Is fire supposed to stop roaring when you lock the latch???

Lewisthepilgrim said:

I added a couple more logs, pulled it back out to full open for about 10 min, then closed her back up to 50%. This is what it looks like now...

Are those flames still too big for the stove to start getting really hot?

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No that's fine let her go a little while at where u have it now ...eventually you will see more flames ... Let all the wood burn a bit .. then ease her down .. with your wood you don't want to completely close it I would say half of what you have now ...




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfjnlqlU3jE&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Then later. More like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-eYm9q7trU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

But this takes time to perfect and your setup is functional but not what we would like to see

Lewisthepilgrim said:

pen said:

If you have seasoned wood, a good draft, and aren't loading the stove in some funky way that is anti-burning by nature, then there is no reason you should have needed to keep the air 100% open for an hour. Something is going on here.

pen

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Its not that I had to, I just really don't know when the best time to push it in is. I also had just got back inside from stacking wood

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Just a cautionary note here: I do not leave my stove unattended until I've got it dialed down and settled in - the most that I even leave the room is to warm up a cup of water for my cappuccino and then I return to the stove room to keep an eye on the temp. Easy to say because it's just hubby & I here - kids are grown & gone & no other distractions here.

Don't get distracted when burning wood. That's how a different type of fire starts........

Lewisthepilgrim said:

Shari said:

Lewisthepilgrim said:

pen said:

If you have seasoned wood, a good draft, and aren't loading the stove in some funky way that is anti-burning by nature, then there is no reason you should have needed to keep the air 100% open for an hour. Something is going on here.

pen

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Its not that I had to, I just really don't know when the best time to push it in is. I also had just got back inside from stacking wood

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Just a cautionary note here: I do not leave my stove unattended until I've got it dialed down and settled in - the most that I even leave the room is to warm up a cup of water for my cappuccino and then I return to the stove room to keep an eye on the temp. Easy to say because it's just hubby & I here - kids are grown & gone & no other distractions here.

Don't get distracted when burning wood. That's how a different type of fire starts........

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what do you do if you have to leave your house??

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Get the wood fire 'settled in' (up to temp and then turned down) before you leave. I do the same thing for the last fire at night: Make sure the fire is settled before I retire for the night. Woodburning is a way of life - you can't just light it and forget it.

oldspark said:

Hey pecker what in the hell are you trying to say.

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All I got out of that was he saw Dragnet

More random thoughts . . .

Kudos to Iceman for helping out a new member.

Sounds like it is a combination of using semi-seasoned wood AND not understanding how to use the air control to achieve a secondary burn and get the most heat out of the stove . . . which is an all too common problem with many newbies.

25% is a magic number for many folks . . . not sure why . . . but it often works out to be the case.

+1 to Shari's comments . . . one of the drawbacks to running a woodstove is that you do need to dedicate some time to getting your woodstove to the "cruising speed" before you leave it alone . . . it often depends on the wood, set up and if you're reloading from just 3 or 4 hours ago or reloading from 7 or 8 hours ago as to how long this process takes . . . in general I figure on 15 minutes to 45 minutes of alone time with my stove before it's humping along nicely before I trust it enough to leave it alone . . . the key is to do like Shari said . . . get things adjusted and settled in . . . which for me means getting it to the point where the air control is down to where it has sustained secondaries.

How did it go? Any updates?

That sounds like we are back to the green wood problem.

Lewisthepilgrim said:

oldspark said:

That sounds like we are back to the green wood problem.

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whats the best way to dry out my logs???

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In a hurry? I assume yes, wood in the area of the wood burner will dry rapidly, is the wood split, small splits will work better.

Lewis, dont rely on anyone esle for seasoned wood, whether you cut yourself or scrounge or if you buy (assume its green even if said otherwise) and stack it in a good sunny spot that gets plenty of wind, Try to get 2-3 years ahead on wood so you'll always have a good supply of seasoned wood.
Where you live you should be able to scrounge up plenty of good hardwood and cut it yourself, make some nice racks for stacking whether out of pallets of peruse the forum for ideas from other members o0n how they store wood for seasoning.
good luck, you'll get it down in no time.

