This is the first chance I’ve had to post on my F500 Oslo break in and initial usage. Before starting my stove, I searched a few other previous posts each asking questions about the new stove break in fires and operation, so I’ll try and summarize from my recent experience.
I saw several previous questions asking if all three required fires could be done the same day. I will say no, unless you are going do it in straight 24 hour cycle. This is a big cast iron stove and it took a while to slowly get it up to temperature, easily 35-45 minutes, and have it burn for an hour. You do not want to bring the first fire up very fast, or the second, and get a roaring blaze going. You can do that later. Remember, the stove does not just shut off after the recommended hour at temp, it takes it a while burn out and cool back to room temperature. So you have to work that into the time factor.I did the first (200 degree) burn one evening, but I did do the next two break-in fires the same day. I started the second (300 degree) fire early one Saturday morning, let the stove cool to room temperature as required, then started the third (400 degree) fire later that evening after dinner.
Smoke and smell? Well, it helps if you could open a few windows when you do this. The little bit of smoke along with the smell coming off the new stove as it heats is not too pleasant. I had a few smoke/fire detectors go off with the first fire, a few more with the second and five out of six with the last. Please remember if you disconnect any of them while you are doing this, hook them back up when it clears. I did follow my third break in with another fire the next day, letting it burn a longer between 400-450. I still had a smoke/fire detector go off, and some smell, but after this neither has been an issue. So just expect to have both for a short while.
One recommendation is get a good stove thermometer, don’t know what that is, but that’s another subject. The first new one I used seemed a bit slow at the low range. I put another one on the stove, it reacted a little better. Put a third one on and you guessed it, the Goldie Locks and the three bears story, high, low and in-between. They all eventually were within the burn range I was looking for so if you are OK looking for a range of operational temperatures, but not necessarily knowing the exact stove temperature this should be fine.
For me this stove replaced a 20+ year old Jotul F3, so although they are a little similar there are differences. This is a huge fire box, I almost felt I could build a bonfire in there, it’s nice. The stove does take a little longer than the old F3 to get up to temperature but when there is a nice coal bed established, and it’s loaded up, it puts out some serious heat. I have the stove in the lower level of a split level ranch and was able to keep all the other interior room door wide open. Last weekend with it being @36 degrees outside, my upstairs living room was 78, I was burning the stove mostly in the 400-450 range, 500 max. It will be so nice when the weather does get colder.
I have been burning stoves for over 30 years, this is my 3rd, and still have to learn this stoves’ characteristics. Look at the new stove break in fires as a “get to know your new stove†opportunity. I’m sure I will have a few operational questions as I use this more. I just wanted to post this and hope it helps someone searching for some info.
I saw several previous questions asking if all three required fires could be done the same day. I will say no, unless you are going do it in straight 24 hour cycle. This is a big cast iron stove and it took a while to slowly get it up to temperature, easily 35-45 minutes, and have it burn for an hour. You do not want to bring the first fire up very fast, or the second, and get a roaring blaze going. You can do that later. Remember, the stove does not just shut off after the recommended hour at temp, it takes it a while burn out and cool back to room temperature. So you have to work that into the time factor.I did the first (200 degree) burn one evening, but I did do the next two break-in fires the same day. I started the second (300 degree) fire early one Saturday morning, let the stove cool to room temperature as required, then started the third (400 degree) fire later that evening after dinner.
Smoke and smell? Well, it helps if you could open a few windows when you do this. The little bit of smoke along with the smell coming off the new stove as it heats is not too pleasant. I had a few smoke/fire detectors go off with the first fire, a few more with the second and five out of six with the last. Please remember if you disconnect any of them while you are doing this, hook them back up when it clears. I did follow my third break in with another fire the next day, letting it burn a longer between 400-450. I still had a smoke/fire detector go off, and some smell, but after this neither has been an issue. So just expect to have both for a short while.
One recommendation is get a good stove thermometer, don’t know what that is, but that’s another subject. The first new one I used seemed a bit slow at the low range. I put another one on the stove, it reacted a little better. Put a third one on and you guessed it, the Goldie Locks and the three bears story, high, low and in-between. They all eventually were within the burn range I was looking for so if you are OK looking for a range of operational temperatures, but not necessarily knowing the exact stove temperature this should be fine.
For me this stove replaced a 20+ year old Jotul F3, so although they are a little similar there are differences. This is a huge fire box, I almost felt I could build a bonfire in there, it’s nice. The stove does take a little longer than the old F3 to get up to temperature but when there is a nice coal bed established, and it’s loaded up, it puts out some serious heat. I have the stove in the lower level of a split level ranch and was able to keep all the other interior room door wide open. Last weekend with it being @36 degrees outside, my upstairs living room was 78, I was burning the stove mostly in the 400-450 range, 500 max. It will be so nice when the weather does get colder.
I have been burning stoves for over 30 years, this is my 3rd, and still have to learn this stoves’ characteristics. Look at the new stove break in fires as a “get to know your new stove†opportunity. I’m sure I will have a few operational questions as I use this more. I just wanted to post this and hope it helps someone searching for some info.
