New Ideal Steel coming in a few weeks - what accessories should I get?

I got by without the cat probe until last year. Now I wouldn’t go back and I find that is the one I look at most. Followed by the PROBE flue temp, then the stovetop. If I had to pick just two, interestingly I would give up the cat probe because you COULD get by without it but I prefer to use it as the go-to and use the others for verification.

 

I went back to the thrift store last week and of course the bellows I saw were gone, but I was there again today and found and bought this interesting thing for 3 bucks! Turn the handle and wind comes out the pipe! Seems to serve the same function of bellows.

 

Not sure what your plans are for the blower (hand operated shown)? I know if I pointed one of those into my stove thinking it would help start a fire I'd likely have a dusty mess on my hands! Even physically blowing gently into the stove creates a mess of floating ash in and outside of the stove. Not good for cat combusters to get heavy doses of dust either. Guessing once you get the hang of this stove you wont be relighting often. Small chunk of Super Cedar and away it goes if it has zero coals. Just my experience.

 

I figured for $3 I couldn't go wrong. I'll probably mostly end up using it to get coals started for the BBQ and smoker! I recently got a free sample of Super Cedar and was totally impressed. I'll be ordering some more.

 

I would often load the stove and if it didn't take off immediately, I'd let it smolder for a minute or two and then a puff of breath or two and it would light right off. The issue with ash blowing out was mainly the stuff close to the door, which you might be able to avoid with that blower.