build a better fire


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Old 01-12-05, 11:39 PM
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wwc
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build a better fire

Should a wood fire built in a old standard fire place be built on the floor of the box or up on a metal log holder tube grate.

I'm assuming the slope design of the grate is to allow the logs to roll some towards each other and help self feed?
 
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Old 01-13-05, 02:43 AM
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Of the many things that I have learned about building fires, the proper supply of air is the one that is easiest to manage. Building a fire on a flat surface, such as the floor of a fireplace will restrict the flow of air in through the bottom of the fire. If the fire is built on an elevated structure, such as a fire grate, the air can flow in from the bottom easily as the heated air rises from the upper portion of the fire. The rising heated air will allow the fresh air to move in below. If the fire is on a flat surface, the air is limited to flowing from the sides of the fire. This is not as much flow as when the fire is on a grate. Moreover, the grate allows the air to flow in through the entire bottom of the fire, not just from the sides.

The wood on the grate is simpler to kindle, because the kindling can be place beneath the wood and ignited.

Almost contrary to the elevated fire, a fire built in a trench can produce a much hotter fire because the flow of air is directed through the trench to feed the fire. The trench's shape tends to cause the air flow to accelerate. This enables the fire to burn hotter because of the flow of air has the same effect as using a blower to fan the fire. In some respects, this could be a blast furnace. When camping as a boy, I found the trench fire to be the better technique of quickly making a good bed of coals for cooking.

With the curved design of the grate, the wood till tend to move in on itself. This keeps the thermal mass concentrated, focusing the heat. The grate enables the spent fuel to fall through the grate onto the floor. With a fire built on a flat surface, the ashes will lie in place with the fire sitting on top. One advantage of the grate would be the ability to remove the ashes and pieces of wood that fall through it while the fire is still burning. Of course, a proper container would be needed. The fire could burn for a longer period of time before it would be necessary to let it burn out or be extinguished in order to clean the fireplace.

Hope this helps.
 
 

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