Coalpail.com Forum

WillRockwell wrote:I've seen this problem in my Godin after about 3 days of continuous burning. What seems to be happening is that a small amount of partially burned coal settles underneath the burning coal and blocks the vent at the bottom. No amount of shaking will dislodge it, because it is not yet ash. The only solution I've found is quite dangerous. I open the bottom door and actually swing down the grate while the fire is burning. Then I carefully scoop out the unburned debris, hoping the fire won't collapse and pour out onto the floor. This process works, but it scares the crap out of me when I have to do it.

I have a friend who absolutely loves the Godin stoves and has owned many. He gives one away when he decides to sell his house and move, which is often.

I was horrified one day when I watched him shovel out ashes as you described, but he thought nothing of it and did it all the time.

From reading about Godin stoves on this forum it seems that this is not an uncommon way to clear the ash.

Aside from the danger involved it also is messy as it is very difficult to empty the shovel without ash drifting in the air.

It's a shame because Godin stoves are among the prettiest ever designed and work very well for both wood and coal except for that one flaw.

Richard

franco b wrote: I have a friend who absolutely loves the Godin stoves and has owned many. He gives one away when he decides to sell his house and move, which is often.

I was horrified one day when I watched him shovel out ashes as you described, but he thought nothing of it and did it all the time.

From reading about Godin stoves on this forum it seems that this is not an uncommon way to clear the ash.

Aside from the danger involved it also is messy as it is very difficult to empty the shovel without ash drifting in the air.

It's a shame because Godin stoves are among the prettiest ever designed and work very well for both wood and coal except for that one flaw.

Richard

And I was hoping you had a better technique. Every time I open that bottom door I expect the China Syndrome....twenty pounds of red hot coal in a pile on my living room floor.

And I was hoping you had a better technique. Every time I open that bottom door I expect the China Syndrome....twenty pounds of red hot coal in a pile on my living room floor.[/quote]

Very funny to read about, but not for the faint of heart to do.

All I can suggest is to try reaching in and slicing the grate with a flat poker while leaving the guard in place. Then all you will need is to figure out how to double the size of the ash pan. At least yours has a generous ash pan in the front.

Richard

I have found,,, NEVER NEVER add Coal .. until you SHAKE it first!..