The end of the monstrous burn.

rdust said:

I think Solar on a high burn can torch a load in 12 hours!

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Tell you what, torching 100 pounds in 12 hours in your living room puts some heat in your house. That is about as high as I can run the stove before turning it up increases the burn but not the stove top temp. Kind of demoralizing as well as you are talking about close to 1/2 a cord of the good stuff a week at that rate. Makes one think of spray foam and interior storms

SolarAndWood said:

rdust said:

I think Solar on a high burn can torch a load in 12 hours!

Click to expand...

Tell you what, torching 100 pounds in 12 hours in your living room puts some heat in your house. That is about as high as I can run the stove before turning it up increases the burn but not the stove top temp. Kind of demoralizing as well as you are talking about close to 1/2 a cord of the good stuff a week at that rate. Makes one think of spray foam and interior storms

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Same with my princess, I never turn the t-stat higher than low except when Im burning off coals. gets plenty hot on low, any higher and its not good for the cat.

To torch 100 pounds in 12 hours, I start at 3.25 with the blowers on high and then increase through the burn opening up all the way at about hour 8 or 9. This generates no flame but rolling secondaries in the top of the box as well as a cat that stays in the upper range even with the blowers on high for max heat transfer. Set and forget with a 100 pound load takes 16 hours min for me even at a relatively high burn and the blowers on high.

I started with an old "slammer", $200 on craigslist. Heated well, then found this forum. Took advice, got rid of slammer. I now have a Jotul C450. My question is when do you turn down the air? What is the method of controlling the fire in your stuffed stove? I'm not a total idiot, I would lesve the air half open until the logs started, then turn it all up. Air control is what it is all about with any stove, and I could use a tutorial.

Scotty Overkill said:

Jags said:

So I am assuming that will be the last load of the season. :lol:

Its a shame that the BK stoves have the same problems as a fully blown V8 race Pacer. It might perform - but the looks....

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:lol: EXACTLY

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What I did Scotty was,.....take a picture of my Napoleon before I took it out and placed it in front of the BK that I have now. Looks was the only purpose it served along with a overheated basement and a ***** wood pile. I do figure that having to go visit a stove every 6 hours to feed it, it should look good for all the attention it requires. Since Ive only visited my basement once or twice a day now I think my newer stove is a BEAUTY.
Haha..LOL teat for Tat. :coolsmirk:

Mr A said:

I started with an old "slammer", $200 on craigslist. Heated well, then found this forum. Took advice, got rid of slammer. I now have a Jotul C450. My question is when do you turn down the air? What is the method of controlling the fire in your stuffed stove? I'm not a total idiot, I would lesve the air half open until the logs started, then turn it all up. Air control is what it is all about with any stove, and I could use a tutorial.

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Start a thread with help in your title and you'll get more responses.

I don't really understand the thought that a Blaze King is ugly. Pretty much looks like most any other stove they sell around here minus the soapstone stoves.
Most everyone that comes over the house comments that it's a nice stove, or something along the lines of making a smart choice going with a BK.

It's hip to say its ugly! For me the Chinook is fine looking. The King and Princess just look like big ole wood stoves to me. After using one, they could look like Oprah with a top hat and I'll still burn it.

Franks said:

After using one, they could look like Oprah with a top hat and I'll still burn it.

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x2! I can't believe I ever did it any other way!

Boot cut thank you very much...

north of 60 said:

Scotty Overkill said:

Jags said:

So I am assuming that will be the last load of the season. :lol:

Its a shame that the BK stoves have the same problems as a fully blown V8 race Pacer. It might perform - but the looks....

Click to expand...

:lol: EXACTLY

Click to expand...

What I did Scotty was,.....take a picture of my Napoleon before I took it out and placed it in front of the BK that I have now. Looks was the only purpose it served along with a overheated basement and a ***** wood pile. I do figure that having to go visit a stove every 6 hours to feed it, it should look good for all the attention it requires. Since Ive only visited my basement once or twice a day now I think my newer stove is a BEAUTY.
Haha..LOL teat for Tat. :coolsmirk:

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since I figured out my draft control wasn't installed correctly from the factory, and made the modification on that, my 1900P has been cruising right along, and I haven't been using nearly as much wood as I used to.....I'm heating almost 2900 square feet SOLELY with that stove, only visiting the basement a couple times a day as well, plus we love the looks of it, and don't have to worry about a CAT. The new baffles that Napoleon came out with are awesome, way better than the originals. I'm happy with the Napoleon, and it will take a HECK of a lot nicer styling for me to put a BK in my house...I just can't get past the fact that they are so damn UGLY...... :lol:

Jags said:

Its a shame that the BK stoves have the same problems as a fully blown V8 race Pacer. It might perform - but the looks....

