My First top down fire and I am hooked

We let the fire go out overnight - it was so warm yesterday, and the stove was still hot to the touch at 10pm, and it was 75 downstairs... was 65 when we woke up, so i re-lit. showed the Woodstove Wife how to do the top down, but it was a little stubborn going - the fire, not the wife

hadda run w/ the door cracked open to fan it. wood sounded a little hissy, so i reckon I had some of the wetter stuff (cleaning out the stack on the edge of the shed, which actually sees a little bit of rain every now and again)

anyways - just curious if most folks find they can do this with the door closed the whole time? or if they crack the door open at all?

I do my fire starting with the door cracked. With 12' of class A chimney outside the house, it takes some work to get a good solid draft going. Also, I do my start up fires a bit different. 2 splits E/W in the bottom with space in between. I put a couple pieces of paper between those. Then a layer of large kindling N/S on top of those, then smaller stuff E/W on top of those. Then the paper knots on top of it all. I touch off the bottom paper, and the top paper. I leave the door open until I see about 450-500 on the stove pipe, then throw a medium split on top, and close the door. By the time the split on top is well charred, the chimney is well warmed, and I can start cutting back the air.

Door closed - starts just like with a firestarter.

Since the beginning of this season, I used the top down approach for the third time; really working.


Jerry

Just about 3 mins with door open, stove top just passing 275F then close the door and come back 5 mins just to verify temp is still climbing. 20mins later I need to turn down the air (550F) about an hour later I am ready for a reload.

I don't even remember how to start a fire with out the top down, been using it for at least 3 years now.

I tried the top-down method for the first time this past week, much to my hubby's objection. He was surprised when it actually worked, and worked better than the bottom-up method. We'll keep starting fires with the top-down so we have a basis of comparison with starting more than one fire using this method.

I started using top down last week after learning it here, and see no reason I wouldn't always do it this way. I do use a fire starter on top. I don't generally have news paper around. This seems easier anyway. I do have to keep the door cracked though. I think it's a combo of wood not dry enough and the flu not tall enough. We'll fix those issues with time.

PINE CONE WORK GREAT FOR KINDLING. CHEAPER THAN FATWOOD OR OTHERS YOU HAVE TO BUY.

I'll try that tonight. My neighbor has a huge cone producer in his yard. Might make us both happy.

Edthedawg said:

We let the fire go out overnight - it was so warm yesterday, and the stove was still hot to the touch at 10pm, and it was 75 downstairs... was 65 when we woke up, so i re-lit. showed the Woodstove Wife how to do the top down, but it was a little stubborn going - the fire, not the wife

hadda run w/ the door cracked open to fan it. wood sounded a little hissy, so i reckon I had some of the wetter stuff (cleaning out the stack on the edge of the shed, which actually sees a little bit of rain every now and again)

anyways - just curious if most folks find they can do this with the door closed the whole time? or if they crack the door open at all?

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I can close the door as soon as the paper catches well. But a lot depends on the layout you built, the amount and flammability of the kindling, and the air patterns inside your particular stove. I was surprised that it worked well with the door closed, but it seems to in my particular case.

OK! OK! I tried it and it worked. What's up with that? I don't think its quite as quick but I had a base of some good sized oak splits and they're still burning pretty well after the kindling burned down. I like the idea of less smoke.

vanessa woo hoo! come on baby lite my fire!

LLigetfa said:

EKLawton said:

I think its the best idea since sliced bread....

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As does Vanessa.

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Sorry Vanessa, I failed you. Maybe my stove failed you. An amateur blames his tools.

Today I tried a top-down fire and it was a pathetic failure. After the paper flashed off, I was left with the black carbon that choked off the air from the meager flicker of a flame. More paper, more kin'lin. More kin'lin, more paper. As the kin'lin burned through, they fell apart and rolled away from each other. I had to open the stove and tuck them back together so they could feed off each other. After 20 minutes and burned finger tips it looks like the fire can sustain itself. In an hour I might even get some heat.

The only benefit I see is less smoke and the glass stayed clean without having to keep the door open a crack. Despite going into this with a positive attitude, I just knew it wouldn't work.

I have been reading about this top down method. Some are asking about using firestarters. I have been shipping Vanessa the Super Cedars for 5-6 years now by the pallets. I am wondering if she has a updated method now? Anyone have contact with her?
Thomas

I imagine the whole EW vs NS loading thing would depend on where your air inlets are,
but I guess they're usually near the center of the stove.

I liked the video. It reinforced a few things I only just learned recently by reading the
BK manual and/or reading this forum: load infrequently with big loads after the previous
load is mostly coals, run hot for a few minutes after re-loading, etc.

P.S. I thought John was a bit of a dolt. I have to confess to having had impure feelings
about Vanessa ...

I use Super Cedars...bottom up or top down as the mood strikes me, doesn't matter. Best thing since split wood. I haven't torn, rolled, folded, or tied a piece of newspaper for a couple of years, nor will I ever again (other than to do the crosswords). My newspapers get recycled, and I spend less $$$ on hand soap. A supply of quartered Super Cedars, some kindling and small splits are all I have to provide near the stove & wood bin for my wife to have a toasty fire already up and burning when I finally roll out of the rack in the morning. No, I haven't been in contact with Vanessa...although I'd like to be (that is, if I were a younger and single man). %-P Rick

BB, Do you know what year the Video was made? I am curious if the top down method can be improved by using the Super Cedar without any kindling or newspaper. I would test myself but I no longer am allowed to play with matches.
Thomas

Fossil, I love you man!!

The end of the video I believe said 2005.

As far as impure thoughts go, I don't think she's going to bump my Denise Milani video collection. :cheese:

BrotherBart said:

A Super Cedar on top of some kindling and splits should do the same thing. You need the kindling to have coals drop down into the splits. If a Super Cedar fires off hot and fast it should establish a draft just as fast as the paper. Don't know. I haven't ever used one.

The main thing that I like about top down is that it warms that liner up in a heartbeat.

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How about we send you some samples. They reach 1200 degrees in 2 minutes so it should get a draft going. PM your ship to address.
Thomas