Dustless Ash Scoop

**** UPDATE **** UPDATE **** I have expressed my quibbling issues, previously, with the Ash Dragon. After offer 4 years I must say I really like it (comparative size to my stoves smallish firebox, not withstanding). I would buy it again. I tried adding video but couldn't upload. **** END UPDATE **** END UPDATE **** I purchased this almost 2 years ago. It is an EXCELLENT idea, but for my purposes does not work as well as I would like. I have an Rainier Avalon wood stove. The problem with the Ash Dragon ash scoop (one could spin it so the problem is with the stove) is that the sides firebox of the Rainier wood stove are almost EXACTLY the same size as the length of the ash scoop. The middle of the firebox has a rectangular "bump" (for lack of a better descriptor). This will not allow the scoop to sit squarely on the floor of the firebox. This, in turn does not allow for easy scooping of the ash. It does, however, fit on either side of the "bump", but just barely. Because of the tight fit, scooping the ash is not as easy as I like. The other issue I have is with the "thumb Lever" to open the lid. It is made of soft metal. When I open the lid it tends to bend downward, causing the lid of the scoop to not open wide enough. This in turn catches ash on the lid, which, invariably, causes a small mess. Overall I like the product. I can scop ash, close the lid (mindful of the ash on its front edge) and take it outside to dump into the ash can. It is better than trying to carefully put the ash into can while it is sitting next to the stove. No natter how carefully one tries to put the ash onto the can, with the little stove shovel, there is always an ash puff (or cloud, depending on ones luck). If you have a firebox that is deeper than the length of the Ash Dragon, I think you will find it works better. This is an excellent method for ash removal, just not excellent for all wood stoves.

This is a very good product. It is cutting down on the ash in our home a lot. We have a free standing wood burning stove on a pedestal base with a standard ash pan. We burn wood all day in the winter. Even with the ash pan in the base, the ash would go all over. I like how the scoop opens and then closes before removing. I clean the stove in the morning first thing. There are ashes on the top but large chucks of wood yet. I felt very wasteful just dumping all that wood out. Now when I take the ashes outside to put in a steel trash can, I have a rabbit wire "basket" that I made by just putting some extra rabbit wire that we had over the opening. Then I pushed it down, to make the "basket". Now when I pour the ashes into the basket and stir it up, the ashes fall down into the can and l have the larger chunks of unburned wood left. I bring these back into the home and put them back into the stove and they start the new days fire.

After figuring out how to best use this ash scoop, it works great. Better than 99.9% of the dust problem created by shoveling is eliminated. It's easy to use & usually after 24 hours of constant burning of 80% cottonwood with some ash, oak & hackberry mixed in, only two scoops are needed to prepare the wood stove for more burning. I push it in along the floor to the back of the stove once or twice. Then when it seems full, tilt the 'dragon's mouth' up and tap gently with the heel of the tool on the floor inside the stove to get the ash to slide into the beast's stomach. Close the dragon's mouth. Blow off any fine ash on top of the dragon's back if required while pulling it out making sure you do that while it's still inside the firebox. Carry it outside it & dump into your ash bucket. Piece of cake!

It costs too much. PROS: I can keep my wood stove running 24/7 if I move the coals to the right side and the ash to the left side. CONS: Requires a VERY strong hand. The device is quite heavy, and the ash makes it even heavier. I have very strong hands. Good luck if YOU don't. All six sides are filthy, and ash is falling off everywhere as you extract the device. I use a small cookie sheet held under the device as it comes out of the stove. Requires two people to operate. You have the Ash Dragon in one hand and a cookie sheet in the other hand. Then your friend has to open the door so you can get outside. Unless there is NO wind outside, as you pass through the doorway, all kinds of ash dust blows back into the house. Description states "Simple, clean, efficient". The clean part can only be referring to the moment when you cut open the box right after UPS delivers the Ash Dragon. After that, nothing is ever clean again. My hand is black after each use because the Ash Dragon, plus the Handle, plus my hand, are larger than the height of my open wood stove. I suppose you could buy a box of latex gloves here http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QF5YEA/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 That is only 9 cents per day! Comes dissassembled. For eighty bucks, it should be pre-assembled. Yeah it would need a slightly larger box. Lower the price by fifty bucks, and I wouldn't mind doing the assembly.

It was smaller than what I expected but works great!

Not as easy to use as expected. There is a similar devise available that is wider but less depth

Did a great job containing the ash and soot from my fireplace. Made cleaning it out much more pleasant, but the product is a little expensive.

This thing really helps keep the dust down in the house. The bolts on the lid could be a little heavier duty....