Multifuel Grate
Your Parkray stove is fitted with a locomotive type grate. So that de-ashing
can be carried out cleanly and easily, it is riddled from the outside of the stove
with the doors closed. The grate is designed to burn both wood and solid
fuels.
To burn solid mineral fuels
place the operating tool over the riddling spigot
and pull it down towards you. When left in that position, air is directed under
and up through the slots in the firebed, giving the optimum conditions for
burning solid fuels.
It is important that the riddling tool is used to remove the ash to ensure airflow
through the firebed and allow the fire to burn over the entire area of the grate.
The ashpan should be emptied at least daily and ash should never be allowed
to build up over a period of time as this will result in damage to the fire bars.
The flat end of the riddling tool can be used to carry the ashpan.
To burn wood
, push the operating tool up and away from you. When left in this position, air is
restricted through the bed of the fire providing a solid base to build up a bed of ash. Surplus ash can be
removed either by gentle riddling or with a shovel.
It might prove beneficial when burning more reactive fuels to leave the grate in a “neutral” position, thus
directing some under fire air and some over fire air to the firebed.
Notes on solid mineral fuel burning
Solid mineral fuel should be placed in the stove so that there is no more than a 30° incline of the fuel bed
from front to back. It should
not
be stacked above the level of the rear firebrick as this may result in
damage to the stove.
With a full load of fuel, the stove will need to be refuelled approximately once every 4 hours.
Solid mineral fuel burns most efficiently with the secondary air control in the closed position. The
primary air sliders can then be used to control the burn rate of the stove. For optimum performance
when burning only solid-mineral fuel, it may also be beneficial to close the tertiary air cover plate on the
back of the stove.
Always de-ash before refuelling and do not let the ash build up to the underside of the grate bars. Solid
mineral fuel produces ash, which if allowed to build up will stifle the airflow through the Primary air
sliders and grate. This will eventually cause the fire to die.
With some solid mineral fuels a residue of burnt fuel or clinker will accumulate on the grate, allow the
fire to go out periodically to remove this.
Important!
-
We cannot stress firmly enough how important it is to empty the ashpan regularly. Air
passing through the firebed cools the grate bars. Distortion or burning out the grate bars is nearly always
caused by ash being allowed to build up to the underside of the grate.
Notes on Wood burning
With a full load of wood, the stove will need to be refuelled approximately once every hour.
Wood can be stacked higher in the stove than solid mineral fuel but care must be taken that logs do not
touch the brick baffle.
Wood burns most efficiently with the primary air sliders in the closed position and the secondary control
open. Moving the secondary control will control the burn rate of the stove.
Note - primary and secondary air is needed to light the stove, see section entitled ‘Lighting the Stove’
Wood burns best on a bed of ash and it is therefore only necessary to remove surplus ash from the stove
occasionally.
Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood, which should have been cut, split and stacked for at least 12
months, with free air movement around the sides of the stack to enable it to dry out. Burning wet or
unseasoned wood will create tar deposits in the stove and chimney and will not produce a satisfactory
heat output.
