That was more like wood stove thinking, Joe - more fuel means more chance the fire will get out of control.joeq wrote: ↑Tue. Jan. 22, 2019 6:39 pmI hope you guys don't mind me jumping in here, but it looks like this thread "is" your book, Paul. Lots of good info.
As usual, you made me see something, from a different angle, than I was seeing before. Concerning a burning pot. I was always timid in my earlier days of burning, since the Surdiac days. Was afraid to put in too much coal, when tending. Not sure if it's relevant to your situation, Jen, but Paul's comment above, made me re-think what I was experiencing.
After I do a full shake-down, and get a fresh pot (of coal) brewing, I not only fill the pot, but I get it "heaping", to the point it wants to fall out on the floor. (almost, slight exaggeration), but I do mound it up. Hoping for longer burns. And it does appear to work. But I never thought about the resistance of a full coal bed, becoming a hindrance. I guess with my G111, and stove coal, it makes a nice hot fire in the evening hours, and when I put it to bed, I mound it with nut coal. Same thing in the day, when we're all at work. It'll go 8-10 hrs easy, through the night, and the day. I'm guessing your 116 should surpass that Jen.
But coal is NOT just the opposite of wood in burning top down verses bottom up for coal.
The best way to slow and control a too-hot coal fire may seem to be that having less coal is better, but in reality, adding MORE coal helps slow and control it.
Paul