First Night With the Blue Ladies

Now that I experienced a first dance with the ladies last night, I can see that all this is a art. I just need a bit more advice for a nervous newbie.

The stove was loaded 2/3 full last night after a hour plus start up and has been running with pea for 14 hrs + . Bed has collasped to 3 " thick, stack 200 degrees, stove top temp 300, baro bouncing with the wind, CO detectors happy, happy.

I will not be adding coal so I'm wondering what is the best way to let the fire go out. Should I shake it when the stack temp starts going down and then let it die or should I just let the whole thing die without shaking ?

Thanks!

I'd shake it just a little, just enough to see the coal bed drop a bit.. the only reason to do this is to open up a bit more air to the existing fire,, then just let it burn itself out..

OR.. just for learning/experience.. leave it alone.. when it has cooled off then shake the ashes down [doors closed !!] and see howmuch partially burnt coal is remaining.. there may not be any, or maybe a lot that got starved for oxygen by the thick ashes. Every stove, and load of coal is different.. You will soon learn your stove and coal,, and be an expert on your instalation..

Congrats on the first burn..

Greg L

I would leave it with ashes covering the grates for the next build. It's easier to build on ashes than bare grates. So, whether you shake it down or not, don't dump the whole business into the ash pan.

Guys, shook the beast, can now see the glow again, the ladies are standing up again, ~1" of ash in the pan, this coal stuff is great. Still at 200 at the stack. Will let it go to the happy dying coal heaven. Thank you for the advice.

Bruce

Durring the full time season I let mine die once a week. I just don't add any coal in the morning and by around 11 AM it is out.

I shake it down and clean out the ashes from the corners and save all the unburnt or half burnt chunks from the ash pan. Use them to line the grate before starting a new fire.

I find my stove burns real nice for about 5 days before I have to clean the corners where allot of ashes tend to get stuck and keep the air from circulating properly.

Quite often when I add coal in the morning I have a dome over the fire. A few pokes gets it to fall and I open the air and add a little at a time until it is going strong again. I load it full before I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning it is a site to behold with the blue dancers on top and looking like a volcano below.

I doubt I will ever go back to the labor of wood.

Gary

Gary L wrote:Durring the full time season I let mine die once a week. I just don't add any coal in the morning and by around 11 AM it is out.

Gary L wrote:I find my stove burns real nice for about 5 days before I have to clean the corners where allot of ashes tend to get stuck and keep the air from circulating properly.

I keep mine running straight through the winter without ever intentionally shutting down. If you liven up the fire & poke from the top occasionally you can clean out the corners just fine & not have the hassle of cleannout & restarting. Air circulation is no problem! The key is using good quality coal.
(if you allow the fire to really liven up, you'll be amazed how much cleaning out you can do & still add fresh coal & keep right on trucking!....A lively fire is quite hearty & can be poked around allot while a "sleepy" fire is very fragile. )

Uglysquirrel wrote: The stove was loaded 2/3 full last night after a hour plus start up and has been running with pea for 14 hrs + .

Do yourself a favor and fill it up.