Are these stove temps normal??

Well I thought I was getting the hang of the IR this week... Until tonight. I loaded it with 4 big splits of box elder and another soft wood and it took off!! I started it on a small bed of coals from some kindling I used to start the stove an hour prior. Each piece was about a 6" half split and I packed them tightly together into the stove. It lit off pretty easy at first and I dropped the air down to half open after about 10 minutes. By about 20 minutes I slowly lowered the air to all the way off and it seemed to slow into a soft burn. I checked it 10 minutes later and the secondaries were picking up. Shortly after it just started shooting up! Flue temps got to around 900F-950F and the stove temps measured 750-800F on the griddle and 675-700F on top cast right in front of the flue. I'm more concerned with the flue temps. Does this sound ok to you guys? I know the IR is a willing and able heater but that just seemed a little high to me. I like to be able to control the stove and I was def not in control there. It makes me wonder what will happen when it gets colder and the draft is stronger. At what temps should I start worrying about it over firing?

 

I don't remember.....single or double wall stove pipe?
If that's a probe temp, you're ok (but borderline), if surface temp on single wall, slow that bugger down.
Turn a fan on high pointed right at it.
Stove temp is getting a bit toasty, but someone with experience on this stove will need to chime in.

 

Ryan, that baby is sure running hotter than my stove. (Different model, same manufact) May be time for a damper. Surely you don't need that kind of heat to heat your house.

 

It's double wall Dave. Yea a damper was my first thought too Mitch. I don't think it's hurt anything but that is just one HOT fire! I've checked all my seals and gaskets too and can't find anything wrong.

 

I know the Royale likes to run hot.

First thing I would do is to confirm your thermometers are accurate. Do you have an IR thermometer?

 

Yea I checked the Temps with my IR gun and they are right. I'm starting to think it's not so much of a draft issue as much as it is an air issue. I'm going to check my ash pan door and gasket again and make sure it is sealing good,. I also wonder if there could be an issue with my primary air control lever. It seems to move properly but I just wonder if it's actually decreasing the air flow correctly. I'm going to make some more checks tonight and see.

 

How long did the flue stay that hot? Sounds like maybe you just need to cut it back a little quicker.

 

Small splits will go ballistic for a short spell, had 4 pieces of good hardwood maybe 2" thick about 4" across and 4 splits of willow on top . those were about 5" crossection. This on a bed of coals from over night. 20 minutes later pushing 600+ with the fan on full. NC30 was a rockin. temps started dropping in another 30 minutes or so.

 

I actually almost smothered twice turning the air down too soon. It caught pretty quick so I turned it all the way down but it started to die out so I turned it up just a little. Had it settled in nicely after 20 min. Seemed like once the 4 pieces fully caught they just took off to the moon! Something doesn't seem right

 

These splits were actually pretty big. I know it looks small in the pic but they were easy 6" splits and took up most of the stove from just the 4 pieces.

 

Do you have a air leak? I had a simular problem and the door was out of adjustment, Those temps would make me nervous If you choke it back is it a lazy flame ?

 

I'm pointing towards and air leak but I can't pin point where. I just checked the ash pan and it is sealed good. I've never questioned the doors bc they pull in tight and shut very firm against the gasket but I'll check over the alignment and make sure. I can get a lazy flame early on in the burn but once the wood is caught completely there is no slowing it down

 

Can you do a dollar bill test on the gaskets ?? thats how I found my leak

 

I've run my Oslo up to 700 measured on the right top corner of the stove and have had no problems.

 

I would guess there is an air leak somewhere or maybe the main air control isn't closing all the way?

 

Do a dollar bill test, and, a smoke test with a smoking incense to see if it pulls the smoke in any where

 

Well I did a few checks today and all the gaskets are sealed good. I checked the door adjustment as well as the dollar bill test around all the gaskets and they all pass. Inspecting the ash pan door and didn't find anything there either.

 

I'm wondering now if it might be a problem with the air control. I might check that out a little more

 

I think that is the next step HD is to do a smoke test and see if I get any pulling around the stove

 

Just a thought here but I'm wondering if it could be more from the wood than anything else. I've pretty much only been burning very dry box elder and large chunks of cherry. I've heard box elder almost burns like pine... Very hot and fast. Anyone have any experience burning it? The pieces I'm loading are around 20" splits that are 4-6" round.