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Gawd, I almost bought a Pacer back in the 70s. Something about that wide wheel base and the crooked mountain roads I lived on back then, I dunno know now. I do know that, at the the time, I thought they looked pretty cool. My GF at the time thought they were so sexy she said she'd have fallen for me sooner if I had gotten one before she met me. Then again, we both thought that my leisure suit was pretty sexy back then. :shut:


As far as the BK output goes, I have to say I am becoming a convert to the steady heat way of life. Still, I remember the old Jessica Lange film "Frances", where in the end, her character (troubled actress Frances Farmer) gets a lobotomy and describes her life afterward. A fiery and tempestuous young woman turned into a flat but stable personality. She said she no longer had the lows of darkness and despair, nor did she have the manic highs she once had. She said something like, "I'm glad those lows are gone, but I do miss those highs."

Same thing about stoves IMO. Those big cat stoves (and pellet stoves) really heat well and efficiently at a lower but steady heat output, but their personalities have been lobotomized toward achieving that effect. I really miss those 750º highs from the old stove.

And they are FUGLY, no doubt about that. ;-P

Hey guys I'm not knocking anyone who owns a BK, I just don't like the looks of them. When I see a BK stove, this is the image that pops into my head :long:

Scotty Overkill said:

Hey guys I'm not knocking anyone who owns a BK, I just don't like the looks of them. When I see a BK stove, this is the image that pops into my head :long:

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I was never crazy about the looks either but since I got such a great deal on mine I couldnt turn it down, after a while the looks grow on you.

weatherguy said:

I was never crazy about the looks either but since I got such a great deal on mine I couldnt turn it down, after a while the looks grow on you.

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I've said it many times before.....put the Blaze King performance together with 4 1/2' firebox, and make it look like a Woodstock stove.......I'd be all about it. I'm not putting an anglerfish in my kitchen, it will scare the kids!! :vampire:

Yeah there are a few stoves out there that are more "ornamental" but I'm pretty sure most of us on here want to heat the house, not display a decoration.... I'd just buy an "Amish" electric fireplace if that was the case :lol:
(I have birch trim around that pad now too, just can't seem to find that picture right now)

Nate I love your install, you did a great job. But if that stove had some more classy styling, it would really pop. I want looks and performance, not one or the other. So far I am happy (especially since I fixed the draft issue) on my Napoleon, it fits our current needs and it looks really nice. I saw another post today on the forum where BK has a newer stove called the Scirroco (spelling?) that looks really nice, but it is way too small. If they come out with that stove in a 4 cubic foot or bigger firebox, I would definately be having a look at it.

Scotty Overkill said:

and don't have to worry about a CAT. The new baffles that Napoleon came out with are awesome, way better than the originals.

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I'm not directing this toward Scotty in particular, because I keep reading about how a cat is so high maintenance, and the non-cat is no (or very little) maintenance, and I think it is bs. Now, keep in mind, my only real experience is with 2 old pre-epa stoves, and one cat stove.

People are so afraid of a cat, yet the non-cats have maintenance issues of their own, including tubes that need repaired/replaced, baffles that warp, and insulating materials that fall apart. Even my pre-epa stoves needed maintenance and should have had some expensive parts replaced had they been available. I was able to repair what was needed, but had I been the type to just order new parts, then they would have been a significant expense had they been available.

A properly maintained stove takes time to maintain, and sometimes expensive parts to repair/replace regardless as to whether it is a cat or non-cat, steel or cast iron (haven’t had any of those pissing matches lately have we?).

I honestly believe that a cat stove can be run with the same amount of maintenance time (and maintenance costs) as a non-cat should receive. Some of you non-cat owners have been neglecting your stoves.

Another thing, the Blaze King King and Princess are wonderful looking wood stoves, as are the new stove models. Much better looking than most cast iron stoves.

And while I’m at it, there is only one additional step to running a cat stove verses a non-cat, and that is to close the bypass. :snake:

BrotherBart said:

I totally do not understand all of these searing heat stories from non-cat owners. And I am the guy that lives in the tropics.

:coolgrin:

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Ah Ha so You admit it!! ;-P

daleeper said:

the non-cats have maintenance issues of their own, including tubes that need repaired/replaced, baffles that warp, and insulating materials that fall apart.

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Sorry for your misunderstanding. After 5 years and 25 cords of wood stuffed through my stove, the only maintenance requirement has been to sweep the chimney. I would love a cat stove but you are mistaken about maintenance needs of a non-cat.

daleeper said:

I keep reading about how a cat is so high maintenance, and the non-cat is no (or very little) maintenance, and I think it is bs. Now, keep in mind, my only real experience is with 2 old pre-epa stoves, and one cat stove.

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No it's not BS. How much is a catalytic converter for your stove? Have you priced one lately? And also, do you have a new CAT on hand, in case your installed one failed and you needed a new one? How often do you run your stove? We run ours 24/7, from October til April, using absolutely NO OTHER SOURCE OF HEAT.......I maintain my stove on a MONTHLY basis, and have literally spent less than 40 bucks in the past five years on replacement parts (replaced the firebrick, also replaced the old style baffles but that was a warranty item, no cost to me). Had they not been under warranty, they would be around 90 bucks. The air tubes are a non issue in the Napoleon, as they are 2" steel tubing and are structural parts of the interior of the stove. At the end of the season, a simple blast of air channeled through the tubes gets them clean and ready for next year...

daleeper said:

I honestly believe that a cat stove can be run with the same amount of maintenance time (and maintenance costs) as a non-cat should receive.

