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[PeteBak]

Wondering if owners of the BL 2840 are liking the ash system or not? I'm looking to buying one of these, but that ash system worries me.

Do the grate ceramic blocks move around at the bottom or do they keep their spacing somehow?

Does the spacing between the blocks become clogged with ash so that ash cannot fall through anymore?

Does the furnace burn the wood completely down to white ash or are large coals falling through the cracks into the ash try?

Is the forced air from the bottom able to move up through the grate cracks when they are filled with ash?

Would love to hear your experience.

[slimjim]

I'm going to sit back and let the guys now running them comment.

[Crow]

  Pete, I have a BL2840 and the ash tray was one of the reasons I bought this unit. Other reasons include refractory brick, chimney that doesn't exit through the roof, and round box made from mild steel (not getting into mild steel vs stainless steel debate just my preference).
 
The side brick does not move around, the center bricks used for a grate are moveable therefore easily replaceable but during normal operation the bricks have not moved during ash and coal stirring. The gaps could get blocked the same as most other units with an ash tray if you don't stir up the coal bed but mine has not since I learned to stir properly.
 
 It does burn down to fine ash with small pieces mixed in, usually not bigger than 1/2 inch. I know when it is time to empty the ash tray when the flames are in the back 1/3 of the stove because I load mine more to the front therefore most of the ash is below the pile and the air follows the path of least resistance.
 
 This is my first OWB and read a lot about the learning curves people were experiencing but this unit has been fired since early Dec/13 and it has been easy on me.
 

[jefito]

Pete I have a 34/44, no worries or issues, the ceramic blocks have not moved at all, prior to my first firing I claimed in the fire chamber. The bricks are solid, fit was very tight no play at all.  My 34/44 went in to service 12/31/13. I burned pine for the first 6 weeks no coals just fine ash. Pine produced lots of ash, emptying the ash tray 2-3 times per week. Burning mostly oak now. Grates never become clogged, but you need to stir the hard wood coals when you load. Getting just a handfull of coals in the ash tray and that's emptying the ashes every 7 days now. I believe that because of the refractory cement getting so hot, glowing red. That along with the under/over forced air that that coals are burned to a fine powder they fall through the ceramic grates and as long as your ash pan isn't over loaded you will never experience lack of air flow. There's not much of a learning curve, its very simple and easy to pick up on, even for me and I'm dumb as a cedar post. If a problem should arise, slimjim can walk you through it. The simplicity of design and lack of extra stuff to make life complicated is what makes this OWB so enjoyable, feed it 2 times a day with 6 to 8 pieces of good wood and life is good.  Hope this helps you out. Best of luck.

[PeteBak]

Thanks Crow and Jefito. Your experience is much appreciated. I'm hoping to find someone near me who has one of these so I can see how it runs in the flesh. My postal code is K0J 1L0. Anyone near me have one of these?

Crow, how does one stir properly?

[Crow]

I wasn't stirring deep enough for the first couple weeks.  I was getting a deep coal bed and hardly had to empty the ash pan at all. But then I started to really put the rake deeper into the coal bed too the point I could feel the grates and that loosened up the ashes better.

[Crow]

PM sent regarding postal code.

[gainerspot]

That's it, I am sold on the BL series.  no just need to figure out what unit to get.