2012-2013 Blaze King Performance Thread(everything BK)

[jeff_t]

On the Princess Ultra, does anyone notice that burn times really suffer when its windy outside? And also does your stove burn right down to ashes each time, or do you end up with a big pile of dormant coals? Im trying to burn a bit hotter as iam wonder if running my fans on low all the time is cooling the stove too much, causing all the coals and the lousy burn times. I need to run the fans to circulate the heat in my large house tho.

Iv had nothing but problems with this unit, poor service and no dealer help at all. He wouldnt even return my phone calls! I Had to change the thermostat by myself and troubleshoot why it was overfiring on me. Found the bypass plate very loose causing way too much draft, and my door was slightly loose. Then when i changed the thermo i found it half ass sealed causing the air whistle noise that was very annoying and explaning why it would still take off on me when the damper was shut. Now after i changed out the thermo (all sealed up now), and snugged everything up it works all together different.

My setup definitely drafts harder in windy conditions. Kinda self-regulating, I guess, because I need more heat at those times. As for the fans, I can't really tell. If I'm running them, I need more heat and I am burning the stove hotter.

I pretty much burn down to ash. A few really small pieces of charcoal, maybe. This is where really dry wood comes to play.

I have found the Blaze King dealer network to pretty much suck. The dealer where I bought my stove is clueless. When I was trying to order parts for a used stove, it took a few more tries to find a dealer who would even try to help me. I did find one about an hour and a half away that seems really good. I know where to call the next time, and the first three will never hear from me again.

 

[jtb51b]

Well the new cat is in and I was able to burn it one night before it warmed up too much to burn at all.. Man what a difference. The stove was back to the way it started its life. Held 450-500 degrees on the stove top with ZERO flames, cat was glowing away during the first serveral hours and the wood burned all the way down with no unused coaling.. I am going to get up with BK now and see what they have to say.. I went ahead and ordered the double wall stove pipe tonight, and will be doing away with the 90* elbow and opting for a pair of 45's with a 6" section between them. This should really improve my draft, and hopefully make the shoulder season a little easier (we have a LONG one!).. I will let you guys know how it works out, but for now it seems all is well.. I sure am glad, I was getting very dissapointed.

Jason

 

[Skidooer]

"Jeff T"
Thanks, i will try burning a bit hotter tonight and maybe it will help out. I have talked to a few other dealers that may be able to help me out. Its just frustrating when you pay thousands for a stove and no one is willing to come look at it to back up their product. Total BS!

 

[Highbeam]

On the Princess Ultra, does anyone notice that burn times really suffer when its windy outside? And also does your stove burn right down to ashes each time, or do you end up with a big pile of dormant coals?

Burn times are only reduced as necessary to keep the house warm when the wind is blowing. The cool thing about the thermostat is that it opens to keep the stove warm. So while I get a lower burn time the fuel is not wasted since the room temp is not too hot.

Each time the fuel burns down to ash. Leftover chunks are a sign of wet wood.

 

[weatherguy]

Thanks for the advice. The junk that grows on Blaze King glass is special, it is real thick creosote and nothing that ammonia or the rutland glass cleaner can touch. I've been using the same blade and notice the degradation as it dulls. I will toss the blade and use new sooner. The blade method is the best if not the only way to clean this gunk.

So has anybody ever scratched their ceramic stove glass using the blade method?

Ive always been able to get it off with a little bit of ashes on a wet paper towel. Maybe I dont run it on low long enough to build up the impressive goop you guys seem to get. I always give it a good cleaning right before its going to be cold for awhile, that way it stays sparkling clean for a long time.

 

[TX-L]

I want to be able to use the top for cooking during power outages

Comanche,

The Ultra model has a convection deck on the stovetop; the Parlor model does not. There is plenty of room for a couple of pots/pans directly on the stovetop of a King Parlor.

 

[ohlongarm]

When using that blade, 1st spray with glass cleaner, slide the blade in one direction, do not scrape back and forth, use the blade once and throw it away. They dull and get burrs which will scratch the ceramic. I've owned a glass shop for the last 23 years. Ken

Amen,the only way to clean the glass,takes all of a minute your advice is 100% on the money,I spray my glass with Imperial clear flame cleaner,let it soak 2 to 3 minutes scrape with the razor glass cleans up perfectly,do not spray cleaner on hot glass.

 

[Todd]

Just cleaned the ashes out after about 2 weeks of 24/7 burning, probably could of gone another week but it seems to just burn forever with all that ash and the coals build up on me too much. Cleaned the glass as well even though it didn't really need it except for the lower corners. Glass cleaner and paper towel took care of it. Burning at #2 with 12 hour reloads keeps the glass just as clean as any other stove I've burned, it's only when I get a little below #2 the glass blackens up and I can put up with it during the shoulder seasons.

 

[nellraq]

Just cleaned the ashes out after about 2 weeks of 24/7 burning, probably could of gone another week but it seems to just burn forever with all that ash and the coals build up on me too much. Cleaned the glass as well even though it didn't really need it except for the lower corners. Glass cleaner and paper towel took care of it. Burning at #2 with 12 hour reloads keeps the glass just as clean as any other stove I've burned, it's only when I get a little below #2 the glass blackens up and I can put up with it during the shoulder seasons.

Burning at #2 with 12 hour reloads

Hi Todd,

Are you putting a full load in every 12 hours?...or a 1/2 load? What are your overnight outside temps at when doing this?

