Fig. 3290.
The hoe, [Fig. 3289], which is used to push the fire to the back of the furnace and to pull it forward. The poker, [Fig. 3290], which dislodges any clinker that may be between the bars, and lets the ashes fall through.
Fig. 3291.
Fig. 3292.
The clinker hook or devil’s claw, [Fig. 3291], which is used to haul clinker out of the fire, and the rake, [Fig. 3292], which is used to spread the fire evenly over the bars after it is cleaned.
In cleaning a fire, first use the slice bar to loosen up the fire and let the ashes fall through, and also dislodge clinkers from the surface of the bars. Then push the fire to the back of the furnace. Next use the poker to clean out clinker from between the exposed part of the bars. Then with the hoe pull a part of the fire forward and pull out the clinker that may be in this part, doing so with the hoe as far as possible, as that will save time, but if it should be necessary, use the clinker hook.