I get rips ranging in size up to 3/4 by 3/4 when I'm doing the lumber cutoffs collecting thing. I do the layout similar to what you described with paper in the middle. Light it and put a pine cutoff on top. When it collapses throw on some wood.
I just lay several medium splits north south and parallel in the bottom with a few more stacked on top also north south. Squirt a little flame between the bottom splits with the propane torch for about 30 seconds and close the door. Pretty much instant fire and very little smoke. That is for a small fire in shoulder season. For a cold start in cold weather, same thing, except I stuff the firebox full of splits. Let her rip for about 10 minutes and the shut the air down and let the secondaries take over. NC 30 stove and 25’ chimney straight up.
I’m no member of the intelligentsia. I’m afraid my 12th grade education limits me from playing that kind of 4-D chess
North or South of the equator? Or just light one top and one bottom for the Dorothy/Kansas cyclone effect.
