WHAT ADVANTAGE IS AN ASH DRAWER?

Stoves with an ash drawer or ash dump allow you to clean the excess ash from your unit without stopping to let the stove cool down. Ashes are raked or sliced through slits in a cast grate or a small opening in the stove bottom into an ash container below. Hot coals for the next fire are pushed to one side and colder ashes raked into the ash drawer. Alternatively a slicer is used to slice under the ashes and slide the ashes into the ash drawer. A small rake about 20" long is the most common tool to push the hot embers to the side and rake the ashes into the drawer. While more convenient than shoveling ashes directly from the combustion chamber, the ashes still need to be dumped as soon as they reach the top of the ash container.