Here’s how I bring my stove from cold, back to hot. The aftermath of the last fire:
Waste Not Want Not. In order not to throw out any fuel, and to reduce waste volume, I remove the ashes but keep the charcoal for the next fire. Large charcoal is removed with the Screen Scoop, then the rest is put onto the ash can screen with the Tin Scoop.
Then with a little shake the remaining charcoal is separated. The charcoal is laid in the bottom of the stove.
The Wood is placed into the stove, usually 3 pieces.
Next some small fire starters are placed underneath.
Secret Weapon: Pine Cones. I easily picked up a whole box under the pines at my church. Match light easily!
The dampers are all opened. Cone is lit and the stove front door is closed. The front ash tray cover is slid mostly into place. Within about 2 minutes the fire is starting to crackle and roar. After 5 or 10 minutes its time to close the ash tray cover, prop it up a little for more air and put all the dampers at about 45 degrees. Then the stove and stove pipe gets hot. REALLY hot. Usually i turn on the central fan to circulate the heat better.
The pieces shown will burn for about 2 to 4 hours. More wood can be put into the stove on the glowing coals without repeating this whole process. Just open the dampers, rake the coals forward, open the stove and load more wood. Close it up and leave the ash tray cover ajar as in the above description. Once the fire roars, close/prop the ash tray cover, dampers to 45. Easy Peasy.