Lopi Freedom Bay insert.

I sometimes fill mine the same way and get 8 to 12 hour burns. Looks like you could get a few more splits in there, fill that thing up and turn you blower down to low. When the blower is running at a higher speed it cools the fire down thus having to give it more air and reducing burn times. I might have missed it somewhere but are you turning your blower off when you reload. If your not turn it off on reloads, get it hot and cruising then turn the blower on low

So do most of you put a split in n/s on the side if you can fit it?

My regular non-bay Freedom gets much longer and hotter burns loading N/S, perhaps a small split e/w to top off. Loading E/W almost always leaves a log at the back which will not be fully burned when the fire has gone cold. With good wood, I've been able to close the air completely and still see temps rise past 600F, burning for 10+ hours.
I haven't seen a noticeable temperature drop with fan running on low speeds, so I always leave it running.

TE

etiger2007 said:

So do most of you put a split in n/s on the side if you can fit it?

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98 percent of the time I load N/S. The other 2 percent is E/W. I cant see loading the stove E/W in the middle of the firebox only and having wasted space on the sides. If I really take the time and find the right splits I will load only in the center of the firebox and then load N/S on each side.

I've never been able to get consistent burns past about 6 hours with mine either. I almost always load it N/S now also, never get a complete burn if it's loaded E/W. I also modifed my switch on the fan so it only turns off when I switch it off. Never stayed on long enough.

My burn times average about 3 hours loading with usually two good size splits east/west. Also, get dirty glass quite often usually have to clean at least after every couple of fillups. Have to get up during the night and add wood or the fire will go out by morning. Wood is good and dry, locust, oak, cherry and door gasket is good and tight against door. Draft is good and strong. Oh and another negative is I can't open the door during a burn cycle without getting smoke smell in room until at least the wood has broken down into large hot coals. Stove does not put out the heat of my other stove. The heat from my other stove was so strong at times it would move the ceiling fan and could heat the house fairly quickly. This stove's heat output is less and takes much longer to raise the house temp. I do like the door handle on the left as being left handed I like loading the stove with my left hand. Overall, compared to my previous country flame this lopi freedom stove is just average.

lopiliberty said:

98 percent of the time I load N/S. The other 2 percent is E/W. I cant see loading the stove E/W in the middle of the firebox only and having wasted space on the sides. If I really take the time and find the right splits I will load only in the center of the firebox and then load N/S on each side.

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Depends on the length of the splits. Much of my currently seasoned wood was cut when I had a much bigger slammer, so it is too long to fit N/S anyway, also that tapered firebox means I need to sizes to load N/S, bigger ones for the center, smaller ones for the sides.

TE

Caruso293 said:

Only the outside of the freedom bay is tapered. I thought the firebox on the freedom and the freedom bay were identical.

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So did I, but obviously not. The freedom firebox is only about 14" wide at the very back, then it widens to about 20" almost the front of the firebox, see pic below. More importantly for N/S loading, the splits at the sides need to be 4-6" shorter than those at the center, if you want to really pack them in.

TE

Another N/S Freedom Bay loader here. I feel like I can get more wood in, and less chance of stuff rolling/crumbling forward into the glass. It also seems exponentially easier to split the shorter 14in rounds.

I had put a deposit on the Liberty Freedom insert a few weeks back, but really started to second guess the tapered firebox. I thought this could really hinder my ability to load both N&S E&W and to maximize burns. I have since settled on a Lennox (Country) Caynon insert. I still think that the Lopi is a quality unit, I just don't think it was the right insert for me. My cousin has one and burns around the clock all winter and swears by his Lopi Freedom.

I'd have no problems with the taper if my wood hadn't been cut for a much larger firebox. Based on my experience during that recent cold spell, I'll have very little use for full loads anyway, two splits e/w is enough to make my house a sauna in most weather.

TE

I have a revere, which is a smaller model similar to the freedom.I put 3 large splits in it at 9 last night had the air almost closed with the fan on low,got up at 6.30 this morning with the fan still going and enough coals to just throw another split on it to get it going.I think the large split thing helps.Have to clean the glass every couple of days,the long slow burns gum up the glass a little, small price to pay for a longish burn.I plan on modifying the stove a little next summer so that more of it protudes on the hearth..cannot seem to leave well enough alone!