How do you load when mixing splits w blocks?

I'm pretty inexperienced with this stuff, but have been experimenting with a mix of Bio Bricks and Pine (this years only cordwood), over the last week. It seems to me that the bricks keep the heat up for an hour, or so, while the pine is coaling, allowing me to keep the house temps a little more even, between loads, without too much buildup. I've been placing two of them at the bottom of the load, towards the back, with a couple of inches between them. We don't really need to do this, but with wood burning being so new, to my lovely bride, I'd like to keep things as comfy as possible, for the sake of first impressions. So far, so good. Again, though, more experienced opinions should probably trump mine, as it's based on such a short time period. Still learning the ropes, here.

Bricks on the bottom, splits on top. Gives a good base for the fire.

Hot coal bed ,bricks on top( i only use one then splits on that nc 30 - blow your shorts off

This is my second year using Envi blocks mixed with oak and like others have said good coal bed underneath blocks on top of the coals and then splits on top of the blocks, it does give you a good hot base. Those Envi blocks really get nice and hot!

I started out with bricks in the bottom but I found out, quite accidentally, that I get a longer and better burn by placing them on the top.

Here's the way I load on hot coals...

I'll place 2 splits on the coals and 1 split diagonally across the 2. Then I'll place 2 bricks on either side of the diagonal split. Kind of forming an "X" if you can imagine that.

The coals rapidly ignite the 2 bottom splits. Within a few minutes the flames ignite the bricks.

I've got a smaller wood insert, so my options are limited. I've been using two envi blocks east west and getting them hot with kindling, then I'll put a few splits on top. Seems to stay good and warm for 5-6 hours if I load it right.

I try to put bricks on the very top layer of my load. I also found out that the bricks help to get rid of coals.

newburner said:

I started out with bricks in the bottom but I found out, quite accidentally, that I get a longer and better burn by placing them on the top.

Here's the way I load on hot coals...

I'll place 2 splits on the coals and 1 split diagonally across the 2. Then I'll place 2 bricks on either side of the diagonal split. Kind of forming an "X" if you can imagine that.

The coals rapidly ignite the 2 bottom splits. Within a few minutes the flames ignite the bricks.

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2 splits east west? Then form a Z with the diagonal split? How long of a burn are you getting? I am finding our little stove heats up well with the air 50-75 % closed after a few minutes.

littlericky said:

This is my second year using Envi blocks mixed with oak and like others have said good coal bed underneath blocks on top of the coals and then splits on top of the blocks, it does give you a good hot base. Those Envi blocks really get nice and hot!

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Hi littlericky, where do you get Envi Block in PA?

Sushiyummy said:

Hi littlericky, where do you get Envi Block in PA?

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I get them from a place called Pennwood Home and Hearth. I think they are $285.00 a ton but they burn really good. I use them on and off with the wood i have.

Thanks littlerisky, hope they able to ship it to me (near West Chester)

rkofler said:

Ordered a ton of Envi blocks a couple of weeks ago. So far so good, they throw a lot of heat for a long time. Just curious how others load their stoves when mixing with splits for an overnight burn? Bricks in the back, splits in front? Vice versa? How many large blocks? How far open do you leave air control? With splits I can never go below about a quarter open.

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From where did you order the EnviBricks?
Thanks!

I use the ENVI blocks and love them.

I shovel the whole bed of hot coals to the front and lay 2 splits E-W in the rear. One on to of the other. Then I lay I long piece of kindling E-W along the rear of the hot coals so it ignites quick. I then put my ENVI's lying on their sides N-S, fronts on top of hot coals and the rears resting on the edge of the bottom split laying across the rear. If I have room on top, I lay a split. I close the door and watch. After 10 minutes, I start shutting down the air and manual damper in quarter increments every 5 to 10 minutes until my stove top temp is 550-575. Then everything is shut down and I have some beautiful secondaries dancing up on top.

From where did you order the EnviBricks?
Thanks?

Hey Entwife, I know there is an ENVI distributor out on Long Island. Google ENVI in LI. He has a website.

I like using Envi 8's in north south over a hot bed of embers and place a split or two on top. Sometimes I switch between using all cord wood and the Envi's on a long burn as all my cord wood is scrounged and free(just labor to cut split and season). Wife likes the Envi's as they are easy to handle.