I tried the "top-down" method about 3 weeks ago and I was less then impressed. I took my time setting it up and it never really took off like I wanted it to and took forever to heat up. Fast-forward to yesterday and I gave it another shot. I got home from work and I had my 8 year-old triplets and my 5 year old (all boys), pulling me in 4,000 different directions. I wanted to start a fire quick and not have to tend to it since I had no time, so I tried the top-down method again. I put 3 medium sized spilts E/W and then 2 splits in a "V" shape on top of that (I have to do the V shape because of a small firebox and they won't always fit N/S). Next I criss-crossed some kindling on top of that, put some newspaper on top of the kindling and then shoved a super cedar in the middle of it all. I just lit the fire and walked outside with the kids. After having a catch, fixing a bike and cleaning dog poop off of someone's shoe I came back in the house an hour later and the fire looked fantastic. The stove temp was at 550 and kicking out some nice heat. The best part was that I didn't have to do anything to it for an hour and 45 minutes. I know as it gets colder the top down or bottom up method won't matter much when we we are all burning 24/7, but after my expeierence yesterday I think I'm a convert.
2nd Attempt at a Top Down Fire
- Thread starter Kyle19
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BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Kyle19 said:
Kyle, I don't want to pray for rain when you have a parade, but I would like to warn you against doing what you just did
! I don't care if you had 3 sets of triplets after your time. Putting wood in a stove, lighting it and walking away is NOT what anyone should do. In fact, it is one of the very worst things you can do.This is the sort of thing that can happen doing most anything. One good example might be driving your car (especially so with youth) and doing some stupid thing that you know you really should not do. Yet, you did it....and got away with it. The next time it becomes easier. The next time you may even do it without giving it much thought at all. The problem is, it is still dangerous...but it becomes easier to do regardless of the danger because you've done it before. This is how most bad habits form.
So please, do yourself and especially your family a favor and never do that again. Remember, when you light a fire in the stove, the draft is set full open. Do you really want to leave that unattended? It reminds me of the poster who did it, and then ran down to the store only to come back and find a super hot stove....with the stove firebox door still ajar. I'm betting that lesson stuck with him for a time.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Two thoughts . . .
1) Like you I took a while to warm up to the idea of the top down fire . . . and to be honest I didn't have a lot of luck the first few times I tried it . . . now that's all I ever do.
2) As Backwoods said, you really need to stay near the stove when starting the fire or loading . . . it's way too easy to let the stove go and you'll either come back to the temps rocketing through the roof (or through the flue and/or stove) or the fire will be a smoldering mess (along with a very smoky and blackened glass stove.) It's a pain . . . and one of the drawbacks to using a woodstove . . . but until you get up to "cruising temps" the stove needs to be watched.
1) Like you I took a while to warm up to the idea of the top down fire . . . and to be honest I didn't have a lot of luck the first few times I tried it . . . now that's all I ever do.
2) As Backwoods said, you really need to stay near the stove when starting the fire or loading . . . it's way too easy to let the stove go and you'll either come back to the temps rocketing through the roof (or through the flue and/or stove) or the fire will be a smoldering mess (along with a very smoky and blackened glass stove.) It's a pain . . . and one of the drawbacks to using a woodstove . . . but until you get up to "cruising temps" the stove needs to be watched.
I will only offer the cautionary advice that if I started a fire in my Endeavor and walked away for more than 30 minutes without making a single adjustment, I'd have a molten pile of slag when i got back in the house.
Nothing wrong with a top down fire, they are wonderful things. I've just read too many "I walked away and when I got back something was glowing" stories to not encourage you to be cautious.
Nothing wrong with a top down fire, they are wonderful things. I've just read too many "I walked away and when I got back something was glowing" stories to not encourage you to be cautious.
EJL923
Minister of Fire
I dont want to rain on anyones top down parade, I just wanted to add another method of lighting instead of the top down. I never tried the top down, never had to.
Two medium splits, E/W
Take a starterrlogg (lowes/walmart, just about anywhere), break it into 4 pieces, only use 2 of them. They end of being a 1x1x2 piece each
Light each piece and place them between the two splits
Add 3 smaller splits about 1-2" cross section in varying criss cross patterns on top
What i like about this method is it doesnt take much preparation. usually the only work i have to do is splitting one medium size split into three pieces for the top. I do this with a hatchet in the garage where I keep about a face cord. The starterloggs burn long enough to catch the splits above them, then they burn long enough to coal and catch the medium splits on the bottom. The next step after about 45 minutes is to add some large splits. I guess you could call it an inside out fire. Anyway, minimal smoke, always works. Like i said, never tried the top down, but i think this method minimizes some of the smaller kindling. another thing I like is that if you do light it and decide to go outside quick or watch tv and forget, there isnt enough wood for the stove to run away but still enough to throw some larger splits on.
In the end, whatever works for you.
Two medium splits, E/W
Take a starterrlogg (lowes/walmart, just about anywhere), break it into 4 pieces, only use 2 of them. They end of being a 1x1x2 piece each
Light each piece and place them between the two splits
Add 3 smaller splits about 1-2" cross section in varying criss cross patterns on top
What i like about this method is it doesnt take much preparation. usually the only work i have to do is splitting one medium size split into three pieces for the top. I do this with a hatchet in the garage where I keep about a face cord. The starterloggs burn long enough to catch the splits above them, then they burn long enough to coal and catch the medium splits on the bottom. The next step after about 45 minutes is to add some large splits. I guess you could call it an inside out fire. Anyway, minimal smoke, always works. Like i said, never tried the top down, but i think this method minimizes some of the smaller kindling. another thing I like is that if you do light it and decide to go outside quick or watch tv and forget, there isnt enough wood for the stove to run away but still enough to throw some larger splits on.
In the end, whatever works for you.
Thank for the words of wisdom....I will be more careful...I did check on it from the yard and i know the stove well enough to know that it wasn't a raging inferno ...... i can look through my front storm door and see what it looks like.
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