Gareth J
Member
- Messages
- 3,328
- Location
- North Cornwall
Tis the season and I know there is some WBS enthusiasm here so thought I'd share a process I've been using for a while now.
We all have our ways so this isn't going to be for everyone but it works for me and, importantly, saves me chopping kindling.
- the WBS must be very well sealed - won't work if yours doesn't all but kill a fire when fully shut down.
-burn as normal, but before you finish, make sure all flames are gone, there are no volatiles left, you're just left with embers. Don't put on more logs, just fully shut it down.
-next day, you'll be left with some charcoal and, if you've got it right, no tar deposits. If you were too quick, shutting down, tar-ahoy.
-dig a hole in the ash, expose the griddle and drop some charcoal, which will be in abundance - from last night's embers - in the well. Allow for some airflow.
-put a couple normal (dry) logs on top. Must be touching the charcoal and not bridging it.
-light with something. I currently use ~1-2tbsp of meths poured over. But a firelighter in there or, beforehand, some newspaper works fine.
-light and go. The charcoal should light easily and burn fiercely. Your bed of embers hits the ground running. No faffing with kindling, required.
-use the time saved browsing the forum or in the workshop.
We all have our ways so this isn't going to be for everyone but it works for me and, importantly, saves me chopping kindling.
- the WBS must be very well sealed - won't work if yours doesn't all but kill a fire when fully shut down.
-burn as normal, but before you finish, make sure all flames are gone, there are no volatiles left, you're just left with embers. Don't put on more logs, just fully shut it down.
-next day, you'll be left with some charcoal and, if you've got it right, no tar deposits. If you were too quick, shutting down, tar-ahoy.
-dig a hole in the ash, expose the griddle and drop some charcoal, which will be in abundance - from last night's embers - in the well. Allow for some airflow.
-put a couple normal (dry) logs on top. Must be touching the charcoal and not bridging it.
-light with something. I currently use ~1-2tbsp of meths poured over. But a firelighter in there or, beforehand, some newspaper works fine.
-light and go. The charcoal should light easily and burn fiercely. Your bed of embers hits the ground running. No faffing with kindling, required.
-use the time saved browsing the forum or in the workshop.