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smoke dragons?

Post in 'Classic Wood Stove Forums Pre-EPA (prior to 1988)' started by bucketboy, Feb 16, 2011.

  1. bucketboy Member

    joined: Aug 7, 2009
    52 posts
    central ontario
    wondered why older stoves are called smoke dragons? we have an old lakewood and i only have smoke for approx 5 min after loading the stove or upon a cold chimney.
    bucketboy, Feb 16, 2011
    #1

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  2. brianbeech Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 11, 2011
    299 posts
    Southern IN
    I believe it was because most of them aren't nearly as clean burning as new stoves and tend to send a lot of smoke up the chimney. With the EPA ratings, most pre-EPA stoves are considered to be not nearly as efficient; I'm sure this is because many of the Mfgs put a lot of science into the new burning techniques and have greatly lowered their unburned particle output. I do believe that my 1970's era Jotul 118 burns quite clean when hot...of course, this is just a feeling. :D
    brianbeech, Feb 16, 2011
    #2

  3. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,504 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Fact is that a non-epa stove will probably NEVER burn as clean as the EPA - BUT - that doesn't mean that a properly burning old stove cant do a good job. The term comes from the huge old stoves that were loaded with tons of wood (often green) and then cranked down to a smolder, with the chimneys looking like an old steam engine pulling a load up a hill.

    If you run an older stove with good temps, you will not get the billowing smoke that the smoke dragons are known for. (good, dry wood too)
    Jags, Feb 16, 2011
    #3

  4. tfdchief Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 24, 2009
    2,975 posts
    Tuscola, IL
    Well said!
    tfdchief, Feb 16, 2011
    #4

  5. RNLA Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 18, 2010
    761 posts
    I know of a few "dragons" in my area. I can tell you that the users are not doing anything to support clean burning. This is unfortunate because they can be a somewhat clean burn. The wood is a big part but it is hard to tell anyone about it, they like I, will not know until they use truly dry wood to burn...
    RNLA, Feb 25, 2011
    #5

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