soapstone operating temp ?

When we had our Phoenix I found it hard to measure the temps from the stones so we used the stovepipe thermometer and tried to keep that between 400-500, with 450 being optimal. You've got a bigger pipe on the Equinox so I'm not sure where the stovepipe temps should be but I think it would be easier than measuring temp of the stone. If you want to do it from the stones I would grab a quick read IR thermometer.

My Homestead really cranks out the heat when I get it to 400 and above. 450 is nice but it's only been close to 500 a time or two.
Just did my second season break in fire and it's now cruisin around 300 which is enought to take the chill off this 52 degree day. Too bad the next 7 days will be warmer - but pretty sure I can still sneak in a morning fire or two. :coolsmile:

I have the Mansfield. With that i have had the top center stone at 575-600 and was getting a lot of heat.
That is with in the range for the stone to be heated to. Over that and you have the chance of cracking the stone.
But I have also had the temp upto 700 and was ****ing my pants.(LOL)
So that is my 2cents worth.

My Keystone is a bit different in that the soapstone sides and top are actually double walls with a small air space between them, and aits a catalytic stove. However, those differences aside, we run it in the 450 to 550 range measured directly above the combustor and up to around 650 when it's really cold. I don't think our pipe temp is relavent to yours cause when the combustor kicks in, the air flow gets slow enough that the stack temp drops and holds at the 250 to 275 range a foot above the stove. With that big boy, I suspect you'll get too warm beofre your surface temps get to hot to be unsafe.

I have been measuring my Equinox during the few fires I have really burned it - so far this is what I am seeing: With it rolling along, secondaries fully engaged, with a 3/4 full box of dry wood and a full bed of coals (the firebox was already nice and hot- fluepipe with a probe are measuring 900, stove top steel plate (mine is vented through the back, so there is steel plate in the top vent opening where I have a thermometer placed) is at 500. An IR reading directly on the stone in several places measured 440-470. This was on the edge of the red zone so I had shut it back about 5 minutes prior and this is where temps peaked. No doubt these temps will go higher - but a stove that big, that hot is pretty intimidating, at least at this point in my knowledge of the stove, especially since this is fall draft - I would think these temps will spike a little quicker and be more difficult to dial back as the outside air really cools off up here and the draft is stronger.

Hearthstone states 600 stove top is max and Woodstock says 700. I bet there is a little fudge in those numbers so it's probably safe to hit it a few times, just don't exceed it often. My personal best was 725 for about 10 minutes, and yes I was a tad nervous. :bug:

How did you achieve those temps? Did you have your cat on at the time?

I like to burn mine at between 350 and 450. Over burn is maintain 500+.

From the Phoenix manual:

MONITORING STOVE TEMPERATURES
Monitor the stove temperatures with a stove
thermometer (available from your dealer) placed on
the top center stone of the stove. The thermometer
could read as high as 500°F (260°C) on High Burn
and 200°F (95°C) on low burn. Maintaining
temperatures in excess of 500°F (260°C) will cause
the stones to crack and cause other damage to the
stove.

My Hearthstone Homestead Manuel Says the stove top should never exceed 600
Here is a quote from the owners guide



High Burn Rate. A high burn rate is recommended once
or twice a day to fully heat the stovepipe and chimney;
this also helps keep the amount of creosote in your stove
and chimney to a minimum.
After the fire has been established and both the stove and
chimney are hot, create a high burn for maximum heat
output. Pull the primary air control forward so that it’s
fully open or almost fully open. Fully load the firebox
with wood on a bed of hot coals or on an actively flaming
fire.
After you have attained a high burn rate, monitor the
stove temperatures frequently to ensure that the stove is
not over-fired. The surface temperature on top of the
stove should not exceed 600° Fahrenheit (316° Celcius).
Once you understand how your stove burns and heats in
your particular setting, you will be able to easily create a
high burn rate without risk to the stove or chimney.
Once your room’s temperature is comfortable, maintain
your fire by loading smaller quantities of wood. Burning
smaller amounts of wood at a high burn rate creates the
most efficient fire, emits the lowest amount of pollutants,
and creates the least amount of creosote in your chimney.

I couldn't find anything in your manual that talks about stovetop temps for the equinox. Others have chimed in for their stove.

I would recommend calling Hearthstone (not the stove shop). Please post what you find out, since it's not in the manual, others will have the same question later.

Good luck.

Gonna have to get me a proper stove top thermometer.

Risser09 said:

How did you achieve those temps? Did you have your cat on at the time?

Click to expand...

I reloaded on a very large coal bed and the stove top was over 400. So after 10 minutes I engaged the cat at #1 and went about my buisness and forgot about the stove. About an hour later she was up to 725. I usually engage the cat at #1 and a little later will turn it down to about 1/2, this time I forgot. My stove seems to run best at a setting of 1/2, once I get over #1 it burns hot and fast.

This is the info from my Hearthstone Tribute manual:

Monitor the stove temperatures with a stove thermometer
(available from your dealer) placed on the top center stone
of the stove. The thermometer could read as high as
500°F(260°C) on High Burn and 200-300°F(93-149°C) on
low burn. Maintaining temperatures in excess of
600°F(316°C) will cause the stones to crack and other
damage to the stove.

Todd said:

Risser09 said:

How did you achieve those temps? Did you have your cat on at the time?

Click to expand...

I reloaded on a very large coal bed and the stove top was over 400. So after 10 minutes I engaged the cat at #1 and went about my buisness and forgot about the stove. About an hour later she was up to 725. I usually engage the cat at #1 and a little later will turn it down to about 1/2, this time I forgot. My stove seems to run best at a setting of 1/2, once I get over #1 it burns hot and fast.

Click to expand...

Todd, that's another reason to adjust the draft at the same time as engaging the cat. I'll bet that was some fire at 725! I know at 650 it is too much heat for us. We like it mostly in the 500-550 degree range in the cold of the winter.

I got lots of good advice last year - about the best was to get a good stove thermometer. That really help.

Mansfield. I measure at the front center stone and the two front side stones (three thermometers). I measure at the front because that is where I have access. I have had the front center stone up to 650 once and I didn't like it. When it's cold out I try to keep the stove above 500. The two side stones range about 50-100 lower than the center.

Maintaining temperatures in excess of
600°F(316°C) will cause the stones to crack and other
damage to the stove.

That is the key.Just do not let her run that high.

Can you use one of those Infrared thermometers to check the stove temperature?

Backwoods Savage said:

Todd said:

Risser09 said:

How did you achieve those temps? Did you have your cat on at the time?

Click to expand...

I reloaded on a very large coal bed and the stove top was over 400. So after 10 minutes I engaged the cat at #1 and went about my buisness and forgot about the stove. About an hour later she was up to 725. I usually engage the cat at #1 and a little later will turn it down to about 1/2, this time I forgot. My stove seems to run best at a setting of 1/2, once I get over #1 it burns hot and fast.

Click to expand...

Todd, that's another reason to adjust the draft at the same time as engaging the cat. I'll bet that was some fire at 725! I know at 650 it is too much heat for us. We like it mostly in the 500-550 degree range in the cold of the winter.

Click to expand...

Good point Dennis, but sometimes if I do engage at 1/2 the fire smoulders too much and almost goes out, so I like to start out at #1 and gradually drop it down to where the flames slow down and seem to rise off the logs and the coals go from bright orange to a deeper red color.