Print

[beeman]

has any body instaled the auger kit and if so how do you like it

[Ridgekid]

I don't want to discourage you but I was just reading on another site that they have a tendency to clog and jam up. You still end up shoveling the ashes out.

Just what I read. So you can take it with a grain salt.

[R W Ohio]

There is a member on this site, his name is Neal and he purchased an auger for his WM 4400 last year, but I don't know if he ever got it installed.
RW

[Dirtslinger]

I had one for two weeks. Now its in the scrap yard not worth the money.

[beeman]

i ask this becouse a friend has this stove and is thinking of the auger kit  , what made it junk would it jam with  clinkers if so why not make the grate with smaller holes

[Neal]

yes I installed the auger kit.  I didn't the 1st year or 2 but digging those ashes out every was a pain. 
I haven't had any problems with it and don't consider it junk.  The frame is heavy enough but I'm not sure about the drive chain at the back.  I may put a new one on next year just to be safe. 

Sure beats waiting for a nice Saturday to let the fire burn down to clean out ashes.  On a weekly basis I just stick a metal 5 gallon pail under the drop and 5 minutes or so later I am ready to close the ash drop drawer. 

Just be sure to have a metal lid to put on the bucket for a few days until the coals are all dead before dumping the ashes. 

Would I buy it again.  I sure would.  Well worth the investment in my opinion. 

[yotehunter66]

I have one and it works great. To each his own I guess. Some times the clinkers like to get stuck in them but I just reverse direction and crank like hell. Yet to have it lock completely up.

[MattyNH]

My boiler has a auger..Works slick..No letting the fire die down then stick the shovel in..Nails are never a problem.. They come right out.. 6 yrs and going never a problem with it

[Neal]

still not sorry I bought the auger.  This year I am only on my second bucket of ashes.  Don't know if it's my mixture of wood, the proper dryness or the year.  We had a fairly mild winter so that might have been a part of it.  This year the ashes are nothing but powder.  Rake them around every day and there is very little else to do.  Every couple weeks just put the bucket under and auger them out. 

I am burning a mixture of ash, wild cherry and some elm.  The bigger portion is ash.  Lots of dead or dying ash in my woods. 

Looks like I will have enough for several years.