Just make sure you are putting it over the holes in the grate.. then putting coal around/on top of it with only the wick sticking out. Turn the stove on so your air is blowing.. then light the wick and close the door. That's all I've ever done, works great.[/quote]raiderfan wrote:
Ok. I know I have definitely been lighting the wick BEFORE plugging the stove in, so I'll try to plug the stove in first this time around. Thanks. (I could have very well been putting the mice to high up on the grate - above the holes - as well). I'll have to keep an eye on that, too. Thanks again.[/quote]
Yeah, you need that air flowing to make it HOT... Think about it this way.. if you unplug a stoker when you only have a small bit of coal burning, it will fizzle out completely in 15 minutes.. and that's already pre-burnt flaming hot coal.