BillMarti wrote:The easiest way I found is the cheapest. Get yourself a bag of charcoal and some charcoal lighter (perfumed kerosene) put about 5-7 brickets in and squirt some charcoal lighter in let it soak for a minute or so then light it off. Now let it burn foe a few minutes then turn combustion air on. Let them get a full glow about them. Throw a shovel of coal on top wait about a 1/2 hour or so until you get a good burn then turn your coal feed on. Now your done sit back and be amazed at the flames. Remember don't go near the pretty flames
Doing the charcoal may be a good way to get it heated up enough to establish a draft instead of building a fire in the ashpan.