Shaking Down a Pot Belly

A piece of sheet metal to cover the door opening with a slot cut in it to accommodate the shaker handle and allow it to shake side to side will be a big help. Hold it against the open door.

Thanks, I think I can picture it....just a rectangle, with a rectangle slot cut into the area where the tool fits Thanks, I'll try this!

here is a photo of a retro fit on a cylinder stove. Notice the slot cut out as minimal as possible to allow for the shaker handle to slide side to side, many of the old pot bellys had external shake ability (some with a crank, some made similar to this photo but slot on right side of stove). Its important to remember that when this is done however you need to make up for the added draft by use of a damper, primary air control or both.

some of these very good coal stoves can be purchased for a mere $50.00 or $100... so it may be more advantageous to search for a stove that has an external shaker.
another tip would be to make sure your damper is wide open when your doing your shake down/load (it should be anyways as your doing these duties)... this will allow for as much pull from inside the stove as possible while your doing it (like a vacuum effect that will keep the dust from heading out the bottom door)... you will learn these lil' things in time and were glad you found the right forum to help you learn faster

Shop vac nozzle above the door using the wide angle tool and shake a little less vigorously. You also may want to take a coat hanger or strip of springy type steel and bend it to a right angle where you can get it up through the grate and slice the ash instead of shaking it. That will help keep dust down also.

Rev. Larry

blrman07 wrote:Shop vac nozzle above the door using the wide angle tool and shake a little less vigorously. You also may want to take a coat hanger or strip of springy type steel and bend it to a right angle where you can get it up through the grate and slice the ash instead of shaking it. That will help keep dust down also.

Rev. Larry

cant really "slice" these old pot belly grates... but you can take a poker through the top door to "settle the bed" prior to the shake (it allows for a faster shake and closing of the lower door).

Thanks for all the replies and solutions...last nite we made a slice box out of (of all things) an old turpentine gallon!) cleaned!
It works 1000% better than what we had! I was ready to go cold before bearing the mess!
I will be sure to keep the damper open to shake, and I have a good poker.
Consider yourselves hugged! Dirtymama (-no more)

franco b wrote:A piece of sheet metal to cover the door opening with a slot cut in it to accommodate the shaker handle and allow it to shake side to side will be a big help. Hold it against the open door.

Omg Franco, That's the solution to me keeping the ash pan door covered while I shake the grates. You are a genius

Lightning wrote:

franco b wrote:A piece of sheet metal to cover the door opening with a slot cut in it to accommodate the shaker handle and allow it to shake side to side will be a big help. Hold it against the open door.

Omg Franco, That's the solution to me keeping the ash pan door covered while I shake the grates. You are a genius

With all the clever things you have done with your stove and all the astute observations I have enjoyed reading, It's hard to believe you did not think of it.

Since I put the window in the load door, I can see all the fly ash going upward into the pipe. I realize it's because I need the ash pan door open while I shake the grates. I've been wondering what I could do about it. I could make a plate to cover the area OR cut a one inch diameter hole to stick the handle thru on the ash pan door. Then furnish it with a swinging cover. Thank you for the inspiration partner

dirtymama wrote:Thanks for all the replies and solutions...last nite we made a slice box out of (of all things) an old turpentine gallon!) cleaned!
It works 1000% better than what we had! I was ready to go cold before bearing the mess!
I will be sure to keep the damper open to shake, and I have a good poker.
Consider yourselves hugged! Dirtymama (-no more)

That metal is thin and sharp. go outside an get a piece of fallen branch about 1 1/4 inches thick and 3 inches long and screw it to the metal at right angles to act as a handle.

Lightning wrote: cut a one inch diameter hole to stick the handle thru on the ash pan door. Then furnish it with a swinging cover.

More work but much nicer. With that ash door closed you might be able to open the load door when shaking to lessen the pull of the fly ash through the coal bed with more in the ash pan.

the old Turpentine gallon has its own handle on the top,( used sideways) so it works great, we've cut the side of the can out, leaving it an open box and it fits snug against the stove's footing near the door!

Good for you. I think when we can salvage something like this for another purpose it gives more pleasure than something store bought.