Poking/Slicing

Hi All,

This will be my first year burning coal.. Lots of great information on this site, I've been doing a fair amount of reading through all of the threads.

My question is around poking/slicing. If I'm understanding correctly, I need to slice through the coal bed to open up the grates so that air can move freely. My stove has two long rods that are hooked on the end and I'm assuming I basically push this through the coal and find the grate and force the rod through from the top.

My stove also has slots in the site where I can push the rods through and I assume move back and forth between the coal bed and the grate. Does this sound correct?

I just want to make sure I'm on the right track, since I've also read that you're supposed to disturb the coal bed as little as possible.

Thanks everyone, as always!
Scott

I think you would find more assistance by disclosing the make and model of stove you have. Try doing a search on that as well. There are many people her with differing opinions on poking. Personally, I have a Harman TLC 2000, I poke

scottg wrote:My stove also has slots in the site where I can push the rods through and I assume move back and forth between the coal bed and the grate. Does this sound correct?

Yes that is correct. You will introduce a flat poker into the slots just above the grate and by sliding back and forth and in and out (slicing) it will break up the ash to let it fall through the grate. You might also poke a bit around the edges from above and perhaps even in the middle to encourage fresh coal to fall. You will get the feel with some experience. Close those slots when done or you will over fire.

A weak fire will not stand much disturbance but should be livened up first by giving plenty of air first. A brisk lively fire will take a lot of disturbance if needed.

HITZER= Use poker from above to fluff up (poke) bed of coals (if needed) in ash build up areas. You do this at tending time. Other than tending time, a burning bed of coal doesn't like to be messed with (Disturbed). Vermont Castings "Vigilant" = Slicing (Another form of poking) from underneath. A long skinny knife like poker slides through the grates from underneath, slicing through the bed of coals. Both, poking & slicing are forms of getting the hung up ash to drop. The ash hangs up, and builds between the coals, blocking air flow. At tending time, you need to disturb the coal bed so that the build up of ash falls to the grates. Shaking the grates allows the ash to fall into the ash pan below the grates.