thought i would share how i start fires in my fireplace. We heat with a wood boiler so i only play with this thing maybe four times a year. Christmas, NYE, and whenever we are getting snowed in. Since fireplaces really suck air out of the house, i especially like to burn when its windy. If cold air is getting pushed into the house it might as well leave up the flu rather then just out the other side of the house. This thing is useless for heating anything besides the dining room it is in anyway. Anyway, the top-down is really nice to get a draft going. While slow to get cranking, i never have an issue getting any smoke in house unless i open the doors up too soon. On the bottom i put large pieces or small rounds that may have more than desirable ammounts of moisture yet. They will start last and burn longest. Across the back i put some oak so there will be hot coals. This needs to be dryer than what is on the bottom in order to keep the fire temperature high to avoid creosote. Then a few pieces of cherry. This lights easy and smells nice just in case i need to open the doors to adjust something while it is catching. The flames get radiating into the room in no time at all with this towards the front. Under a small pile of tinder is a homemade firestarter made of egg carton, chainsaw noodles, and beeswax. I kept this build small so you can see what is going on. And i really got nothing to do tomorrow while its snowing so i am excited to have to add wood. If i pack it really tight i guess i can get 4-5 hours of flames before it is just coals. Never really kept track well of burn times. Its nice for christmas dinner to just light and not have to fuss with it for a while. I will take some pics tomorrow as it gets going.
