This year is a rare time. I have seasoned firewood that I can burn without worry of going out, and accelerated creosote buildup. I am limiting the 02, banking down the flame, even in horizontal mode, and the heat is gentler and the splits are lasting a long time, for this little heater.
A lot of things came together to make this possible - a permanent, owned log splitter given gratis by one of my greatest all time best brothers. Unemployed time last year that allowed me to prep. And the smart (duh!) notion that I don't have to split to burning size, just SPLIT. It's drying. That'e the main thing. I'll worry about making it a useable size later. What I can't cram for as the winter fast approches is moisture content. Splitting time - that I can work in. This convenience is affecting decisions I'm making as to whether to plit or gather. I'm splitting everything I have now, in order that next yeat is like this year. Maybe too big, but I'm splitting.
Now I am truly controlling the temp of our little Intrepid in this modest size den, burning in horizontal mode (zigzag flame path before it reaches the flue) and limiting the oxygen. And the wall mounted fan moves the air to the rest of the 1st floor.
Trust me on this - even if you have to split the wood just in half and leave it (I did pie slices. I would describe them as the kind of slice you would get at a diner - nothing remarkably generous) it's the best use of your time, even better than collecting more wood.
Of course you can burn partially seasoned wood. It's ok, in fact it's the norm around here. But you have to know your rate of stack buildup and how to nurse a fire. You better have a bellows. Sometimes the flames (or lack thereof) can be pitiful, but the room is usually somewhat warm, and it's "free", so FTW. (Not free if you count my time.) And if my "partially seasoned" stock is dry enough to burn strong, I still have to burn hot with full 02.
Last year I pie-sliced these trunks, and now I can enjoy secondary combustion with limited oxygen, the way it's supposed to work. I have recently read forum posts and visited mfgr websites that taught me: limiting the 02 is ideal. Slow the burn and combustion of volatiles is best. I usually can't employ this best practice because I have to allow as much 02 as possible in order to keep my chimney cleaning intervals to no more than Thanksgiving, New Year's and Valentine's Day. Last year I didn't clean at all, but it was a warm winter.
Tonite the little Intrepid maintained a hot coal bed for six hours. After returning home I chuckedin splits and restarted with no kindling. The heat is gentle and unsweaty, even when the temps climb to moderate during the day. I don't feel guilty about keeping the fire on a day with a 50* high, because the burning is efficient. If I start the fire at 8am, maybe I reloaded 4X by 10pm. Of course in the beginning I reload more because I am burning hotter to establish coals. The wood isn't that seasoned.
A lot of things came together to make this possible - a permanent, owned log splitter given gratis by one of my greatest all time best brothers. Unemployed time last year that allowed me to prep. And the smart (duh!) notion that I don't have to split to burning size, just SPLIT. It's drying. That'e the main thing. I'll worry about making it a useable size later. What I can't cram for as the winter fast approches is moisture content. Splitting time - that I can work in. This convenience is affecting decisions I'm making as to whether to plit or gather. I'm splitting everything I have now, in order that next yeat is like this year. Maybe too big, but I'm splitting.
Now I am truly controlling the temp of our little Intrepid in this modest size den, burning in horizontal mode (zigzag flame path before it reaches the flue) and limiting the oxygen. And the wall mounted fan moves the air to the rest of the 1st floor.
Trust me on this - even if you have to split the wood just in half and leave it (I did pie slices. I would describe them as the kind of slice you would get at a diner - nothing remarkably generous) it's the best use of your time, even better than collecting more wood.
Of course you can burn partially seasoned wood. It's ok, in fact it's the norm around here. But you have to know your rate of stack buildup and how to nurse a fire. You better have a bellows. Sometimes the flames (or lack thereof) can be pitiful, but the room is usually somewhat warm, and it's "free", so FTW. (Not free if you count my time.) And if my "partially seasoned" stock is dry enough to burn strong, I still have to burn hot with full 02.
Last year I pie-sliced these trunks, and now I can enjoy secondary combustion with limited oxygen, the way it's supposed to work. I have recently read forum posts and visited mfgr websites that taught me: limiting the 02 is ideal. Slow the burn and combustion of volatiles is best. I usually can't employ this best practice because I have to allow as much 02 as possible in order to keep my chimney cleaning intervals to no more than Thanksgiving, New Year's and Valentine's Day. Last year I didn't clean at all, but it was a warm winter.
Tonite the little Intrepid maintained a hot coal bed for six hours. After returning home I chuckedin splits and restarted with no kindling. The heat is gentle and unsweaty, even when the temps climb to moderate during the day. I don't feel guilty about keeping the fire on a day with a 50* high, because the burning is efficient. If I start the fire at 8am, maybe I reloaded 4X by 10pm. Of course in the beginning I reload more because I am burning hotter to establish coals. The wood isn't that seasoned.