Not so smart newb question

Once I know I'm headed for bed, and the fire is cruising along, AND I know that I'm not gonna get an inferno of fire, (mostly because I don't fill up the stove and walk away for the night), I "open" up the air flow all the way and let the fire have full air. I do this because I have seen a difference in the ash.

Seems that when I do that (give the box full air at the end) the ash left over in the morning seems more "fine particulate" and I like that in the morning when I'm leveling off the ash bed for the next burn. If nothing else, it's easier to work with. I'm not a big fan of left over chunks. Not that that's bad or anything.........just don't personally like it.

-Soupy1957

If I don't care about an easy restart in the morning (I'm kind of a night/weekend warrior burner) then I do what Soupy does, and open up the air before going to bed, as I'll be left with just ash to push around the box, for the next time that I decide to start a fire. If I'm looking to burn the next morning, as well, (say Friday into Saturday), I will leave the air closed and wake up in the morning to hot coals, in which case I can throw some kindling on there and can start up a nice fire, rather easily, going from that point forward.

I could be way off here, but I don't think you have to worry about creosote build up from a fire that has burned itself all the way to the coaling stage, and letting it go from there with the air choked down. But let other, more experienced burners confirm that to you.

soupy1957 said:

Once I know I'm headed for bed, and the fire is cruising along, AND I know that I'm not gonna get an inferno of fire, (mostly because I don't fill up the stove and walk away for the night), I "open" up the air flow all the way and let the fire have full air. I do this because I have seen a difference in the ash.

Seems that when I do that (give the box full air at the end) the ash left over in the morning seems more "fine particulate" and I like that in the morning when I'm leveling off the ash bed for the next burn. If nothing else, it's easier to work with. I'm not a big fan of left over chunks. Not that that's bad or anything.........just don't personally like it.

-Soupy1957

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If the OP is looking for an overnight burn, why would you suggest to leave the air control wide open? Thats a waste of heat and wood.
Might as well get ride of the EPA stove.
If the wood is dry, the opposite should occur.

bakes99 said:

So burning all day today, hot coals and about half piece of arbutus left nearly burned down and do not really want the fire to smolder all night.
Sorry for this, but
Do I open the air vent wide open to burn remains up fast or do I close vent down to somewhat smother the fire?. From what i guess or thought I've read, the PE super insert never closes totally even when the air intake lever is to the farthest right in the "L" position.
Only reason I ask is that I do not want to chance creosote build-up with a smoldering fire throughout the night.
Thanks

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So, I'm not sure if you want a fire all night or want the stove to go die out.

If you want the stove to die out, you can either leave the draft alone or open it full. Many folks find that after they start burning more as the air turns cold that their stoves suddenly become so full of coals there is little room for wood. A good way around this is like you have; about a half piece of wood left and the rest is coals. Open the draft full and that will help burn down the coals.

If you just want the fire to go out without adding wood, don't be concerned about creosote because at that point of the fire there is nothing to cause creosote. Smolder away.

Backwoods Savage said:

bakes99 said:

So burning all day today, hot coals and about half piece of arbutus left nearly burned down and do not really want the fire to smolder all night.
Sorry for this, but
Do I open the air vent wide open to burn remains up fast or do I close vent down to somewhat smother the fire?. From what i guess or thought I've read, the PE super insert never closes totally even when the air intake lever is to the farthest right in the "L" position.
Only reason I ask is that I do not want to chance creosote build-up with a smoldering fire throughout the night.
Thanks

Click to expand...

So, I'm not sure if you want a fire all night or want the stove to go die out.

If you want the stove to die out, you can either leave the draft alone or open it full. Many folks find that after they start burning more as the air turns cold that their stoves suddenly become so full of coals there is little room for wood. A good way around this is like you have; about a half piece of wood left and the rest is coals. Open the draft full and that will help burn down the coals.

If you just want the fire to go out without adding wood, don't be concerned about creosote because at that point of the fire there is nothing to cause creosote. Smolder away.

Click to expand...

+1
Nothing to make creosote, more like a charcoal burn at this point.
Hi burns the coals down to fine ash.

bakes99 said:

Sorry I wasn't clear. No over night burn, just want it out as quick as possible because of the potential creosote build up with long overnight burns. Sounds like not too much to worry about.

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In that case, just forget the stove, go to bed and get a good night's sleep. The coals will be burned down by morning and no creosote will be formed from those coals burning.

Backwoods Savage said:

bakes99 said:

Sorry I wasn't clear. No over night burn, just want it out as quick as possible because of the potential creosote build up with long overnight burns. Sounds like not too much to worry about.

Click to expand...

In that case, just forget the stove, go to bed and get a good night's sleep. The coals will be burned down by morning and no creosote will be formed from those coals burning.

Click to expand...

+1 . . . like normal . . . not much that BS and I don't agree with.