woodjack said:
Thanks for your reply.
I don't understand what's wrong with letting my stove get to 700, then fully damping down. Then, I have to open the damper just a bit and my stove cruises at 650 and slowly cools off. This is the method I use in bitter cold weather.
I don't think I'm burning my wood inefficiently. The woods goes into a raging flame which just chars the wood. Then i have secondary burn for the remainder of the cycle. My approach could be wrong, but like I said, I know my stove well and burn 24/7. Maybe our different experiences have something to do my stove very big fire box. I'm not trying to be cavalier. This is my experience.
When it's not bitter cold I do like you recommended, damping down sooner. Maybe your stove is different, but my stove will not heat up quicker by damping down sooner. I have very high ceilings and lots of glass so my house really needs a very hot stove to stay warm.
Sorry, I was just going by what you wrote: "After packing my stove I, too often, come back to find my needle pinned to the max (900)."
900 degrees seems a bit much for any stove. Also, it is not just a particular stove, but there is a point where you are sending more heat up the chimney rather than keeping it in the stove. You don't have to close the draft but try closing it half way. The stove should heat up quicker and you should not have to be concerned with a 900 degree stove.
Please understand I am not trying to bash you in any way but only trying to help and I fear for anyone who has to contend with that hot of a stove. Good luck to you.l