any body use a moisture meter to check the water in your firewood I like it to be 15 percent to 20 per cent
Have nothing against them except that many will use but really do not know the proper way to use them. As for me, I've burned wood for longer than most on this forum have lived on this planet and just never saw a need for them. Get on the 3 year plan and forget about being concerned about how much moisture your wood has. Just burn the oldest wood first. For those who have not tried it yet, you will be amazed at how much better the stove operates and how much more heat you get from the wood.
Backwoods you are so right. For any newbies or lurkers: Especially with the secondary air stoves as I have never owned a CAT stove, the main concept of operation is the firebox is insulated to build the heat up to a level that secondary actions starts. Secondary flames is the burning of smoke that would usually just go up the flue in older stoves. Moisture in the wood makes it harder to build the heat to a level to start secondary action and I suspect the Moisture also degrades secondary action once you do get it too start. I have noticed a difference in my wood when its in the upper acceptable range of 20% moisture content and when I am using wood that is at like 15%. The 15% moisture wood performs at a higher level. You can feel the extra heat coming off the stove as more of the smoke gases are being used for heat. Smoke gases burning puts off much more heat than just burning wood heat only. Some people have insulated their stoves extra to try and make it easier to build and maintain higher levels of heat in the the firebox to get better secondary action at their lowest input air settings on their stoves. I do think there is a trade off as you still want the heat to radiate out the stove. But most the heat is meant to radiate out the front of the stove and the top plate.
It took me awhile to figure this wood burning thing out! I have heated with wood now for the last 18 years. The difference in seasoned a couple years is amazing. I would of never believed it until I got far enough ahead to try it. My 3 year old red and white oak leaves very fine "fly" ash in the stove, complete burn, no clunkers. The heat output is way different also. I burn in a 1975 Vermont castings Defiant, not the most efficient compared to todays stoves, so the dry wood makes all the difference.
If you buy wood instead of cutting your own I would recommend getting one. To many guys cut in March and say it is seasoned by October and sell it at a premium price.
March if we're lucky! Try September, or even earlier in October. And yes the difference with the seasoned wood is pretty awesome!
Huntingdog, this is one of the many truths on this forum! Some overthink it, discuss ported saws, best chimney designs and etc., the 'old timer' no offense sir, you stated you been burning longer than most of us been alive.. just gets it done! with an old splitter in vertical. When I first joined I considered changing existing chimney that's a thru wall, to an interior because it's supposed to be better than I saw Dennis had thru wall so I didnt.. My town fire marshal stops by every few years and looks at my chimney and talks. he is retired now and he says he likes to check on people that burn wood and don't mind. I give him coffee and he makes suggestions. He told me the reason to go straight is better draft. his draft probe on a regular March day showed I have great draft almost too high.. so I learn from the older and wiser cause I won't live long enough to make all mistakes myself! So I got my new moisture meter and will use it til I am in 3 year plan steady..
And your town marshal is right! Every time you have a bend in the pipe, you lose a bit of draft. The old rule of thumb is that for every 90 degree elbow, subtract 3' of height. In other words, if you have a 15' chimney which most recommend as the shortest but have two 90 degree bends, your chimney is effectively only 9' high! I think perhaps that 3' should be closer to 2' but the point is the same. And thank you VT man. Absolutely no offense taken either.
