Here's how I do a big load. Generally I don't load that high, but if I do, it's small dry stuff that burns off quickly.
First I scrape coals to the right (where the door cracked can blow air on it) then I start stacking from left to right biggest splits on the left and bottom.
Next, I put some EW style in the front by the door. This is not something I generally do because I don't need more wood to get through the night, and I don't want a full load of coals in the AM. I want to start out with what you see above.
Notice that you have to leave room for the latch on the right.
Now, the tricky part is closing down at he right time. Those logs in the front impair your ability to see the flames behind, so watch the temp carefully, and shut the door around 300-350 stovetop. Then around 400 shut down the primary all the way for long burn times, and halfway between closed and the edge of the ash lip if you want a hotter burn.
I'm finding that if I am in a hurry and I'm using good seasoned wood, that I can really let the box get engulfed and then slam everything closed and it will burn just fine, but get there slower and smoke for longer.
First I scrape coals to the right (where the door cracked can blow air on it) then I start stacking from left to right biggest splits on the left and bottom.
Next, I put some EW style in the front by the door. This is not something I generally do because I don't need more wood to get through the night, and I don't want a full load of coals in the AM. I want to start out with what you see above.
Notice that you have to leave room for the latch on the right.
Now, the tricky part is closing down at he right time. Those logs in the front impair your ability to see the flames behind, so watch the temp carefully, and shut the door around 300-350 stovetop. Then around 400 shut down the primary all the way for long burn times, and halfway between closed and the edge of the ash lip if you want a hotter burn.
I'm finding that if I am in a hurry and I'm using good seasoned wood, that I can really let the box get engulfed and then slam everything closed and it will burn just fine, but get there slower and smoke for longer.