Just a quick question on reloading the stove. As the coals burn down to a manageable amount I rake them forward and reload the stove. When you reload do you open the air up a bit to get it going faster or keep the air turned down still?
I’ll usually rearrange the coals like you say add wood then leave the air full throttle till it gets back up to cruising temp again. That being said.... it also depends if I’m putting in two splits to keep the house temp in check or if it’s a full box reload after an all nighter.
Yup, fully open when reloading. The more coals, the sooner you can typically bring down the air. Too many coals, throw a split in there, air wide open to burn the excessive coals down faster to squeeze a bit more wood in.
yep... air wide open when reload to get it burning really good, (leave open about 5 minutes) then adjust air to desired temp.
It all depends on my coal load and weather conditions as to how much air I run off the hop. In the morning I usually leave the air open a bit longer on a cool stove than I would once heat is established and I'm burning in cycles. But I'm one of those guys who believes (and so does my stove) that the quicker you turn down the air (within reason) the quicker the heat builds and stays in the firebox. A flue probe is a great tool. I know at the other place it used to be the dogma to run the stove or stack or both up to 400-500F and then start shutting down the air. Within a few months it was clear to me that wasn't the case, at least with my stove. Thing is, it seems it's a race or bragging rights to go from coals to established fire in record time and say it only smoked for 10 minutes. But what if you actually are forcing more smoke out in a shorter time? If a stove flowed 20 cfm of air a minute (just a number) with the air wide open, and flowed 10 cfm with it throttled back to half, even if the half air setting smoked for twice as long, it still only kicked out the same amount of smoke. Chances are if you did it right, it won't take twice as long, and you actually kicked out less smoke over all.. Again, we're talking setting the air within reason. Too low and obviously it just won't go. But for my stove setting the air back sooner rather than later works fine. I also have a monster draft when the weather is cold. Anyways, just one guys opinion.
Awesome stuff guys thank you so much, just awesome info as usual and I need to adjust. Most reloads I wasn't opening up the air enough and I was smoking way too much. This weekend I did once open it up fully and let it catch quickly and dialed it back, still new at all this and learning!!!! Great Tip!!! Sometime I have a lot of coals gets a little dicey reloading!
Two guys opinion My stove comes up to temp faster at half throttle. I certainly start wide open but once it’s going I drop it back. Keep the heat in the box instead of racing up the flue. Less smoke too. Fireview I had before seemed to like the same methodology. Always a million variables tho. Once the cat is engaged air is set to zero.
Glad to know I'm not the only odd duck to think outside the box! I also find that my chimney stays cleaner, while at the same time, gets dirtier right at the top. I don't even understand this, or maybe with the slower air flow, the smoke has more time to burn up in the box? Who knows.
Depends on the amount of coals I have, hot box and bunch of coals just throw it in. Now if I'm trying to start with just a few coal's I'll open the air up and put some splitter trash on top of the coals. If I open up the air to much it will actually prevent the flame from starting but instead glow hot and billow smoke.
Pretty much what everybody else said Depends on the amount of coals I have. A little while ago I had quite a bit of coals, I spread them out over the entire bottom , Put in 2 splits and left the air Position where it was set , left the door Cracked open 1/4" About a minute to get the wood flaming And then closed door back up , The flames will build , the heat will build , but no need to mess with it After I closed the door.
Some good advice you've got on the draft setting. Of course we always open the draft full before opening the firebox door. It pays to do this and it will depend upon the variables as to how long between opening the draft and when to open the firebox door. For sure if you are getting any smoke or odors out of the door when you reload, opening the draft for a minute or two will take care of that problem as it increases the air flow in the flue and will tend to draw air in the firebox door when it is opened thereby reducing any crap coming out that door. Also for burning coals down, I've always found it works best when the fire gets down to all coals or almost there, that is the time to open the draft full open to burn the coals down. They you usually don't have to mess with putting in a small split or kindling to help the coals burn down. Also there is not as much time gone past before you refill the firebox. This can be important as the air temperature drops outside. For example, if it is zero outdoors, you don't want to be messing around long before filling that stove and getting the heat back up. Hope this makes sense.
My set up doesn't require me to open the Air control before I open the door As long as there's some heat in the stove . Once I crack the door open , It starts sucking air ,Then I open it slow And don't get any Smoke coming out , Once the door is open the air control setting is Irrelevant
Yes, it all depends upon each set up if one needs to do this or not. I started out running stoves that way (about 70 years ago) and most times tend to follow the same as it does no harm.
On our Drolet, we open tje air all the way for about 15-20 minutes. Get a good char on it, then close it down. Secondaries fire up then.
I'd like you to calculate out how many cords of wood you've processed in your lifetime. Or, to make things easier.....
