In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Finally pulled the trigger...

Discussion in 'Modern EPA Stoves and Fireplaces' started by Barcroftb, May 4, 2021.

  1. MAF143

    MAF143

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2018
    Messages:
    1,400
    Likes Received:
    9,458
    Location:
    North Central OH

    You speak truth o' wise one...

    PV solar also...

    COME ON LOTTO!!!!!
     
  2. MAF143

    MAF143

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2018
    Messages:
    1,400
    Likes Received:
    9,458
    Location:
    North Central OH
    I just went down and did a big mid-day load... Now I'm waiting for my alert to come on my phone for my UP TO TEMP so I can run back down and shut down the air for a 5 or 6 hour burn.
     
  3. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    Messages:
    20,438
    Likes Received:
    127,191
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    What kind of a temp monitor do you have?
    What, no wifi controlled actuator?! :hair: ;)
     
  4. MAF143

    MAF143

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2018
    Messages:
    1,400
    Likes Received:
    9,458
    Location:
    North Central OH

    LOL You're way past my pocketbook... Just a simple timer on my phone so I don't walk off and forget the air on the stove is wide open and one of those magnetic thermometers on the stovepipe.

    I would love to add a nice wood furnace to the system that I could load up, punch a button and walk away till tomorrow, but it's not in the budget for now... I'm thinking about a couple actuators on timers for overnite burns, but just haven't gotten around to it yet... I do have some DIY skills, but never seem to find the time...
     
  5. BDF

    BDF

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2014
    Messages:
    2,160
    Likes Received:
    7,531
    Location:
    Virginia
    Very small splits akin to kindling. With a thickness under 2" and small for the entire load of the stove. They burn too fast and too hot and are difficult- to- impossible to throttle, especially in a cat. stove (though this is too small for any stove). Better to use splits between 3 and 5", leaning toward the 5" for general firewood use. A few really 'meaty' splits also go a long way to having a stove go overnight.

    Chopped up, left over lumber is the worst because 1) it is almost always thin (most are 1 1/2" thick), 2) it is pine or Douglas fir at best but still softwood and 3) it is extremely dry. All this conspires to make for a fast, intense fire that is not easily controlled without a number of 'back puffs' which no one likes and are basically bad manners for a wood stove in a building.

    As to the Absolute Steel, supposed to be a nice stove but as I have an Ideal Steel, I cannot help regarding specific draft settings and so forth. More general suggestions but that is about it. I believe there are quite a few A.S. owners by now and probably quite a few on this site so hopefully some will join in with more specific ideas and suggestions.

     
  6. BDF

    BDF

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2014
    Messages:
    2,160
    Likes Received:
    7,531
    Location:
    Virginia
    That is probably right- there is more resin in softwood than hardwood and it is an excellent fuel.

     
  7. Eckie

    Eckie

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2019
    Messages:
    3,059
    Likes Received:
    15,007
    Location:
    Virginia
    Ok, thank you for clarifying. As for members with an AS, I have a list of who to bug when I really start with the questions. And I try to read all the AS threads.
     
  8. BDF

    BDF

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2014
    Messages:
    2,160
    Likes Received:
    7,531
    Location:
    Virginia
    Got the new glasses and am sorta' side- stepping as the world warps, ebbs and flows before my eyes! But seriously, they are actually working quite well- they are transition lenses so I am getting used to tipping my head up and down to find the best focus but really that takes very little time and works surprisingly well. I was using three sets of reading glasses (one for ~20 inches, one for ~10 inches and another for ~6 inches) which I was always swapping when doing some tasks such as reloading. But with these bad boys, I can tip my head slightly and find the 'right' spot in the lens transition. Not sure if I look any better with them but others seem to look better at least sometimes. :rofl: :lol:

     
  9. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    43,285
    Likes Received:
    267,912
    Location:
    Central MI
    I tried transitions once and hated them. No doubt I would hate them even more now since changing the mechanics in my neck because having to constantly move your head to be able to see clearly would put me down fast. it is much easier on the neck to move your eyes than to turn or bob your head.
     
    MAF143, Barcroftb and brenndatomu like this.
  10. BDF

    BDF

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2014
    Messages:
    2,160
    Likes Received:
    7,531
    Location:
    Virginia
    OPPS and OFFTOPIC: I said transition lenses when I really meant progressive. My glasses are also transition lenses (darken when outside) but it is the progressive part (different focus lengths along the center of the lens) that we were speaking about.
     
    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  11. Dave_in_abq

    Dave_in_abq

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2021
    Messages:
    219
    Likes Received:
    1,039
    Location:
    New Mexico
    I didn't know pine trees had cookies. This could change things.
    .
    More cookies perhaps?
     
    Backwoods Savage and Eckie like this.
  12. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    43,285
    Likes Received:
    267,912
    Location:
    Central MI
    I figured that is what you meant.
     
  13. MAF143

    MAF143

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2018
    Messages:
    1,400
    Likes Received:
    9,458
    Location:
    North Central OH

    Me likes cookies!

    :drool:
     
    oldspark, brenndatomu and Barcroftb like this.
  14. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2013
    Messages:
    16,048
    Likes Received:
    95,626
    Location:
    Hollidaysburg Pa
    Hey Brad!
    How's the wood consumption looking?
     
  15. Barcroftb

    Barcroftb

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Messages:
    2,877
    Likes Received:
    16,430
    Location:
    The Mitten
    My ears musta been burning. I was just thinking about this today as I was splitting some wood. I think I will be at around 4-4.5 cord. That’s down from my average of 5.5-6 cord. So at minimum a full cord and possibly more if March is mild. Next year I’ll be able to get away with burning much more box elder, cottonwood, pine, insert shoulder season wood of choice here: ________…
     
  16. Oldhippie

    Oldhippie

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    2,232
    Likes Received:
    6,264
    Location:
    Ashby Ma
    That is ONE AWESOME pic!
     
    Barcroftb likes this.
  17. Oldhippie

    Oldhippie

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    2,232
    Likes Received:
    6,264
    Location:
    Ashby Ma
    Regarding the whole thing with the coals and using a small hole/intake for air through the ash door/grate. I'm convinced that some of the design features of the off-the-shelf product are driven by EPA mandates and zero-emission goals. Mods like the hole in the ash door are the equivalent of the huge$$ aftermarket for Harley-Davidson (and other brands too) for increased air/fuel intake/exhaust/fuel for increased performance. Turns out the bikes run cooler/stronger/louder with these mods. (when done right) Also reminds me of the mods done to many of your chainsaws to beef up the performance.

    I haven't needed to do it with the AS, but I would probably not need to keep the door open quite as much on cold-start if I did.