moosetrek
Minister of Fire
Try the blower. It will help you distribute more heat from the stove at 600F and do a better job moving it out into the room. $160 well spent, even after you solve the draft issue. Sounds like you're on track, remember the increased efficiency comes at the cost of a more fine-tuned stove. Wood, draft, etc. all matter more in the 30NC and other new stoves than the older ones. That said, try some good dry pine or smal pieces to really get the chimney warm; as mentioned close it back 1/3 to 1/2 way and check how much the temp climbs. Even with a less-than-ideal draft, I would think 700 should be doable with that stove - less-than-ideal pine we still had our 30 crankin' with only a 9' pipe/chimney combo in our last place.