Just wondering if i'm waiting to long ,do you wait until all wood is enveloped in flames ie really burning or start earlier and let fire burn slowly through wood ie partially burning thanx
Waiting to long to start closing down air?
- Thread starter brad wilton
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It depends on the stove and the draft which can vary depending on the time of year. It also depends on the wood. Try turning down the air in increments as soon as the wood is fully aflame. Turn it down just until the flames get lazy and wait. The fire should recover strength if the air control is still partially open. Wait, 5-10 minutes then turn down again until the flame gets lazy. The time will also vary depending on whether this is from a cold start or a reload in a hot stove. If a hot reload with dry wood and good draft you may be able to turn it down quite quickly. On a cold start with hardwood it could be a matter of 10-20 minutes of incrementally turning down the air.
Hi begreen,just thought i might be turning it down to late in the burntime.i get my nice secondaries and such just trying to figure a way to stretch burn times .max i've gotten so far around 5&half hours of actual flame and another 24 of coals ,no not misprint 24
Sconnie Burner
Feeling the Heat
As long as the stove is still cranking out heat to keep you warm, that sounds about right. My quad 3100 with a 2 cu ft firebox fully loaded will have flame 4-6 hrs and need a relaod around 8 or so if that helps as reference. I adjust draft exactly as Begreen mentioned.
I can turn down the stove in a few minutes with strong draft on a hot reload. Turning it down might take 10-15 minutes with a cold start with dry wood. With less seasoned wood it could take 30 minutes.
I go by the temp of the stove/stack vs. the look of the fire . . . but after I turn down the air I go by both the temps and what the fire is doing (i.e. if I'm getting a secondary burn.)
A strong draft, super dry wood, and a hot reload - I'm closing the air down as soon as I shut the door so I don't loose any eyebrows. Under more "normal" circumstances, it's a matter of watching what the fire is doing and reacting to it. I find it's better to let the fire get ahead of where you "want" it to be before cutting back the air. If you've got decent air controls, you can bring it down pretty quickly when you want to. I've gotten too aggressive with cutting off the air a few times and had to nurse the flames back to health, which takes way too long when you just want to go to bed at night.
Hickorynut
Feeling the Heat
This is generally it for me too. For example, when I have to get up duing the night to add more wood, hot coals are a going, air vent is letting in some air and I am usually assured with good dry wood that everything else will take care of itself. Back to bed I go, immediately after I pee of course
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