Just so we're all on the same page, lets define N/S and E/W. To me, when I say N/S, I think of the splits going from back to front of the box (end grains facing me). E/W the splits go in like left to right (end grains to the sides, bark, whatever facing me). Correct? My firebox is just longer than it is deep which I guess gives me options, but I'm still playing with different configurations. I have found that my super dry red oak from 3 years ago burns MUCH longer than my year old maple no matter how much I cram in it! And less ashes too.
Okay. I loaded the stove up pretty tight tonight with 8 splits and 2 pieces of limb wood. All but one piece is going N/S. One large split in the back is E/W. We shall see how it goes. I got it going well and just cut down the air. Start the clock. I will get up around 4 and see what is left. Edit: not that it matters much, but for my reference in the future. I loaded 3 splits red oak, 3 splits of mulberry, one hickory, one ash split, and 2 ash limb pieces.
N/S Burn tubes. Quadra Fire 4300 stove. I can usually get 7 or 8 nice splits stuffed in there. Usually an 8 hour burn with a good coal bed left in the morning.
Not sure I understand your point, if the wood is dry it's dry, are you saying you think his wood is not dry enough? Edit-The reason I asked is I have not burnt any wet (green) wood for about 40 years so I have no idea how it would effect whether you load the stove N/S or E/W.
My wood is definitely dry enough. I'm well past the 3yr plan. More like the 4 or 5 year plan. The oak I'm burning has been cut and stacked for 4 years. The mulberry probably closer to 5 years. I stacked all N/S last night and didn't notice any real change in my burn time. I loaded te stove at about 10 minutes to 11pm. Let it get started with plenty of air and then cut the air down and closed the damper. When I got up at 430am stove top temps were 200-250* and nothing but coals were left. Outside temps last night were in the single digits. House temperature had dropped to 70* which isn't bad. 5 1/2 hrs of useable heat isn't bad for the old stove. I may look at upgrading in the future, but there is some kitchen remodeling that has to be done first.
Mostly N/S! Uglies, I jam them in till the door closes! I cut everything to 18" so Grandma can take it either way! In the Fishers, I haven't found a "best way" so it's easy just to pack it in N/S.
North South for long burns, big chunks of hard wood, packed tight. Serious heat? X pattern with two or three long splits, pull back the air when it's really rolling the secondaries and cruise until it drops below 450, rinse and repeat to keep it 500-650...burn down the big pile of coals over night.
Running a Lopi 1750 insert with the option of open pipe or secondary tubes. I load straight in from the door, end grain at the door which I assume is N/S? The stove will take almost a 21” split with a little corner to corner action. That said I cut and burn 16-18 for a much better fit so it’s not touching the glass. For a full burn I can usually make two rows and get it in there pretty tightly. There is a small ledge right near the door and I will set the very edge of the bottom row of splits on it to get air underneath. Then stack the second row right on top. If there is a lot of gaps it seems to take off and burn real fast so for longer burns I try to fill it good. Open pipe startup, full air take it to 350ish stt close the bypass firing up the secondaries take it to 5-600 depending on the situation then close the air 85% to roll secondaries and keep the stt at 5-550
When I start my stove cold I'll do e/w with a few n/s and once i get some coals and the stove is warm then n/s all night and I'll get about 8 hrs of good heat
Well there are some stoves that go both ways (not that there's anything wrong with that ) I don't have one. I have 2 N/S stoves. I also have a vertical stove. I'll have to take a pic of it tomorrow. You load it top down or T/D.
Wood in those stoves burn vertical. Just like the splitting preference of some here on this site. Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
Yup! Understood! My buddy has a Intrepid II with the top load so he just loads as it falls. The smaller single door Fishers you can only load N/S. The fire place modles like my Grandma, "double door" can go either way. I have found one issue with loading E/W in the Fishers is if you put a round in and it's on top of a burning pile, it may some time fall and roll against the door while burning. It's no biggie it just put's a puff of smoke in the house sometimes when you open the door.
What kinda stove is that and where do you load it? I see what appears to be the cat in the window... But wouldn't that be two tight to get log around?
Home made, I found the picture on Pinterest, a lot of real nice home made stoves on there, I have no details on the stove.
Fisher grandpa bear, N/S and as tight as I can wedge it in. I do have a fire brick smoke baffle, which makes the fire roll out to the front of the stove before slipping up around the front angle iron. I think it gets a secondary burn there, as it gets a shot of air there
