Ideal Steel Season #2 Tips, Tricks, and Improvements.

freeburn, I may be wrong but I thought for firing off cat (if you have single wall pipe) thermometer should be 8 to 10 inches up exhaust pipe. My stove top thermometer is about centered 4 inches Left or right of chimney pipe. I am waiting til spring to get my condor, tool kit, 2nd ash pan etc. If I am wrong or right for that matter someone please chime in!

 

Yes, the manual says to put it there. I have another rutland thermostat that is actually quite accurate on the pipe. The Woodstock is on the front so I can see it across the basement easier.

 

Yes like free burn said the Manuel says 10" I think I ordered a condor probe for my flu when I ordered my cat probe and double checked the book because anywhere else you read other companies say to put the thermometer 18" off stove I think that's why some people think flu temps are to high because we measure from lower down the pipe if you check with a ir gun up higher big difference

 

How to clean the door on an Ideal Steel stove in under 30 seconds! Really.

So this is the 'before' shot; the glass is not covered in creosote but it has that white haze all over it that is just about impossible to remove, at least while the stove is in use (read: hot).



Less than 30 seconds later, the whole door looks like new:



Notice, this cleaning method is so very excellent, even the paint, handle and handle bolt look new! Amazing, huh?

OK, time to 'fess up, I used a somewhat different method of cleaning than I ever tried before....



I swapped the old door for the new one. The old door is still dirty, the gasket is still [not tight] and it desperately needs a cleaning to remove that nasty haze. But at least I can do it over the laundry sink, at a reasonable pace rather than the high speed jerking movements of a man working in Vulcan's forge. The old door is sitting on my trailer of firewood while it cools (and no, no part of any glass is touching any wood or ice).

Overall, I am a happy camper. New door cost was less than one cord of wood and solves several problems at one time- cleaning the glass, tightening the door handle (if needed) and replacing or re- fastening the gasket (when needed), all while the stove runs.

And I have to give a shout- out to Woodstock yet again on their outstanding customer service, fast response and in all seriousness, the best job of packaging I have ever seen. I really believe the box the new door came in could be thrown off a roof and not bang up the door or break the glass. Kudos to whoever packs the products at Woodstock Soapstone! It is almost worth buying a new woodstove just to see how they pack and crate them- if there was a Nobel prize for outstanding packaging, they should win over and over again.

Brian

 

And not only did they send me a stove, but a fort for my kids to have hours of fun playing in (the box/cover).

 

oh WOW, what a difference good wood makes. I have been burning popular and Elm 18 to 24 % MC since I lit the stove as I loaded just 4 or so cord of shoulder season wood. got about 3/4 cord of 2 to 3 year 16 to 19% MC of sugar maple that I put on last row that I was going to mix with Ash... Well it's currently 10 and going negative over night so I just loaded her full of sugar. STT 625 and climbing air shut down to 0 1/4 was lowest I could burn to ash with and not fight coaling. Winds are 25 to 30 from north west (hey Canadians, please shut the door) stove room is climbing...

 

I haven't had all that much opportunity to try out my new IS. I've noticed that if I engage the cat right when it gets to 250-300 on the Single Wall pipe, the Cat really only fires at 800-900 deg. If I hold out longer and wait for more secondaries, and engage at 300-400 SW pipe, the cat will stay at 6-700 (1200-1400) on the front above the door. Is this what you observe too? I open the ash door briefly to get the coals starting the wood quicker and then when I shut it sometimes I hear a shuttering and see the inferno of flames as the firebox secondaries kick in. Quite a show on this beauty.

Anyone notice their draft lever sticking toward the 3/4 Mark? Mine does that and I'm wondering if that's normal when its new. Seems like the metal sliding plate is getting bound up or something like that.

All other thigs aside, we had 11* last night and wind. Went to bed at 70 in the house with a 1/2 load. Woke up to a house at 70 with plenty of coals. Loaded a 2/3 of mostly Oak/cherry and off she went crusing at 600-650 front surface temp. A guy can really get used to this!

 

freeburn, yes I alway engage bypass between 300 and 325 just seems to work better. I did not use ash pan door. I use second latch on main door where door is open 1/4 inch to help air flow when lighting new fire from cold stove. But after a few months always have enough coals that is not necessary as much anymore... on the plus side I have 5 42 gallon trash can of kindling with this stove appears to by 5 year plan...

 

You could have bent the linkage rod under it lay down and look there is a thin rod that connects the lever to the slide

 

Linkage rod is straight. It seems to stick like there is some kind of grit holding it up inside the slide. I noticed that there is paint scraped off the center of the slide, not sure if that's normal too. See pic.

 

Mine was a little "sticky" at first also. It will smooth out as the lever is used.

 

x2

 

Can any of you check under your stove to see if the primary air slide (front of stove) has paint scraped off like the pic in my post. My slide was bound up to the point where it almost wouldn't move and I noticed wear on the plate almost grooves starting in the metal. Trying to trouble shoot it along with a rep from WS.

 

Mine has no scratches all black.... here's best pic I can get! stove is HOT whole slide area looks same..

 

Same

 

Looks like your rings are shot and the piston's getting scored.

 

Ok, then I have an issue. ..

 

Brand new engine? Hope not!

 

Mine sticks about any where you put it. I just get rough with it once in a while. this summer I will take it apart & smooth it out, should be much better.

 

What's yours look like underneath? Metal scraped off or not?