Poker

Body Hammer · By: **Body Hammer** On: Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:54 pm

For years I burned wood. And it took me years to find a good poker! Now with a hand-fired coal stove, I've found that not all pokers are created equal. The poker I had when I first started burning coal was too long and straight. The wooden handle on it was too thin. When I tried to drill the end of the poker down through the coal bed, the end was too lonng (2.25 inches), and with the skinny wooden handle, it was very hard to keep a grip on it. So heres my solution.
I started with a piece of 3/8"s rod from the local hardware store. I bent the front end so that the tip is just 1.25'' long. The length of the poker from the handle to tip is only 12''. I fashioned the handle by bending an alongated diamond shape in it. The widest point of the handle is 2'', which gives plenty of leverage to twist the poker down through the bed and collapse the air pockets. Last I bent the handle to about 30° from the shaft. That allows to get down into the bed without hitting my on the upper door opening.
It works fantastic for me, and may for you.

Smokeyja · By: **Smokeyja** On: Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:12 pm

Right on man. There is something great about making your stove parts. Its really a great feeling to make something that works perfect for you.

Here are just a few of mine:

The pokers are all carbon steel but the ash shovel is stainless. The poker with the hook on the back works great to open te door on the WM or slide the dampers back and forth. The ones with the wide flat part on tha back work great for moving coal around and the twist in the larger one works great for clearing the great . Some have straight points for smooth poking and others have spaded points for breaking through. I became pretty addicted to forging these and have made ultra long fireplace pokers, log flippers and other tools for my folks as well.

I see where you had to go at an angle to get the maximum poking. It must have been a pain with a straight poker!

Thanks for sharing! The cool thing about this site is the amount of fabrication skills everyone has as well which always helps out someone else down the road.

franco b · By: **franco b** On: Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:03 pm

I love it and the background as well makes a great picture.

freetown fred · By: **freetown fred** On: Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:28 pm

franco b, you ARE talking about the young lady by the cook stove aren't you??

Speakin of fabrication skills Sy, I got something for when this big ass Hitzer gets ash bound way back in the corners & behind the hopper. Seems to work pretty well. :clap:

You guys are talented, me?? I'm just an old farmer.

franco b · By: **franco b** On: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:05 pm

Now I know why you have that big shop vac to clean up after each blast of your dirty ash.

Smokeyja · By: **Smokeyja** On: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:43 pm

freetown fred wrote:franco b, you ARE talking about the young lady by the cook stove aren't you?? Speakin of fabrication skills Sy, I got something for when this big ass Hitzer gets ash bound way back in the corners & behind the hopper. Seems to work pretty well. You guys are talented, me?? I'm just an old farmer.

I think they used to use those in the boilers to remove slag

seriously !! Hey man, farmers have some mad skills. I am amazed at what has been done to keep some of the old tractors out there running. Nice double barrel btw.

Freddy · By: **Freddy** On: Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:46 am

Here are my favorite designs. Yup, 3/8" rod is close to perfect. The wood design does require one weld and on both I usually weld the handle. I do like how you bent yours for a custom fit.

SteveZee · By: **SteveZee** On: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:57 am

Way to go Charlie and Smokey,

It's nice to have THE tool you need for the job. Even better if you've fabbed it yourself.

freetown fred · By: **freetown fred** On: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:07 am

OK, so maybe I didn't fab it myself--BUT--not even a mention?? :cry2:

----

EasyRay · By: **EasyRay** On: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:13 am

freetown fred wrote:OK, so maybe I didn't fab it myself--BUT--not even a mention?? ----

Thats a good tool for creepers!! Not clinkers.

Vinmaker · By: **Vinmaker** On: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:17 am

This is a timely post for me as I am finding that I need a new poker for my stove. I to need to fabricate something that will work with for me. Need to work with my stove a bit more to get a better handle on exactly what my needs are. I like your design a lot. I need to get a bit deeper into my stove as mine has a longer (deeper) firebox.

echos67 · By: **echos67** On: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:18 am

freetown fred wrote:OK, so maybe I didn't fab it myself--BUT--not even a mention?? ----

I like it Fred, a remote control for the stove. Works on those pesky critters too. :rambo2:

grizzly2 · By: **grizzly2** On: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:01 pm

I'm a tool nut and can appreciate the nice fabrication jobs you guys did. I enjoy making my own tools when I can. More fun and satisfaction in using something you make with your own hands, not to mention customizing to your needs and saving money.

Fred I am an NRA member so I can appreciate that shotgun too. Just be aware that the grizzly bear you might want to shoot might be me :rambo2:

Lightning · By: **Lightning** On: Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:26 pm

This little jem here I pounded out of some angle brace material. Yes its very crude but also very effective! I call it "The Slicer". The vertical end that looks like the rudder on a plane is what I use to run between the grates and the grate's frame up thru the bottom. I can feel it busting clickers up as I thrust it to and fro!!

coalkirk · By: **coalkirk** On: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:06 pm

Does anyone besides me use a poker to condense the ash in their stoker ash pans? I do it through the combustion door. The ash builds up but has a lot of dead air space. So once a day I use the poker to tamp it down. Works great.

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