To remove, or not remove a fire box

Wardster

I have read a couple posts where people say they never remove the fire box. I have removed mine a couple times, in order to clean the ash that falls on the back side of the box.[p]For those of you who do not remove the fire box, what do you do about ash build up on the far side? My standard ash tool could not reach back that far. Is there a trick or do you just ignore it?[p]

Tim M

Wardster,[p]What build up? Yes, there is some, but if you look at the airflow path needed - you can see that 3-4" can be there in a little mound and it can't obstruct anything. So why risk your back, your firebox or whatever to remove what does not bother the operation of the cooker? My ash tool reaches around about 1/2 way and that has always been enough in many years.[p]I am also a firm believer in leaving some ash, all the time, in the bottom to help insulate the bottom (or what is under it) from the extreme heat without it. There were a few posts back about cracked tile under the Egg -- the ash helps prevent this.[p]Tim

WooDoggies

Wardster,[p]I have never removed the firebox to clean in 2 1/2 years using the egg.
I am able to angle my ash tool behind the firebox to about the 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock areas and rake out the excess ash through the bottom vent.
The ash that I can't reach appears to eventually settle into the areas that can be reached.
As long as the airholes in my firebox are clear and airflow is not impeded, the amount of ash behind the firebox does not affect my cooks.
Hope this helps.
Good Q'n.[p]WD