East/West and North/South loading.

My father in law used to have a small pot bellied type stove… remove small lid on top and drop on the wood… burned just fine .

 

Our Ideal Steel starts quick but burns long with a hybrid of N/S and E/W. The bottom layer is 6” NS (max 17” long) then on top is E.W. layer up to 20” long, thinner to the rear growing fatter toward the front. “Works fine, lasts a long time”.

 

How many pieces of wood do you put in?

 

Four n/s on bottom, three e/w on top.

 

Gonna have to try that in my IS.

 

My insert is small so there are times I want to get as much fuel in as possible. Wood cut shorter will dry faster and split easier too.
You could just cut a portion of your supply at 13" and use it when you need the stove at its fullest. NS under a row of EW would stretch that supply even further.

 

True. I never loaded my stove (any of them) N/S and E/W at the same time (except at start up)... I was always under the thinking that it would allow for too much air flow during a regular burn

 

Bump for NewYorkNewJack

 

Both of my stoves are N/S designed stoves.

I have an old one in the garage that is coal/wood vertical/top load. Similar to a Warm Morning but made by/for (I think) Sears.

 

I’ve tried both ways many times in my F45 and N/S works best for me.

 

Very thoughtful.

 

I just started loading e/w this winter after only loading n/s.

For whatever reason, my burns times have increased and no more back puffs when I close the air too much.

I'm guessing because the burn is slower and less smoke is being produced so the stove doesn't fill with smoke and ignite causing a back puff.

It is always amazing what little adjust do. Part of the fun I suppose.

 

This season so far, I’ve loaded the back of my 25” (n/s) firebox with splits oriented N/S, then put 2 splits E/W in front. This seems to block incoming air until those 2 fronts are burned, then allows it to flow to the rear most splits and acts similar to opening the vent a bit later in the night. I’ve only been able to do this since I have 18” splits. Next year I’ll get into the wood cut 24” specifically for this stove.