Moondog55 wrote:This is true but they do burn cleaner with a grated base so I will need to balance creosote build up against the fast rate of consumption of wood. Mind you Stry neither Alpine Ash/Mountain Ash or Snowgum leaves coals. I have a small 5mm plate that will/ may just fit right in tho, I'll check the size later today. If you look at the picture of the bottom in the post above you will see that the bottom is dished, the existing perforated rack sits just above this dishing, the plate I have may sit in the same place
5mm plate sitting on the rack or otherwise just off the bottom sounds good to me. Will also extend the life of the bottom. I am no more qualified than the average social pyromaniac, but suggest that having air come up through the base of the fire isn't necessary for a clean burn. Commercial wood heaters meet the required standards with a solid bottom. I agree with you on some types of woods being frustrating difficult to create a bed of coals with. My solution has always been to achieve critical mass in the size of the fire
- a bit difficult in your stove. Either way, whatever your wood is capable of generating, it will generate it better if the air can be pulled in other than through the base of the fire.
Creosote appears to be a product of insufficient air, rather than the direction of introducing the air. Run it harder (more air) and it runs cleaner (also less smoke) but uses wood quicker - catch 22
A point that occurred to me that you may already be aware of is the orientation of the flu sections. Intuitively many of us will put an upper section over/outside a lower section. This lets any creosote that is generated run out of the flu over the outside the lower pipe and over the stove, burning and stinking. This can be avoided by fitting uppers inside lowers.
No experience with the Brunnings bricks, but many years ago there was a doodad available that would allow the compression of soaked newspaper into bricks, which could then be dried (eventually) and used as fuel. A lot of faffing around, and personally, I think I would probably lug in some briquettes, if they still exist.