I've noticed on other posts that folks are having lower flue temps than stove top. I'm the other way around. When my load starts to burn it is nothing for my flue temp to get 11-1200 and my stove top will top out at 700-725.My draft is only open about 10-15%. When it calms down and starts mellowing out it will be a flue temp of 800-900 with a stove top of 600. I had a new ss liner put in this year, but the stove doesn't act like there is too much draft. When it gets really going the flames tend to come toward the front of the stove, it has a good secondary burn . It holds a load good. I was able to restart this morning after 10 hours with just adding wood to a nice bed of hot coals. I t just seems that a lot of heat is going up that pipe