It's official: don't burn VERY dry wood!

Had to be something else. Aluminum would be liquid at that temp. So, do you wear gloves when loading your stove, Soupy?

Beowulf said:

Ok, so now I gotta know... what are you making out of soft old files?

Inquiring minds have a need to know!

Click to expand...

I use the steel in them (W-1 or W-2) to make irons for wood planes and for custom knives. You have to get them soft first in order to grind off the teeth before you forge them to shape. Then when you are done, you heat them to a bright cherry red and plunge them into oil to harden them again. Then you put them in the oven at about 350º for a few hours to temper the blades so they aren't too brittle. File steel is one of the best I've found, and it's free.

I have to stop telling people I use them for this purpose. Everybody I know is passing old files to me before I leave their house. Apparently, they think they're getting a free knife out of the deal. Ain't happening. I'm up to my ass in files now and I've only produced a few knives. :roll: :lol:

BeGreen said:

Hope this is not another glow in the back stove, but is sure sounds like it. It may be super clean burning under ideal conditions, but that is just a percent of the home installations out there. More importantly, VC needs designs that are a rugged and reliable as they stoves that first built their reputation. The words "and less stress on the combustor." do not inspire confidence.

Click to expand...

It really is a shame about VC of late, I loved running my old VC Defiant 1975. It may have been old technology (pre cat era) , but it was well built and reliable. If it was not for the tax credit, it would still be on my Hearth.

madrone said:

Had to be something else. Aluminum would be liquid at that temp. So, do you wear gloves when loading your stove, Soupy?

Click to expand...

Were they jet engine parts (turbine blades or cumbustors)? Probably some alloy of titanium.

They certainly dont make things clear since most wood seasons at diff rates. White oak is def not "too dry" after 18 months.

Slow1 said:

I wonder how the MC on what they are calling "too dry" (18 month air dry under cover) is compared to the standard lab wood used for emissions testing anyway. That stuff is pretty dry isn't it? Granted they don't have to burn 24/7 all season to pass the EPA tests so perhaps for short durations it is ok ?

Click to expand...

Slow, I'm pretty sure they use 2x4" and/or 4x4" Doug fir at a measured 20% MC, so it's not too dry by anybody's definition AFAIC. Still, I was surprised to find out my cherry that was cut last fall was at 12-13% after only 9 months, and that's been out in the elements uncovered the entire time. Never measured it before this year, but it's not supposed to be able to drop below 15% in my area. Of course, we had an extremely hot and dry early summer here, so that may be why it is so low. Bet that changed in the last week or two. :lol:

madrone said:

Include a moisture meter and thermometer with every stove. Actually, every manufacturer should do that...

Click to expand...

Yeah, what he said.

Actually... I'll give them a pass on the moisture meter. But, it would make every kind of common sense for manufacturers to throw a $5 (OEM) thermometer in with every stove, and throw a paragraph in the owner's manual about where it goes and what it should read.

The only people the current weasel words make any sense to are the legal and marketing departments.

I think Hearth.com should take this up as a 'cause'. It would eliminate about fifty percent of the questions that beginners have about running a modern wood stove.

Safer, more efficient operation = happier, less frustrated customers = less calls to Customer Service, more sales to customers' friends.

Seems simple to me!

Eddy

Well, I guess that I will be the guinea pig for this one. I got an email from my dealer informing me that my new Encore will be the 2040 model when it gets here around Thanksgiving. In 1990 I bought an Encore with a cat, and I was well satisfied with it for the short time I got to live with it. After researching and reading a lot, I ordered a non-catalytic Encore last month, only to be told it will be the dual model that is to be delivered.

No matter what else, I expect that it will be better than the 50 plus year old prefabricated sheet metal and stone fireplace that it is going in front of. Not that the installation will be legal from VC's perspective, and may void the warranty, etc. (I am running a six inch flex up a triple wall air cooled chimney to vent the stove).

So I will let ya'll know how it works.