So,..who is a fan of E/W loading, vs, N/S?

I myself, in the BKK, like N/S. It's just easier to load and fit certain splits. Plus, they seem to burn from center-out in a more 'expected' fashion. But, two splits N/S on the edges of the coal bed, with the remainder loaded E/W seem to burn a bit longer. So......who likes what?
Your stove style should be considered.
Thanks, JB (WS, you asked...)

 

N/S works best for me.

 

n/s for me.

 

N/S for me. BKK
Light & get to temp faster, like you said, easier to get a full load,
I throw a small piece in with birch bark, E/W , in font of the N/S ends to get it burning good, if doing a cool or cold start.
Just loaded, took off good. (no E/W kindling piece in front needed) Birch.

 

On the two VC stoves it is strictly e/w loading.

On the 30, I do both. But when I pack it full and tight, I e/w load the stove, slide everything to the right side of the fire box and then n/s load when fits on the left side of the firebox. This give me the longest burn.

 

N/S on a front load, E/W on a side load.

 

Same here for my 30. Coals forward with a trench in the middle (tunnel of love)* for the doghouse air then E/W load, back splits on no coals, this is for an ovrenight/long burn with no attention. If I'm farting around the house all day then it is usually N/S and I check it every few hours. I have not tried all the coals to one side with a N/S load, what is the advantage there?

*not trying to take credit for the "tunnel of love", don't remember who started that on the other forum, but a great description.

 

I do not slide the coals over. Just all of the e/w splits are over to the right side, tightly packed. Coals are to the front. No tunnel when I do a tightly packed stove.

 

NS is working awesome in our new Ideal Steel stove and has quickly become our favorite and easiest method. We had a stack of splits that were very long that we are finally using up on an occasional EW loading too. Nice to be able to use them up in this 22" wide firebox. They were just too hard to fit into the Fireview and I never got around to cutting them down.

 

I load n/s when firing up, but then e/w to maintain.
Bogydave - do you put that much wood in your stove? I think if I loaded mine that much my stove would melt. Seriously, my thermo is in the danger zone with half that much but could be my stove.

 

N/S unless it doesn't fit

 

EW for me and I love it but I also dont have much of a choice unless I cut my wood really short

 

Eight inches ten might fit but that would be tough to load. The Fireview is a side loader so its pretty much strictly EW which was a little hard for me to get used to when I first got it but now Im used to it and its not so bad.

 

Had some long fellows laying around by the wood box so I loaded the night burn last night with an e/w load. Tryed the different things that some on here talk about, tunnel up the middle, pull the coals forward and put a big split to the back on no coals. Took a little longer to get up to cruising speed but after it hit cruise, she was rockin. Cat eventually climbed to the verge of Hades, just over 1800 and the stove 650 heading toward 700. Settled in then at 1700 and 650....this morning I had a large chunk of the back log to pull forward and burn down before I could load again. Did I tell you how much I like this new stove.

 

Big stoves are a lot of fun, aren't they?

 

I load the High Valley N/S with about 16" splits.You I think can squeeze a 17" er in the corners but that's it. Its a big steel stove that 3.5cuft with a bay window. A lot like a buck 91. Cause of them bay you have to load shorter pieces in the sides when N/S. But center can take 18" easy N/S. If loading e/w I can fit 22"ers I think? So I just aim to cut 16" and the long ones go in middle that I have.But loading consistent 16" splits allows for up to 4 real shorties loaded e/w in front for a real full load. Also one split can be put e/w on the top in the back as their is more height back there, but less in the front cause of the cat housing. Look at this pic close, you can see the back split I talk about. It takes welding gloves and a poker and fanageling to get it in place and planning.