Well, I might suggest this http://www.supercedar.com/ these are very helpful...
Always if you can, put some wood in the basement put a fan to blow on the wood ... A dehumidifier will work well also...
With wet wood you need more coals than that, and should reload at higher temp... (which would mean more coals in there lol)
I am having some issues with some of my stash for this year also...
Instead of bringing it up to the house I stacked it facing south where it could get as much sun for this time of year... The last few days did a fantastic job of drying out the wood... Then it rained... But sitting in the sun and almost 60 was great .. the wood was already cut /split like yours for 2+ years so I will be able to burn it..
Your guy prolly had it in a pile for a year or so and with all the rain we got this summer it didn't dry out..
If you have a porch stack 1 row about 6-8 ft long 3-4 feet high and put a fan on it ...not as good as doing it in the basement but it will work ...
If u do it on a porch don't stack up against the wall , you want the fan on that side ..


If you have any wood scraps like 2x4 u definitely want to put those in when u reload with your wood

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

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Ahh the aged statement. Something else I have heard before. I'd be willing to bet it was "aged" in log form. This does little as far a seasoning is concerned. The only real way to season is being c/s/s. Not an unusual statement for a wood seller to make IMHO. Just like calling it seasoned when it was harvested in the spring and sat in log form for a season (the summer) then they split it. Take it as a lesson learned, it sucks I know. It sure sounds like a fuel issue. I think you will be very frustrated until you get properly seasoned wood. Perhaps you know someone local who would be willing to trade you for some truely seasoned wood?

$300 a cord for green wood is amazing. Your stoves sounds like it is working just fine, I would consider adding more chimney pipe but no rush. Get you hands on some palletts or find someone nearby that has seasoned wood a offer to trade them some. Good luck.

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I live in Newmarket. If you want to trade a load of unseasoned wood for a load of Black Locust that is ready to burn, I would be happy to do so. Then you can see if seasoned wood is the real issue.

Let me know.

fsr4538 said:

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I live in Newmarket. If you want to trade a load of unseasoned wood for a load of Black Locust that is ready to burn, I would be happy to do so. Then you can see if seasoned wood is the real issue.

Let me know.

Click to expand...

BLACK LOCUST!
You can't pass that up! Bl is one of the best firewoods around.... Wish he was close to me ! Lol

fsr4538 said:

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I live in Newmarket. If you want to trade a load of unseasoned wood for a load of Black Locust that is ready to burn, I would be happy to do so. Then you can see if seasoned wood is the real issue.

Let me know.

Click to expand...

Another fine example showing that Hearth.com members are the best!!

WoodNStuff said:

fsr4538 said:

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I live in Newmarket. If you want to trade a load of unseasoned wood for a load of Black Locust that is ready to burn, I would be happy to do so. Then you can see if seasoned wood is the real issue.

Let me know.

Click to expand...

Another fine example showing that Hearth.com members are the best!!

Click to expand...

X2

WoodNStuff said:

fsr4538 said:

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I live in Newmarket. If you want to trade a load of unseasoned wood for a load of Black Locust that is ready to burn, I would be happy to do so. Then you can see if seasoned wood is the real issue.

Let me know.

Click to expand...

Another fine example showing that Hearth.com members are the best!!

Click to expand...

Ive met Forrest, hes A1

weatherguy said:

WoodNStuff said:

fsr4538 said:

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I live in Newmarket. If you want to trade a load of unseasoned wood for a load of Black Locust that is ready to burn, I would be happy to do so. Then you can see if seasoned wood is the real issue.

Let me know.

Click to expand...

Another fine example showing that Hearth.com members are the best!!

Click to expand...

Ive met Forrest, hes A1

Click to expand...

Aw Shucks, twern't nuthin
Just thought I might be able to help.

Lewisthepilgrim said:

what a bummer!

I cut a split in half with my miter saw and sure enough, literally about half the inside of the wood is darker in color! What a bunch of chit !

I bought this wood from a guy who seemed to know a little more than the other guys I talked to. It was also more expensive (300 a cord) He stated it was aged at LEAST 18-24 months.

He is actually due back to drop more wood off (the cord was a little short) ... what should I say to him ??

Click to expand...

I wouldn't say anything till he got to your house then show him the wood cut one in front of him.... Cut a new piece he is bringing... Then ask him to take it back! Ask for your money back! He will not want to do this...
Tell him you paid premium $ for green wood!
See if he will make you some type of deal!