First Fire In New Stove Guidelines Please

That is very true. But I must've missed the meeting that put you in charge of these maters. I shall shape up & get in line now.

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY YOOPER!

 

You should simply stop with the oven thermometer. Its giving you completely unusable data. It is intended to be IN the oven, not on an oven. Using it on top is like trying to weigh a cricket with a livestock scale, just the wrong tool for the job.

 

OK, what thermometer should I get for the stove top? I will see about ordering one this afternoon.

 

I prefer the Condar Inferno, the fact that it reads degrees and has the colored scale is nice and easy, yet providing data and a guide.

Stove top thermometers

 

I'll second the condar, great value & they work. Imerials & rutlands are junk. There are better ones out there but they're pricey.

You could also look at getting an ir type instead.

 

The one you were gifted will work just fine in either place, be it the stove top or stove pipe. Yes, I know it says it's for a stovepipe, but it can do both so that doesn't mean you can't use it on the stovetop. I have mine placed a couple of inches in front of the stove pipe (double walled) and about in the center of the stove. When it reaches 500 degrees I finish closing the door as it's ready to roll. I start with the door cracked about a half inch and once the flames have pretty much taken over the wood, I close the door to about 2 to 3mm to bring the stove up to the 500 degrees.

I have used an infra red thermometer about an inch above the hinge side of the door. That reading was 335 degrees, the stove pipe which was read a moment later was at 300 degrees, while the stove top was at 500 degrees. That was all using the infrared thermometer which verified the thermometer on the stove top.

I also don't fiddle with the damper and usually keep it about 1/8th of the way open. More if I want to get rid of excess coals. So when I close the door, it's set to go. Then I can go to bed or do whatever. That is all over the course of about 15 minutes.

But if you feel your thermometer isn't up to the task, the one I'm using is the Condar Medallion (because it's black with real gold) It has remained accurate through several years of use so far.

 

I found this on Amazon, direct from the manufacturer for only 99 cents shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Condar-330-In...1456339108&sr=8-2&keywords=condor+thermometer

 

Thats the one, knowing both temps at once is helpfull. It lets you monitor better. Also, avoid running with the door open more than necessary. Use the draft wide open once the pipe is hot enough to draft well. The stove preheats the combustion air as it comes in. This helps keep the glass clean and helps keep the stack hot. A hot stack is a happy stack, less creosote.

 

Here's the exact one I use ($27.95 with free shipping):
http://www.amazon.com/Thermometer-3...1456340446&sr=8-4&keywords=condar+thermometer

 

Those are nice,but not typical. Most thermometers i've seen are market for one or the other, pipe or stove top.

 

The junky rutland ones are confusing as its a hybridish thing without saying what its calibrated for as far as burn zone, pipe or top....

 

Now you're talking!!!

 

Thank you; yes I saw that and it is pretty with the gold. It was free shipping on orders over $49; however, that is not important. I think I will save the $8.00 and get the inferno model; yes, saving $8.00 is important as that money can go towards petrol or other necessities.

Side note: weather just got crazy here; outside temp went up fast, bad thunderstorms and they say for us to watch out for tornadoes. It was cool this morning now I have the doors open to cool the house off LOL.

 

That's the second time Amazon raised the Free Shipping rate. At one time it was $25 to qualify, then it went to $35 to qualify, and now $49? Add to it the fact that they drag their feet on orders that qualify for free shipping (anywhere from 8 to 12 days) unless you pay whatever for the "Prime" membership fee. However, often times there are other vendors listed that will ship for less of free without having to use Amazon's free shipping thing or prime. Ive ordered from China through Amazon, and received the items from that order in half the time it took Amazon with the free shipping to arrive. I'm to the point of taking my business elsewhere.

The sun is shinning here too. The outside temperature is at 58 degrees, but more rain is coming a bit later. A flash flood warning has also been issued. We had some pretty healthy winds kick up for a while too. This time of year the current weather patterns are about normal, at least where I live.

 

Prime rocks, annual fee covers prime streaming. And then the free shipping rocks.

 

Kimberly,

I've deliberately not posted in this thread for fear of being "moderated"!! I tend to say it like it is come "hell or high-water"!!! What I think you are battling is poor draft (chimney height issue), marginal wood (black glass and poor fires), and ignorance (how to run a modern EPA stove).

Everyone here is trying to help you. Dexter and Yooper have given you the best information (IMHO) that anyone can here..........................after reading this whole thread; you seem reluctant to want to accept certain input from some very knowledgeable folks here.

This is my 4th year burning.................I had mucho black glass the first year with 8 month CSS ash, box elder, and silver maple. My second year was much better.......................way less black glass burning they same type of wood, only seasoned longer.

Last year and this year............................2+ years ahead on wood.......................no black glass.........................fires take off from minimal coals.......................and until the weather drops below 10*F, my house is easily heated with my 13NC.......................although I wish I had my burn time from the unit.

Black glass=wet burning wood!!!!

Take a shot of bourbon.....................maybe 2...........................extend your chimney at least 3 feet.....................get your wood supply properly seasoned...............................possible add an OAK.....................................and get back to us next year after you've gotten all the "MARGINAL VARIABLES" taken out of the situation!!!

Just saying, not arguing!!

 

Prime may be okay for those who want to take full advantage of it, but for me it's not worth it since I wouldn't. Remember, I'm a cheap azzz and I won't pay for something that I won't seriously benefit from. I don't really watch television and only rarely watch a movie. I occasionally catch a few minutes of the old Gunsmoke in black and white (because I think Festus is a hottie ) so their streaming wouldn't do a thing for me.

 

Reported.

 

Exact same one I use , 2 yrs still accurate

 

I found a piece of 2x4 that was cut out of the wall when I installed the chimney (still have not posted that thread yet). So I decided to use it and a piece of the poplar and do a comparison. The moisture meter I have is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Mudder-WM-01-Moisture-Percentage-Furniture/dp/B00R0WRBO4/ref=pd_sim_469_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=415SuZVsDGL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=1771W9CJ7BTY6X4RMC16

There is a setting for wood type. For the 2x4 I set it on pine and for the poplar on poplar.







I have no way of knowing about the meter. As I said, I guess I could see what a 1 meg ohm resister reads. I just did a palm test while typing this and it read 27.2.

Note: that piece of 2x4 was sitting in the shed so it would have absorb moisture through humidity since we have had some rains the last few days. It is dry in the shed but exposed to the air.