Super Cedars...Top-Down or the Old Fashioned Way???

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

BurnIt13

Minister of Fire
Jun 10, 2010
636
Central MA
So I'm having a bigger learning curve than I expected with my new stove (Englander 30). That coupled with my not-the-driest oak I've been having a more difficult time than I wanted.

I tried a top-down fire last night and was very impressed. There was plenty of room for improvement in my technique but it was still more successfull than my typical bottom-up fires.

I bought some super cedars to help ignite the oak. Do they work best when used for a top-down fire or bottom-up?
 
Super Cedars are magical . . . I think you could burn them in any way you desire including using them in the fbled Right Sideways Method and they would work . . . but for me personally I usually go with the top down method . . . it's what works for me.
 
I would think that top down would be more difficult with "not-the-driest oak".

Shawn
 
shawneyboy said:
I would think that top down would be more difficult with "not-the-driest oak".

Shawn

One would think...but it sure kicked butt last night!
 
If you are using a whole SC instead of breaking it up, you could probably toss the wood and the SC in there randomly and it would light up fine :)
 
I'm a former top-down skeptic who's a rabid top-down convert these days. Top-down plus SuperCedars = firestarting nirvana.
 
I read on here where someone used his propane torch to light his fire..I had to try it!
Works good!
I was out of starters.
 
Cut up some 3/4" scrap pine shelving into 1/2" strips. Excellent fire starters no paper or anything else needed.
 
We use strips of birchbark as firestarters, but the supercedars are great too! I have some on hand for when the teenagers need to start a fire. They can all start a good top down fire but I do want to make it easy for them.
 
With Super Cedars it makes no difference how you start the fire. We have done it both ways but I always go back to my age-old sort of hybrid start. Two splits to form a V, then light 1/4 of s Super Cedar, add a couple pieces of kindling on top of that and then add one or two splits. Close door and let the thing burn.
 
BurnIt13 said:
...Do they work best when used for a top-down fire or bottom-up?

Yes. Rick
 
Personally, I find that top-down works much better with newspaper and that the Super Cedars work much better for igniting the pile from underneath. I don't do top-down fires in the stove at all, they just don't work as fast for me. Outside in the fire pit or chiminea, top-down is all we ever use now. When we camp we use the top-down as well, but newspaper is a PITA to bring along. Birch bark works quite well to start a top-down fire in the woods IMO, even when the wood is damp.
 
If ya get really lazy with the 30, lay two medium to large splits N/S in the center of the firebox with the width of a Super Cedar between them. Lay half a Super Cedar 1/3 of the way back between them and light it. Then lay another split slightly angled on top of them over the SC and close the door and enjoy. When the draft picks up the air coming out of that little "doghouse" in the front blowing through the tunnel to the back puts on quite a show.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.