"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...

The difference between wood and coal is that wood requires top air and
coal requires bottom. My Woodworm has a grate that can be moved to a
closed position or an open one respectively.

I would say that coal *requires bottom*, but wood doesn't..certainly wood
burns BETTER, bottom fed.

True, but modern clean burn stoves work by igniting the gases with hot air
from above. Apart from the exra air required to get it blazing all that is
required is this top air. So in that respect they burn better with air from
above.

--
Mike W