30 burn-in

The fire took off a LOT slower than I thought it would. Could be the weather. Not sure. Currently 46 degrees out.

Fire was started with the old cedar shake kindling. The fire only wanted to really take off with the door cracked.

Might just be the weather and I'm moaning about nothing. Just figured I'd post just to make sure I didn't forget to unplug something during the install.

Takes a few minutes to get a good draft started with everything cold.
As soon as it heats up the pipes, I bet it'll be fine.

I noticed when I did my break in fires with both stoves that it took a couple burns to get the moisture out of the firebricks. Once it all dried out it fired up as it should. I'm sure you're going to have a great season with that new monster. BTW I checked out some of those photos of your house. That is a really nice place you've got, Browning Bar.

I'm about an hour into messing with it. Stove is at about 350-400. Just added some larger splits to see what that does. Seems to be burning a little better, but still a little sluggish. Not too concerned. Just kind of unexpected.

I'm at about 430. Burning clean, but still a little sluggish. We'll see what it's like tomorrow when the temps are lower.

FWIW it took like 4 burns for my Oz to start cranking and a solid week or two before it really started getting up to high temps.

The obvious question.
He gingerly asks,
How's the wood?

Start up wood was 20 year old ceder shake roofing shingles. The splits I added are 2-3 year old ash. I should be in good shape.

Sitting at about 500. Still sluggish. But moving in the right direction, at least.

The only reason I asked is most of the time the problem is the wood.
But 2-3 year old ash is plenty seasoned & you should be in good shape.
I'm not a fan of roofing shakes, but that's just me, many have some kind of fire &/or moss treatment on them.

A tight house can cause poor draft. Tried cracking a window?

Oh, bogydave, you are hilarious!

Just trying to keep you awake while you monitor the burn in LOL
I'll just listen

I think you're ok. Although, 500 doesn't sound like a break-in fire.

It's the first time you've lit this stove, and you're not used to it yet. That stove was probably designed for lower than 46 degree temps to kick up much draft. Be patient and don't over-think it just yet. After trying out every stove so far, maybe this will lead you to the next one. Afterall, I don't think you've experimented with enough stoves yet. You know you aren't done yet.

I gotta say, you are the first to suggest that I have a well insulated home!

Seriously, though, I have two windows open to let out the stench from the 30.

It's a steel stove. Not much to break-in other than to get the smell out of the house and burn in the paint. I figured this evening was a good time as it wasn't really that cold so opening the windows wouldn't be a big deal.

But, you're right. I think the temp and weather had something to do with it. I was more concerned that I left some packing material in the stove and the stove wasn't getting the air that it needed. The stove topped out at 550 degrees. Took some time, but we are about three and a half hours into the burn and still getting secondaries off of the wood.

On the other hand, I hope you are extremely wrong about the stove buying. I look forward to next fall when I don't have to juggle stoves and figure out installation solutions...

I remember my burn in.
Never thought about all the oil or what ever was on it smoking up the house.

It was so bad, eyes burning bad, I sent the family out shopping & told thme to stay away till supper .
A cold day with fans running, doors & windows open.
Next time, I burn a fire in a new stove, in the driveway

Later I installed new double wall pipe, I smoked & stunk up the house again.
So much for me learning

11 PM here, you are a night owl

I never buy new as I can't justify taking that kind of a hit. I hear you though. A fire in the driveway hot will leave all the fumes outside. Makes sense to me.

Oh yea
Smoke alarm all worked too. Un-wired them, still blaring.
One I had to buy a new one, Thew it outside, couldn't get the battery out of it.
Sounds like this isn't your first rodeo either.
Have fun

I like late nights, but I also like early mornings. I'm very conflicted.

Don't overthink it. Give it a couple of fires when it's 30s or colder, and you will know what you have.

You've got to have some very chilly temps in Alaska. I imagine you really appreciate the warmth of a stove. When its 10 degrees here, it's really stretching the limits of my stove. You see that somewhat frequenty. We have that a few nights a year.

Cooler weather will probably help. Only trouble I had breaking mine in was one rather warm, damp morning I was trying to get a small fire going to burn in the stove and had a little smoke get pushed in with the heavy air. After the flue heated up - no problems. On colder mornings this thing is just night and day vs. my old school Defiant. Draft is not an issue at all - I just put a 1/4 super cedar(thank you Hearth) under some wood, light it and leave the door cracked until it gets going. I then shut the door and wait for temps to get up and secondaries to start working and cut off the damper.

Burns great, throws rediculous heat and it is 79 degrees in here with 35ish outside temps this morning. This is with a small fire last night and a stove that was 100 degrees when I got up at 5am to go hunting. Cold weather will be your friend.

FWIW my Osburn always seems sluggish wen completely clean. Takes 1-2 fires to get a good ash bed then it's back to normal.

Yep, wait for the temps to drop down to freezing and you will be much happier. My stove gets lazy, draft wise, the warmer it is. When it really gets cold, she purrrrssss A#1. It is a heat monster with the right wood.