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In the past 5 years I have spent no more (as stated above) than a total of $40.00 in maintenance items. I am almost obsessive compulsive when it comes to proper stove maintenance, my family's safety is of the utmost to me. Being that the stove is our primary source of heat all winter, it is necessity.

daleeper said:

Another thing, the Blaze King King and Princess are wonderful looking wood stoves

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That's a matter of opinion, I personally think they are the ugliest stoves ever made. That is MY opinion...... :cheese:

daleeper said:

Scotty Overkill said:

and don't have to worry about a CAT. The new baffles that Napoleon came out with are awesome, way better than the originals.

Click to expand...

I'm not directing this toward Scotty in particular, because I keep reading about how a cat is so high maintenance, and the non-cat is no (or very little) maintenance, and I think it is bs. Now, keep in mind, my only real experience is with 2 old pre-epa stoves, and one cat stove.

People are so afraid of a cat, yet the non-cats have maintenance issues of their own, including tubes that need repaired/replaced, baffles that warp, and insulating materials that fall apart. Even my pre-epa stoves needed maintenance and should have had some expensive parts replaced had they been available. I was able to repair what was needed, but had I been the type to just order new parts, then they would have been a significant expense had they been available.

A properly maintained stove takes time to maintain, and sometimes expensive parts to repair/replace regardless as to whether it is a cat or non-cat, steel or cast iron (haven’t had any of those pissing matches lately have we?).

I honestly believe that a cat stove can be run with the same amount of maintenance time (and maintenance costs) as a non-cat should receive. Some of you non-cat owners have been neglecting your stoves.

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In my personal experience I honestly think a lot of cat stove owners make way to big of a deal out of non cat stoves being uncontrollable! I have had both types now and I will say without a doubt I would not go back to my Dutchwest. My living room temps are never over 75 and usually never fall below 70. I don't think that is a huge temp swing and I have no problems maintaining that temp. As far as burn times go my T6 burns every bit as long if not longer than my Dutchwest XL. I easily do 12 hour reloads on this stove for the majority of the winter and lately I have been getting close to 16 without a problem and the stove top temps are around 250 at the end of the burn.

I think both cat and non cat stoves have there places and I wouldn't hesitate to have another cat stove if there was one out that I wanted. In a house like mine that requires some btu's to keep up even on a fairly warm winter day the benefits of the cat are kind of a moot point. That being said if I had a house that needed less than a 2.0 cu ft firebox stove I would put a cat stove at the top of my list for the burn time since it seems like most non cat stove with small fireboxes (less than 2.0 cu ft) are lucky to get an overnight burn.

Scotty Overkill said:

daleeper said:

I keep reading about how a cat is so high maintenance, and the non-cat is no (or very little) maintenance, and I think it is bs. Now, keep in mind, my only real experience is with 2 old pre-epa stoves, and one cat stove.

Click to expand...

No it's not BS. How much is a catalytic converter for your stove? Have you priced one lately? And also, do you have a new CAT on hand, in case your installed one failed and you needed a new one? How often do you run your stove? We run ours 24/7, from October til April, using absolutely NO OTHER SOURCE OF HEAT.......I maintain my stove on a MONTHLY basis, and have literally spent less than 40 bucks in the past five years on replacement parts (replaced the firebrick, also replaced the old style baffles but that was a warranty item, no cost to me). Had they not been under warranty, they would be around 90 bucks. The air tubes are a non issue in the Napoleon, as they are 2" steel tubing and are structural parts of the interior of the stove. At the end of the season, a simple blast of air channeled through the tubes gets them clean and ready for next year...

daleeper said:

I honestly believe that a cat stove can be run with the same amount of maintenance time (and maintenance costs) as a non-cat should receive.

Click to expand...

In the past 5 years I have spent no more (as stated above) than a total of $40.00 in maintenance items. I am almost obsessive compulsive when it comes to proper stove maintenance, my family's safety is of the utmost to me. Being that the stove is our primary source of heat all winter, it is necessity.

daleeper said:

Another thing, the Blaze King King and Princess are wonderful looking wood stoves

Click to expand...

That's a matter of opinion, I personally think they are the ugliest stoves ever made. That is MY opinion...... :cheese:

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Don't have a spare cat on hand, bought the stove used, don't know how old it is, cleaned it, stuck it back in, ran it 2 years 24/7 from Dec to March so far with no problem and $10.00 for the gasket. I keep hearing that tubes are a non-issue, but some have had. Had your baffle not been covered by warrenty, it would have cost half the price of a cat to replace.

Anyway, I know non-cat folks are going to disagree, and I'm ok with that. Most that do a good job of maintenance with a non-cat will point out that cats are high maintenance, and ignore the fact that a cat stove operator that is running their stove properly will have low maintenance costs also.

Also, thank you for reinforcing the fact that the looks of a stove are opinion based, and some of us like the look of the BK and other steel stoves. Englander has never been a real looker in my opinion, but you don't hear that stated around here often, because they hold an important place in the market (great heater for the money). Why not allow BK to do the same in the low and slow end of the market?