Yeah the warm spell has been great, I had some time last Saturday to take a walk with my family at 42 degrees I wouldn't doubt it with the squirrels!! Payback for their fallen brethren...
That's really why I wanted to post this, even though I'm embarrassed about it I wanted to be an example to other new burners of how important it is to be thorough and always safety minded.
Wow, you started this thread after I got off the computer and when I get back on there are 4 pages!!! Good words on most of those pages too. I'm betting you have learned a whole bunch with this one Keweenaw. Hoping you don't get too much snow out of this one that is hitting now.
This will definitely cause me to take it all more seriously, but I was blown away with all the support and advise that was provided
EDIT, 100'S of years, with all that this community has read of others an experienced first hand is immense
So today the ceramic blanket that Eric VW so graciously offered arrived at my house, and yesterday the sweet flue thermometer from papadave got here, so I did a little work today
Thanks! It's crazy now that it's working properly, I really need to control the size load I put in. On a full load I'm running about 550 flue temp and the crappy Rutland thermometer on the stove top says 750 ( I'm not sure I believe that) I've got my air closed all the way and its choochin away. I've got an ir temp gun coming monday so I can get a better idea of STT