rake for the coals.
    The one that came with the stove.
    DSCF2075.JPG
    May make this into a coals rake :
    DSCF2076.JPG

    Or take one of my garden tools, shorten the handle & use it.
    Grdn rake.jpg
     
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  20. bogydave

    bogydave

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    No burn down last night.
    Stove not putting out a lot
    Just a few hot coals left
    image.jpg

    Lots of room for a full load:
     

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