Finally learning our Rangeley
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That doesn't look like cordwood in there....
We fired ours this week due to a need for break-in fires and 35 degree nights. The secondaries are intoxicating to watch.
We fired ours this week due to a need for break-in fires and 35 degree nights. The secondaries are intoxicating to watch.
If what's burning in the original photos are Bio-Bricks or similar products you may be voiding your warranty. Not sure if it's still true, but Jotul did specifically advise against using these products in their stoves and stated that such use would nullify the warranty. Using them for break-in fires is especially risky as they can produce hot spots well in excess of break in temperatures needed.
jotulguy
Feeling the Heat
I never had them take off, this stove responds to it's damper perfectly but i'll keep em out of stove.This was from a week ago.How ya supposed to know this when ya buy 1?I used the start up method which was 5 bricks.that was perfect,it says in manual use solid wood fuel only.If this voids my warranty they'll never sell 1 to people i know.If they change their warranties after they sell you a $2300 stove they might not sell many.Where was this specific info when i bought the stove from them? In the manual? Noooo!
jotulguy
Feeling the Heat
The last thing any of us want is an unhappy customer. I am sorry Bub381 that this point wasnt brought up at the time of purchase. The issue we seem to have with them is that in testing in the lab the fire was running away when we burned them. It scared all of us to the point of saying they are not for use with Jotul stoves. If one was to use them in a limited way im sure there would be no issues. The fear was the worst case of someone filling the firebox all the way up with the logs. On average there is 2 and 1/2 times the energy in one of those logs vs the same volume of cord wood.
Burned as directed I found no overtemp issues with either the BioBricks or the high-end, super compressed logs. However, following instructions is hard for some folks, so I can understand the caveat.
I have no issue with Jotul if they want to keep these bricks out of their stoves.If it's safer not to burn them i can see it.I just don't want them telling me i voided my warranty because of something they tell SOME buyers but i never heard of.Not dissing them unless they back out on some issue(if 1 should come up).Love the stove.Glad you people told me,i was going today to buy a ton.*PHEW* thanks for the info.Jotulguy,i can see Jotuls point.Begreen i know what ya mean by these could be hot and some not knowing any better on some issues.Sure liked em on startup but only tried it a couple times.300 on 1 fire and 350 on the other, never owned them during break in fires as you can see on my breakin fire posts.i can't imagine a firebox full of these things.Especially in an old smoke dragon.WOW!!Bought a 30 something pound box.Have to use the others to soak and plant flowers in. %-P
Wallace
Member
Have you been happy with your Rangeley so far? I am getting one in two weeks and haven't heard many opinions from folks who own one.
Bub381 said:
Actually that is how BioBricks are supposed to be burned. They are to be packed in full rows with the next row at right angles. The object is to create a solid mass, rather than a teepee that air can easily flow through. Done this way they burn long and steadily.
I did the tee pee because the BioBrick box showed to do this for startup fires.Thanks for the info and point taken.Wallace,we love this stove so far.When adjusting the primary air it responds like an electric stove.It does just what we ask for.If it's at 300 degrees and we want it to stay at that temp or at least not get hotter then it does what we want.All hookups will be different so i can't make promises.I have noticed with ash left in stove i get a better burn and when we have colder air outside i get a better draft.LEARNED THESE TIPS FROM THIS SITE.Throws some nice heat but the max burn times i'm not sure of cause i haven't had a need for that much heat yet and wanted to take it easy on stove temps for awhile.I have now had the stove to 400 and feel safe taking it to 700.This stove says it can be run from 500 to 700 and no hotter.It can be run cooler but keep at least around 300 to keep the creosote at bay.I will give ya a better report when fall sets in a little harder but you'll have yours by then.you wanna know more maybe i can answer it for you.
+ 1 for the Rangeley. We have only had half-a-dozen fires or so in this stove but we have been very impressed to date. Like Bub381 we haven't been packing it full or burning at Wide-Open Throttle yet but I am itching for some cooler weather to strech this thing's legs.
I sincerely hope Jotul is heavily considering a Rangeley manufactured without the top load door and associated parts. I personally have no desire or want for a top-loader, but I love the look of the stove and can definitely see one sitting on my hearth in place of the Castine. With that large front door, the top-load feature is mute and a head scratcher for me; as I keep a fan and water kettle on mine. That would be a huge disadvantage to feed the stove having to remove these two items each time.
Yep, it would be on my short list configured with the front door only. Its a beautiful stove.
Yep, it would be on my short list configured with the front door only. Its a beautiful stove.
Such a beast is rumored to be in the works. I like the top load but it wasn't a must have for me and yes, once the steamer goes on top I will prob stop loading it that way.
I haven't used the top loader yet but will when i wanna pack an overnighter in there.I see your point about having things on the griddle cause i have a pot of water and a scent stone there but i can remove the pot because it has a handle like a bucket and i can stand to take the stone off once or twice a day.I wonder if it would give you a bigger firebox with out the top loader? I bet you'd get around a 3 cu ft firebox.I would like to have the roof of this firebox about 3" higher because i have bigger splits but that would be a different story.lol Next year smaller splits and it'll be perfect.
jotulguy
Feeling the Heat
Well folks I am here to tell you that........ its a secret! But if you were in the market for a larger firebox with the same styling as the TL-50 I would bet next spring you will be hearing about one.
summit
Minister of Fire
I think Jotul's big issue witht the bio-bricks was the fact their stoves were usually all cast. The rangeley being steel, I don't see much potential for cracking to occur from potential overfiring. The top is all cast, but not in direct contact witht the firebox per say.... keep the ashpan door closed when firing, and you'll be fine.
We have used our Rangeley a few times this fall as well. After the 3 break in fires we used it twice, last Wednesday and Thursday. For the 1st time in 14 years my wife was too hot. I added 4 small to medium splits about 9:00 PM, at about 4:00 AM I heard the fan on the back of the stove stop. At 6:00 when I went down to the kitchen the stove was still warm. I expect I will not have trouble with an all night burn. Once the stove reached the temperature that I was looking for 400, I closed the damper half way and it maintained a constant temp for at least 2 hours. I am truely impressed with this stove.
Wallace
Member
I am picking up my Rangeley on Friday! It sounds like it is gonna be a good stove. It's our first woodstove. Hopefully it will really go a long way to cutting our propane costs!
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