Banking a Fire

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crck
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Post by crck » Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 6:23 pm

How do I bank a fire?
Like when I'm leaving for work,or going to bed
What do I do to it?

 
bill4117
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Post by bill4117 » Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 6:46 pm

i don't know what kind of stove you have but with mine I let the stove burn until after shaking down I have about 1/4 of the stove full of coal on a good burn. I then fill the stove to capacity with new coal and I cut the air supply going to the coal right down to almost nothing. (just enough air to keep the stove at a simmer for the night or while im at work). the coal will slowly burn from the bottom up. the more empty the stove you start with the more fresh coal you'll fit in there and the longer the burn time.

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 7:02 pm

Look at the link and you will see three phases of an anthracite fire. The ash on the bottom, the live coals would be the circles and the fresh charge is the black stuff at the back of the firebox. Generally, after shaking down, you rake coals from the rear towards the front, top the top of the firebrick. Don't go too low in the back, about 1/2 to 1/3 the depth of the live coal bed when you start. Then you fill the depression you have made with fresh coal and it will burn from front to back. This keeps a live fire on the surface. You won't smother it by covering everything with a fresh load. Coal is grumpy and wants to burn top to bottom. It also helps prevent those pesky explosions should you experience them. Do not play this game unless you rev it up a little first with a low fire.

http://marathonheaterco.com/diagram_furnace.html
Last edited by coaledsweat on Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 10:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.


 
bill4117
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Post by bill4117 » Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 9:10 pm

ok maybe im wrong but ive always known coal to burn from the bottom up and wood to burn from the top down , hence the difference in coal and wood stoves. am I wrong??? I do know with my model stove (cylindrical) if I bank the coal back to front I end up with a half burn for some reason. probably like I say just my style of stove.

 
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LsFarm
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Post by LsFarm » Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 9:48 pm

I'm sure coaled sweat meant to write bottom to top.

Greg L

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Sun. Dec. 30, 2007 10:00 pm

Yes, it burns from the bottom up, what I meant was that it was all burning. From the ash at the bottom to the top surface, all glowing coals. Burning top to bottom, bottom to top, burning all the way through the pile as in not fresh coal at that point on the surface like in the drawing on the link.

I can see where that would lead one astray, I hope this clarifies it.

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