Quote Originally Posted by striker3636 View Post
And does the evaporator run hottest closest to the stack? Is that why the deepest flue pan goes there? I might have guessed it would be hotter closer to the door where the fire is and the draft air comes in. Almost seems like the pans should be reversed, flue by the door, flat finishing pan near the stack?
It seems the hottest area is near the back of the firebox. Not by the door and not by the stack. You get nice radiant heat for the flat pan above the fire. Conductive heat transfer in the flues further back. The grates should not go all the way back, only the first 20 inches or so.

Also, if the flues were up front, you would be banging them with wood when you load it.