Ideal Steel options - ash pan, yes or no??

Ok, for all you beta testers of the Woodstock Ideal Steel, I am pondering the list of options and the one I seem to be stuck on is the ash pan. My previous stove (Avalon Ranier) I had to shovel ashes out the front door since it was an insert. This never really bothered me so I am not sure it would with the new IS. Some help with pros - cons of the IS ash pan would be appreciated.

Those of you that have the IS with the ash pan, would you buy it with it or not? Does it fill and empty easily and not spill ashes? Does it seal up good and not potentially leak air?

Sorry for long winded series of questions, and a big thank you in advance!
Builder Bob

 

Bob,

My pending order is for one with the ash pan. My beta unit doesn't have one and it is the only thing I miss from my VC intrepid. I didn't even give it a second though to not ordering one. Now the fact that you are dealing without an ash pan already maybe it is worth saving a couple bucks for you.

As for the quality everyone raves about the PH ashpan, so I am assuming the final version here is going to impress and amaze.

 

I find it hard to use a shovel to clean out the IS. Maybe because it is so deep that the distance you have to go with a steady hand causes dust to escape. It might be better with one of the good ash cleanout tools but they can cost almost as much as the ash pan option.

 

I'm not a beta tester but here's my $.02 on Woodstock ash pans. I think WS designs all there ash pans like this....

The Keystone has angled 1/4" slots every inch or so in the floor of the FB. The perimeter of the slots is about an inch smaller on all sides than the pan to keep the ash from spilling over the sides of the ash pan. After almost two years of burning, my ash pan chamber is clean other than some dust. Most of the ash will stay in the firebox unless you agitate it a little. I like to keep about an inch of ash to hold the coals. No coals over 1/4" can get in the pan. Very controllable.

I have used other ash pans that were a POS and not worth the hassle.

 

I hate cleaning the ash out of my Beta Ideal Steel stove for exactly this reason. There's just no clean way to do it without dust and fly ash going everywhere.

I think an ash pan is a necessity on this stove. I'm definitely ordering my production model with one.

 

Thanks guys, that was what I was looking for. The Ranier I had did not have a very deep belly and was not very deep N/S so shoveling ash out the front door was not a big deal. From all responses both with and without an ash pan it seem everyone recommends the ash pan.

 

I can't imagine a stove without it. I have the ashpan on my beta. Works good. I am not sure what the final version will be like, but mine has a cover that you can slide over the pan, while it's still in the stove, to keep the ash down. As for the seal, the latch is works great. I can take pics tonight if you like? Anything you want to see?

 

I ordered an ash pan for mine based on the raving reviews on Woodstocks ash pan design. I'm used to shoveling ash with my insert but I think it's worth the price for the convenience.

 

Not that anyone asked but here are some pics. I had actually slid the cover on the pan while it was still in the stove. I just slid it off again for the pic.

 

Thanks for the pics Death and Taxes. You posted them before I could ask for them!

 

the ash pan is a feature I am really looking forward to on the Ideal:

1. Your coals stay in the firebox where they belong.
2. No more pushing the coal/ash pile to one side, sifting, scooping, pouring dust into the house and dealing with a bucket full of live coals. I'm going to pick up a big metal garbage can, put it a safe distance away from the house and dump the pan into that as needed.

 

My first experience with a grated ash system was with the Dutchwest. Once you experience a good ash-handling system, I can pretty much guarantee you ain't goin' back. That was one of the main reasons I kept the Keystone over the Fireview, even though it meant tightening up the house a bit so that the Keystone could handle it in the coldest weather.

That's what I'm talkin' about, right there!

Yeah, I liked the Fv too, but it would have been even better with an ashpan and no seams. You need to score an IS; Then you wouldn't have to push your stove so hard to maintain your preferred house temp of 88.

 

Savage- Curious. Off topic, and way to hot for me and my family, but how big is your house and how much wood to you use a year to keep in in the 80s.

 

Must be well insulated. I use 3-4 (along with propane as back up) and no where near those temps. Guess I have more tightening up to do.....