In the Chinook a full load is usually 11 splits. I've been loading every 12 hours with 6 splits with tsat at about 1.75.
It's working well... my outside (overnight) temps have varied between -2C and -9C (around 16F)

 

[Machria]

In the Chinook a full load is usually 11 splits. I've been loading every 12 hours with 6 splits with tsat at about 1.75.
It's working well... my outside (overnight) temps have varied between -2C and -9C (around 16F)

We need PICs of the Chinook please! Pics of it installed, pics of it loaded, pics with the door open, door closed. PICS!

I like the look of that unit, but there was no feedback on it...

 

[Todd]

Hi Todd,

Are you putting a full load in every 12 hours?...or a 1/2 load? What are your overnight outside temps at when doing this?

In the Chinook a full load is usually 11 splits. I've been loading every 12 hours with 6 splits with tsat at about 1.75.
It's working well... my outside (overnight) temps have varied between -2C and -9C (around 16F)

It's around 3/4 load. Outside temps have been 20-30'sF for highs. If I did full loads at #2 it will burn for 16+ hours.

 

[nellraq]

We need PICs of the Chinook please! Pics of it installed, pics of it loaded, pics with the door open, door closed. PICS!

I like the look of that unit, but there was no feedback on it...

There are a few pics on a thread called "New Chinook" -around Nov. 15.

the Chinook will get a rest for 2 - 3 weeks as I head out today in search of warmer weather--ie. Mexico!!
Will get some pics together when I get back; together with a preliminary report on the Chinook - first impressions, how I burn it, what it heats, etc.
If I can steal away my brother's computer in Mexico I will log in to Hearth.com and get "a fix" --I'm definitely addicted

Happy Holidays to all of you!

 

[PapaDave]

nellraq, have fun down there, just be careful.
Looking forward to the report.

 

[nate379]

Was -24* this morning. Held the house at nearly 80* (whoops!) with stove running at 1.5.

 

[PapaDave]

Jeez nate, why do you even bother having a stove.......your house must be extremely well insulated and built.

 

[HotCoals]

Jeez nate, why do you even bother having a stove.......your house must be extremely well insulated and built.

Prolly 30' underground..lol.

 

[pete97]

I have a blaze king princess insert that is 2.5 yrs old. Burn well seasoned wood. Have noticed this year that when I turn the fan on low that the CAT cools significantly to the point where it is almost out of the active zone. Anyone have any suggestions why it is doing this ? Thanks Pete

 

[rdust]

Our temps are still in the 30's at night and 40's or near for daytime highs so I'm back to 24 hour loads. After about 18-20 hours the stove top is just below 300* and the house starts cooling when the sun goes down. I pull the wood on the left side into the middle and turn up the stat and that usually gets me another 4 hours or so.

I hope winter shows up at some point I'd like to start burning some of this wood that I have. I may have to find a family in need to donate some to.

 

[rdust]

The load tonight went together so well I figured I'd take a picture.

 

[Beetle-Kill]

The load tonight went together so well I figured I'd take a picture.

After review, calcs. on the Princess box size, picture dimensions vs. physical size of stove, split size, etc., etc.--
Looks good to me! who cares about that 3.34" sq. in. you could have filled.

 

[weatherguy]

The load tonight went together so well I figured I'd take a picture.

Love the perfect load, get one every few nights

 

[weatherguy]

Our temps are still in the 30's at night and 40's or near for daytime highs so I'm back to 24 hour loads. After about 18-20 hours the stove top is just below 300* and the house starts cooling when the sun goes down. I pull the wood on the left side into the middle and turn up the stat and that usually gets me another 4 hours or so.

I hope winter shows up at some point I'd like to start burning some of this wood that I have. I may have to find a family in need to donate some to.

Hang on winters gonna blow in soon and be here awhile.

 

[nate379]

Built to minimum code and not much better. R21 walls, R60 ceiling, R10 on sides and under the slab. (slab is heated... well when the stove isn't running)

Jeez nate, why do you even bother having a stove.......your house must be extremely well insulated and built.

 

[tobaccogrower]

nice load. i havnt loaded mine like that yet. i still like to open it up twice a day. you didnt do a e/w split in the back did ya?

i did my second start in 2 weeks last night. glass needed to be cleaned. no match, just some kindling. anyone know why the wood on the left is always last to burn?

 

[rdust]

After review, calcs. on the Princess box size, picture dimensions vs. physical size of stove, split size, etc., etc.--
Looks good to me! who cares about that 3.34" sq. in. you could have filled.

I'll do better to fill the gaps next time! I like having a bunch of small stuff so I can fill the gaps at the top and to the sides of the cat enclosure. Doesn't make much difference as far as burn times go but I like seeing it packed full!

Love the perfect load, get one every few nights

Yep, that one fell together without even fiddling with it.

Hang on winters gonna blow in soon and be here awhile.

Our 10 day forecast shows a cool off the beginning of the week. Of course that's when I'll be gone visiting family so the furnace will get to run on the coldest days we've had so far this year. Can't say I'm happy about that!

nice load. i havnt loaded mine like that yet. i still like to open it up twice a day. you didnt do a e/w split in the back did ya?

i did my second start in 2 weeks last night. glass needed to be cleaned. no match, just some kindling. anyone know why the wood on the left is always last to burn?

No, I've never done the e/w split in the back, I even out the floor with the ash before I load. I push the ash to the back and pull the coals to the front, this levels it out pretty good.

I figure the left side being left is just the way the air flow moves through the stove. I really never though about it much past that. Sometimes I have wood left on the right side, but most the time it's the left side. It's odd but the stove performs so well I can easily look past it.