What to do with the old lumps

I have a rudimentary sifter but only use it when I know there pieces worth while in the mix like a shut down or someone else shook the stove and dumped allot. It's just a bucket with the same hardware cloth/sturdy mess that NoSmoke was talking about soldered to the bottom. After I've filled a pail with these coke pieces, I use them over again in either stove. They burn well and hot.

Emory has a coal ash sifter that is quite cool. It's got a crank handle that turns a vessel similar to a little cement mixer in looks and as it tumbles the ash sifts out and you are left with the pieces. He says that he saves a good 15% or 20 % with it.

Unburned pieces sounds like over shaking or too much space between the grates. Use bigger coal? Install new grates?

offcoursey wrote:I never see any unburnt coal in my ash pan either. I think trying to screen the coal ash would be a very dusty job. Glynn

My stove looks just like yours except it has legs and shaker on left side (could not see yours in pick). Dont no what brand it is, no markings what so ever on steove!