Older Resolute - horizontal burn tmps?

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Sean01701

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Jan 3, 2010
8
Metro West - Mass
I have an older Resolute, the 0042 or the III - the double door model. According to the town the install permit was pulled in '85. It was already in great shape, but I restored the stove (gaskets, new ceramic glass, cleaned baffles, painted black...etc) and it works unreal. We heat a 19x26 family room and the adjacent 16x14 breezway / dining room, and kitchen. All stay a cozy 70-75 degrees or so with little effort, even if we remove the doors and put the screen on.

Problem is that the full updraft mode isn't very efficient. I am trying to burn in horizontal mode with the damper locked down. In full updraft mode, the temp regulates at about say, 450- 600 or so on half load of seasoned oak/maple/ash accoring to the magnetic temp gauage I have on the base of the direct vent. Where should the temp regulate in horizontal mode? It drops to 400 quickly, with a fair amount of smoke coming out of the stack, so I get nervous the fire will quell so I just put back in full updraft mode.

I usually maintain a bed of coals about up to the top of the ash fettle, then place down the smaller, flatter pieces on top of that, then use short pieces to create a canatlever of sorts, so that the fire falls in on itself. Any tips appreicated. Still new to heating with wood. Thanks
 
Sean02465 said:
I have an older Resolute, the 0042 or the III - the double door model. According to the town the install permit was pulled in '85. It was already in great shape, but I restored the stove (gaskets, new ceramic glass, cleaned baffles, painted black...etc) and it works unreal. We heat a 19x26 family room and the adjacent 16x14 breezway / dining room, and kitchen. All stay a cozy 70-75 degrees or so with little effort, even if we remove the doors and put the screen on.

Problem is that the full updraft mode isn't very efficient. I am trying to burn in horizontal mode with the damper locked down. In full updraft mode, the temp regulates at about say, 450- 600 or so on half load of seasoned oak/maple/ash accoring to the magnetic temp gauage I have on the base of the direct vent. Where should the temp regulate in horizontal mode? It drops to 400 quickly, with a fair amount of smoke coming out of the stack, so I get nervous the fire will quell so I just put back in full updraft mode.

I usually maintain a bed of coals about up to the top of the ash fettle, then place down the smaller, flatter pieces on top of that, then use short pieces to create a canatlever of sorts, so that the fire falls in on itself. Any tips appreicated. Still new to heating with wood. Thanks
Click to expand...

I have an old Vigilant which works in the same manner. Last year my horizontal burn temps would quickly drop, also. This year the temps can quickly go north of 650 unless I close down the air control and the damper. The difference is my wood is far more seasoned this year than it was last year, which was my first year burning.

Also, this year I am not getting nearly the amount of smoke out of the chimney.
 
That could be it. This wood was felled last Feb and and I bucked / split this summer so barely a year seasoned - not exactly optimal. I'll work in one or two full updraft burns along with horziontal burn all day today and see how it goes. Thanks for the reply.
 
Sean, I too have that same stove. I start the fire with the themostat fully open and the damper open, I start with newspaper and pine cones, then some pine, then some smaller splits and then a bigger split, get it up to about 550 or so for a few minute then I shut down the damper and let it burn down to about 350 when there are lots of red hot coals and that is when I open up the damper, the thermostat is still open wide and I load her up let it flame and bring it up to 500 again then let it be there for about another 15 or so minutes then damper down and close down the thermostat(air flap in back) so the handle sticks straight up which shuts the airflow down til the the stove cools down the thermostat will automatically open up the air flap(themostat)
I too live in West pf Metro Boston. I finally got a good load of dry seasoned wood that burns really well. IF you want to know where I bought it, send and private message and will let you know. Not cheap but good wood.
 
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