I've heard Locust is one of the best burning woods but I've had my problems. Last year I tried burning locust in my new Fireview that had been split (3-4 inch splits) and seasoned for a full year with miserable results - it was very hard to get the load burning and had poor heat output so I figured it needed another year to season. After fighting with about one face chord of locust, I switched to my trusty 1-year seasoned Beech and Birch and got my usual very fast reload light-ups (5 minutes to get the flames really going and another 10 minutes to get the flu temp up to 500F and then I engage the Combustor). I measure the flu with a surface thermometer about 3 inches from the output of the stove. I also always make sure the stovetop is at least 250 F before engaging the cat.
Fast forward to this year, now the same locust has been seasoned for TWO FULL YEARS and was well covered (top only). Tonight, I loaded the stove and it took over 30 minutes (with cat bypassed and the door slightly open) just to get the flames to START BURNING the wood. Then after another 15-20 minutes (with the draft set to #3) the flu temp finally climbed up to 450F and I engaged the cat. The locust was loaded on top of a very hot bed of coals (stove-top temp was still at 275 F when I reloaded the stove). I then waited for the usual quick stove-top temperatrue rise but after waiting a solid hour it never got above 300F ! I had to bypass the cat again, bring flu up to 500F and finally after re-engaging the cat the stovetop quickly rose all the way to 650 F. I finally got lots of heat and its been cranking for over an hour at 600 F.
Why does this locust take so long to get burning and has to be babied so much to get the cat to light-off? Even one year-seasoned oak lights better!! :-S Has anyone else had trouble getting locust to burn in a catalytic stove?
Fast forward to this year, now the same locust has been seasoned for TWO FULL YEARS and was well covered (top only). Tonight, I loaded the stove and it took over 30 minutes (with cat bypassed and the door slightly open) just to get the flames to START BURNING the wood. Then after another 15-20 minutes (with the draft set to #3) the flu temp finally climbed up to 450F and I engaged the cat. The locust was loaded on top of a very hot bed of coals (stove-top temp was still at 275 F when I reloaded the stove). I then waited for the usual quick stove-top temperatrue rise but after waiting a solid hour it never got above 300F ! I had to bypass the cat again, bring flu up to 500F and finally after re-engaging the cat the stovetop quickly rose all the way to 650 F. I finally got lots of heat and its been cranking for over an hour at 600 F.
Why does this locust take so long to get burning and has to be babied so much to get the cat to light-off? Even one year-seasoned oak lights better!! :-S Has anyone else had trouble getting locust to burn in a catalytic stove?