I believe its because its off gassing to fast over riding my baffles ability to reburn the smoke. Thats all I have as an explanation.
I know that's the case. If I stuffed my stove full of lighter pine , or fat lighter, whatever your local term is, my stove will go nuclear and look like I am burning diesel fuel or tires in that thing. I could damp it down and put it out but it will burn sooty and dirty no matter what.
Wierd, I light my stove, granted not a lot with the IS, with scraps from furniture maker, kiln dried, about 7% mc.. where I live next to the lake that is dry! raw wood cherry black walnut and maple all they make furniture from. after kindling I get pieces with cut off like dimensional lumber, yes it burns fast, and HOT stove is wide open... I'm getting it going cold start.. no black on window glass or chimney..
Well VT you may not have enough of that kindling to make it happen. I have seen the secondaries go crazy with some really dry wood but never went outside to see if there was smoke coming out of the chimney. I do think wood can be too dry but the key is you hardly ever see it, I very rarely have it happen.
