My take on the Shoulder Season Fire.
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Pagey said:
I like Yuengling. In PA it escapes a lot of taxes since it's brewed here. One of the cheaper beers you can buy here.
It's always fun trying different starting technique's. The last few fires I've had were just similar sized splits as Pen spaced apart a little more with 1/3 chunk of Super Cedar underneath. I reached light off in 20 minutes but the first 5 minutes were a little smokey. Still have to try the top down with Super Cedar.
soupy1957 said:
The secret I quickly discovered to shoulder season fires is to build one fire . . . no reloads . . . allow the stove time to heat up and time to heat up the place . . . avoid the temptation to reload the stove even if you think it's still a little chilly . . . do this and you will not over heat the house . . . give in to the temptation and just add a few small pieces to keep the fire going a bit longer and you will often need to open the windows a little later.
Swedishchef said:
Try it a few more times . . . the first three or four times I tried it I thought, "Pffff . . . this is dumb . . . it doesn't work" . . . but on Try Number 4 or 5 the fire took off and voila . . . I was a convert to top down fires. After you experiment a bit you can modify things a bit . . . maybe use more kindling . . . maybe tuck the newspaper under the kindling . . . etc.
Wow that's a ton of wood for a shoulder season fire. I have been burning for a couple weeks. I usually make a fire with 3-4 pieces of spruce and maybe a piece of birch... equal to about 1/2 of the wood you have in that pic when the can of nassty beer.
I put the paper on the bottom, with a few small pieces, then larger pieces on sides and over top, then light. Been doing it like since I started making fires ~20 years ago.
I put the paper on the bottom, with a few small pieces, then larger pieces on sides and over top, then light. Been doing it like since I started making fires ~20 years ago.
I'm surprised the EPA hasn't put a restriction on shoulder season fires since they don't allow the stove to go into high efficiency mode. Next they'll have the stoves automatically shut down after a pre-determined amount of time under temp.
But seriously, I can see this shoulder season fire debate as one that has lots of solutions with lots of variables. The key being to get the top of the stove hot quickly.
But seriously, I can see this shoulder season fire debate as one that has lots of solutions with lots of variables. The key being to get the top of the stove hot quickly.
mhrischuk said:
That's exactly why the top-down fire is so popular with city dwellers or those w/ close neighbors or smog regulations. Much less smoke on startup than a fire built bottom up.
pen
pen said:
I'm with you and Vanessa Penn top down works very well even better with the T-5 vs. my CDW.. I think it's the air entering from the front that makes the difference.. I find if I light the fire just below the top layer with 1/4 SC and close the door with max air it takes right off..
Ray
I am defiantly going to try the top down method. My wife
Already complains about the light smoke smell in the house
When I open the door (ever so slowly) to add the bigger splits.
By the way, I just added the side heat shields the other day.
Just have not fired her up yet. I am seriously considering
Adding the blower next. This damn wood burning is a bit
Addicting.
Already complains about the light smoke smell in the house
When I open the door (ever so slowly) to add the bigger splits.
By the way, I just added the side heat shields the other day.
Just have not fired her up yet. I am seriously considering
Adding the blower next. This damn wood burning is a bit
Addicting.
Heatmiser5 said:
You haven't even started to get going yet . . . just wait until you start buying the hydraulic splitter, splitting hand tools (just in case), new chainsaw and other assorted tools that are "necessary."
firefighterjake said:
Don't forget the wood shelter and things to haul that firewood around lol... Oh and beer just cuz.. etc..
Ray
Heatmiser5 said:
Tell her that is fine, you won't open the stove door again, hand her a ski jacket and gloves, and tell her to get comfortable for the next five to six months.
Not sure what you mean by that. If I put that much wood in my stove even right now when it's in the 30s at night it would be 90* in the house. I put 3 medium sized birch splits last night and I woke up this morning with it being 83* in my bedroom (farthest room in the house from the stove). It's nice when it's -10* cause I can pack the stove and not worry about it.
pen said:
thx for the ideas on the top down fire start... didn't think of even trying that and I'm tired of the smoke at startup - I'll give it a go as the season ramps up
Top down is the only way to go for me! No wood splits falling when the kindling burns away--shifting logs, etc. I don't use newspaper. I use Super Cedars (1/4 or 1/2) ... which reminds me, I need to order a case.
Broke down and bought an A/C this year. Too much humidity now here in the Mojave with the monsoons every year and my swamp coolers just make it more miserable. Bought the Mitsubishi ductless A/C and heat pump. Probably use that during shoulder season (in the 90s today) and burn the Country when it's time to get serious.
Hubby has totally given over the woodstove to me to operate although he has learned the top down method. He didn't think it would work because he always built like you would a campfire. I'll never go back to the old method.
Happy burning!!
Broke down and bought an A/C this year. Too much humidity now here in the Mojave with the monsoons every year and my swamp coolers just make it more miserable. Bought the Mitsubishi ductless A/C and heat pump. Probably use that during shoulder season (in the 90s today) and burn the Country when it's time to get serious.
Hubby has totally given over the woodstove to me to operate although he has learned the top down method. He didn't think it would work because he always built like you would a campfire. I'll never go back to the old method.
Happy burning!!
Anybody that doubts climate change should pay a little attention to monsoons in the Mojave Desert.
Good to see ya back CountryGal. Hope ya have a good burning season.
Good to see ya back CountryGal. Hope ya have a good burning season.
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