I Must Be Doing Something Wrong

After shaking down , I floss the grate from below as shown on larrys video. The Chubby is burning great , no problems there. My problem is the tip of my poker gets red hot. I didn't see a problem with that after all the coal is red hot. Well I've been noticing the tip is getting thinner. I guess from rubbing red hot steel against the grates is wearing down the metal. Well, last night after flossing grates , tip was bent badly and when I straighten it, it broke off the tip. I remember reading a post on another thread that said the tip should not turn red while flossing. Could you more experienced guys give me some pointers as what I am doing wrong. Thank you
Dave

Metal turns red after spending a good deal of time in hot coals, so you could be flossing too long, digging too deeply, flossing when it isn't really necessary, or just taking too long to do it.. As I recall,Larry only did a few swipes and was finished, after a good shakedown.

You just work too slow...
No need to stick it all the way up thru the coal bed,stop to look in the load door to see if it came thru & then repeat until the whole grate is done by that method either.

Logs,

I suspect you are flossing too much. A quick back and forth is about all you should need. The bottom of the grate doesn't need to be glowing red either.

Thanks fellas I guess I was trying to get every last bit of ash out. I always made sure it was glowing under grate. If that's not necessary I will try to hustle it up. Is it recommended to floss each time you shake?

Dave

If I want max performance from my non- chubby stove,i poke/slice when I shake 2 x/day,if I want it to simmer on a warmer day,i just shake in the am & then shake,poke/slice in the pm so it generates more heat overnite.

Logs wrote:Thanks fellas I guess I was trying to get every last bit of ash out. I always made sure it was glowing under grate. If that's not necessary I will try to hustle it up. Is it recommended to floss each time you shake?

Dave

The need to floss depends on several factors. Coal quality, how good was the last shakedown, burn rate ect etc etc. I floss every couple of days BUT most of the time I do give 3 or 4 pokes (from underneath) each time I shake down just to open up the shaken down coal.

I must have been overdoing it, as I said , I was trying to get every last bit of ash. I will take you guys advise . Thanks again

Dave

I don't think this could happen unless the stove was running VERY hot and you stuck the poker in there and left it too long. My experience is that a cooler stove may need a little more flossing to perk it up. A hot stove needs very little.

Yes sir, I was over doing it. Been flossing way less the last few days and have noticed I have less ash, and in is very fine. More complete burn I guess. Before the ash was more like granola. Thanks again for the pointers.

Dave