How many logs do you toss in for a reload on the castine?

I probably average about 5 splits per reload. Three across the bottom and two on top. Maybe six if I can get them in there. One thing I don't like about the Castine is I can't fill up the firebox because the closest split on top will end up rolling against the glass and then makes a heck of a mess when you open the door. Makes me miss my top-loading Intrepid II.

I haven't had to kindle the stove in over a month. My problem is not getting it to hold a fire but to burn the coals down sufficiently. I get 2-3 hours of significant heat and then the temp. drops to about 300 with a pile of coals left in the stove under a layer of ash. During the day I'll open the air and pull the coals forward to try and burn them down but at night I leave it damped down. I'm heating a 2300 sq. ft. house with the Castine (I know I should have a bigger stove but that's the biggest I could fit in my hearth). Makes for some chilly mornings in the house. I think the Intrepid II with the catalytic was much better at maintaining significant heat output while burning down the coals. Of course it wouldn't heat the same space as the Castine does because of its size.

How big are the splits you are adding kestrel?

They're not real big. If you can imagine fitting 5-6 in the Castine's firebox then you can get an idea for their size. I split them pretty small. I think my problem is having an undersized stove for my living space. During this cold weather I've really been trying to maximize the heat output to keep the house warm.

The 3 log principle is quite universal. I like 5.
Regardless of the size of the firebox, the fuel
load will have to drop by gravity. An odd number
is usually condusive to proper fuel feed.

I usually use 5 with coals raked in the middle two small pieces N S and 3 pieces E W on top with the larger piece in the front given the tiered design of the baffle.

I usually use 3 splits when I'm home to monitor burns. I'll use 4 for an overnight if they are medium size. I'd rather burn 3 large for the overnights.

On the extra or accumulated coals....

I just throw a few poplar splits in and burn down the coals. Poplar burns too fast for overnight and leaves almost no coals. Handy for getting rid of too many coals from other hardwoods.

JD

The firebox shape makes it tough to experiment with what may work best.

One really needs two distinct cuts of wood to use the EW/NS method. If your wood is longer than 8", it has to go EW. I like to stuff the firebox full both at startup and realoading, but with the 3-steps of the secondary plate angling sharply into the load area, stacking to the top is frustrating.

I cut most all my wood this past summer to 14-15" rounds, mainly for ease of splitting. That length is too short to maximize EW, and much too long for NS.

Ideally I should have a mixed wood supply made up of 70% 18" splits, and 30% at about 8". But then I would have to stack it differently and thats another can of worms.

Wood loading time with my Castine is a stark contrast to what I've been doing the past 25 years with my old Blaze King I have at the cabin. It makes me envious of the what the BK, Englander, and others do at reloading time. There's a lot to be said of a relatively square firebox.