"RE Burn" Tubes

After reading these post I ( newbe with woodstove) realized that I am not getting secondary burn. I have a used stove that purchased this year. Would this be a cleaning issue?


Russ

Russ - tell us more? What stove? If your stove is a modern design with secondary burn capability there are two very likely culprits - 1. Not burning hot enough 2. fuel is not dry enough 3. both

I think the fuel is not dry enough. I have a Jotul TL 50 Rangeley I purchased the stove(used)/wood in September-October. I purchased what I was told was seasoned wood but i don't think its dry enough. I did try blowing canned air in the intake for the secondary air and I can see i full burn when I do that. I try to keep the stove between 400 and 700 per the manual.

Sounds like you are doing all you can and if you are getting those temps consistently I cannot see why some 2ndary activity is not going on - even with "lessor" quality wood. Truth is we all started somewhere and almost no one starts with 3yr wood.

An option to give you a point of reference is to buy a couple bundles of kiln dried from the local gas station or wherever to try or, better yet, a bundle of Bio Bricks of some sort and see what happens burning those. At least, then you will know what perfect fuel offers.

Take pics of the stove at 4-700 and post them. There are plenty burning Jotul stoves that can chime in.

BobUrban said:

staring at a very similar complete secondary inferno in the 30 right now while watching Johnny Football make a comeback. Go A&M

Poor pic but that is 700 on top and has been for a couple hours on Cherry and Ash at 15%MC

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Bob that looks cool or hot
Happy new year to all.

BobUrban said:

Russ - tell us more? What stove? If your stove is a modern design with secondary burn capability there are two very likely culprits - 1. Not burning hot enough 2. fuel is not dry enough 3. both

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. . . or possibly 4) Operator error -- typically from the operator not turning down the air control as they are thinking more air = more heat when the opposite is true . . . or operator error when the operator turns down the air too soon or too much.

More info on how you run the stove Russ . . . and temps might help.

It appears firefighterjake was correct. Operator error. I have reduced air intake and it works better now. Thank you all!!


Russ

mainewoodburning said:

It appears firefighterjake was correct. Operator error. I have reduced air intake and it works better now. Thank you all!!


Russ

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I love a happy ending!

mainewoodburning said:

I have reduced air intake and it works better now. Thank you all!!

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this was my error as well until advised on this forum a few days ago--I have discovered that if I fill about 2/3 full, heat the flue up to about 400-500 then turn the air way down, the flue temp drops or stays steady, the stove top moves up to about 650 over a few minutes, and then I get the secondaries. Really cold tonight for this area and I am reloading about every 5 hours on very hot coals-if I were brave enough to fully load it I might be able to go longer but I am still nervous about overfiring and working my way up to a full load.

Russ,

Sounds like your beginning to get it. We all have different comfort zones and learning curves that we need to work through with our stoves. You have it right, taking it one step at a time. As questions arise you now have the tools here by just asking, to increase your comfort, not only with the use of your stove, but your family's comfort as well.