CDW Federal Airtight Questions

[edison38]

I know that many of you have low regard for the stove and you are probably correct. Nevertheless, the stove came with the house, which is a second home rather than my primary residence, and I just can't justify replacing the stove right now. I have a few questions about operating the stove to best advantage and would appreciate any input.

I have the operating manual and am trying to follow the instructions. On initial start up I use only the primary air control. When the external stove temperature reaches about 400 I close the by-pass gate and close the primary then open the secondary controls.

I read the article on Tending a Wood Fire and believe that the Federal Airtight qualifies as a type #2 stove. The primary air control dial is on the ash door at the front of the stove and there are two secondary air control dials on the side loading door. If I understand the article correctly I should be raking the embers toward the side loading door when reloading.

The stove has very small fire box and thus far I generally get the external temperature to the 350-400 range with reload needed about every 3 hours. When it is cruising in that temperature range I can see some secondary burn occurring near the cat so I believe that I am on the right path. There is obviously a learning curve associated with using the various air controls, etc. so I would appreciate any hints.

I did not install the stove and cannot answer questions about draft, chimney height etc. The wood I am currently burning was standing dead wood on the property, probably maple.

 

[savageactor7]

Hi edison I don't know about cat stove...they're not my lane. There have been a lot of posts about them if you wanted to do a search for 'Dutch west ' in this forum. Most of the owners really like those stove too...surprised no one's stepped up to help yet. Patience ....

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I burned a CDW Rocky Mountain for a while.

IIRC...


After I had a fire going and loaded up I kept the bottom, lower coal air intake, open until the stove reached temp. Then I opened the upper intake a bit... maybe 1 turn or so. I slowly closed the bottom and engaged the cat. I never touched the cat intake.



Matt

 

[wellbuilt home]

I used a CDW for 15 years and it was great I had the EX Large it was a 90s stove. I never really raked any coals or did anything but fill it with wood . I left my secondary air open about 1/2 turn all the time and just filled the stove and worked the damper and intake air . I cleaned the ash twice a week . John

 

[edison38]

Hi edison I don't know about cat stove...they're not my lane. There have been a lot of posts about them if you wanted to do a search for 'Dutch west ' in this forum. Most of the owners really like those stove too...surprised no one's stepped up to help yet. Patience ....

Thanks, I did search the forum and found a few mentions of the stoves but no real hints on operating them.

Mine appears to be from the mid 80's and is rather small; probably too small for the area it is in. Eventually when I move into the house full time I will move it down to the basement workshop and replace it with something new but for now am using it for supplemental heat in the main living area. Still, I am a little frustrated by the amount of tinkering I have to do to keep the stove up to temperature and the short burn time.

 

[edison38]

I used a CDW for 15 years and it was great I had the EX Large it was a 90s stove. I never really raked any coals or did anything but fill it with wood . I left my secondary air open about 1/2 turn all the time and just filled the stove and worked the damper and intake air . I cleaned the ash twice a week . John

Thanks John. Apparently, I have an older and smaller model. No damper installed, just the three dial controls. Also a very small ash drawer that has to be dumped almost every day.

Huge question though-when the instructions say to "turn" the dial I have been assuming that a turn is more of a 1/4 turn rather than a full 360 of the dial.