2014-2015 Blaze King Performance thread (Everything BK)#2

[NinjaTech]

We have been having a nice cold spell here, tonight will be down in the negatives. Got the flue cap icicles going on right now. I may take a picture tomorrow morning when its light out, sure by then they will be a big longer too.

 

[Usernamemustbeunique]

Whats the best brand of chimney system out there. I am looking at the excel brand for my new install.

 

[bobdog2o02]

..... Have you ever asked an oil question on a motor head board. Similar results may surface here soon.

 

[rdust]

Whats the best brand of chimney system out there. I am looking at the excel brand for my new install.

From hanging out here for years Excel seems to be the top end. You won't go wrong with and Excel chimney.

 

[webby3650]

All the class A chimney systems on the market are tested to the same standard. They all will do a great job. Some have much better accessories available than others. Excel is a top end chimney, you could choose many other brands that will save some money and still do the same job with a quality product.

 

[bobdog2o02]

I used (at the time) Simpson duravent, I believe it's just duravent now. Serving the purpose nicely.

 

[Oldman47]

..... Have you ever asked an oil question on a motor head board. Similar results may surface here soon.

Please. Not another damned oil thread.

 

[tarzan]

Please. Not another damned oil thread.

I've used Royal Purple Red Line Mobile 1 in every high performance...

 

[drz1050]

Oil? I like bacon grease

 

[Oldman47]

I've used Royal Purple Red Line Mobile 1 in every high performance...

You left out the amzoil fan boys favorite.

 

[bobdog2o02]

You left out the amzoil fan boys favorite.

Complete thread jack in progress, Valvoline Syn-Power or VR1 for me please.

 

[drz1050]

Rotella T6!

 

[bobdog2o02]

Rotella T6!

In the bikes and diesels.

 

[Calentarse]

I think you just need to run a slightly higher setting on the T stat. These stoves aren't necessarily a set it and forget it stove, closer than any other stove out there though. If you smell that smoke smell, give it a little more air and it will go away. The range that says "normal", tends to be just that. I find that if I run in this range I never have to fiddle with it or smell any odors.

Edav, there are users who have similar experiences and users that do not. Parallax, you and I along with others that have chimed in will tell you that sometimes seemingly perfect conditions still result in smoke smells.

Despite webby's experiences I'm referencing here, I get the smoke smell on all settings until the wood gets fully burnt down. If I'm down to just coals, there are usually no odors at that point. I do agree with him, however, the smells are even worse when the stove is cut back that far.

I do need to install double wall pipe in the house but honestly don't have high hopes for it fixing my issues. I believe that for some people the stoves we got aren't air tight. They weep smoke from the easiest spot on a gasket or small area, especially when the draft is set low and its easier for smoke to exit the firebox than go up the chimney. To make matters worse, living in a mild climate and heating a small house only exacerbates the problem.

 

[Ashful]

I'm treading in the land of ugly stoves.

Searching Google Images, it appears the Blaze King thermometer does not show actual catalytic temperature... just "inactive" or "active". Moreover, there's no, "oh chit" too hot portion of the dial. So, I guess asking how hot you've seen your cat run is not going to generate many useful answers, but have you ever seen evidence of over-firing your catalytic combustor?

 

[webby3650]

I'm treading in the land of ugly stoves.

Searching Google Images, it appears the Blaze King thermometer does not show actual catalytic temperature... just "inactive" or "active". Moreover, there's no, "oh chit" too hot portion of the dial. So, I guess asking how hot you've seen your cat run is not going to generate many useful answers, but have you ever seen evidence of over-firing your catalytic combustor?

I have seen evidence on a few service calls. It's typically a door gasket. But I have a few Princess inserts that have too much draft, they blow out a cat every 2 years or so. It's very uncommon, but it happens.

 

[Ashful]

What's the proper solution to the draft problem, webby? Variable pipe damper? Something fixed and calibrated to 0.05 wc?

 

[drz1050]

You are correct, it does not show temp... from what I've seen BKVP say, that's to prevent people from over-reacting.

I'm not sure about any evidence of over-firing except for a red glowing stove.

 

[webby3650]

What's the proper solution to the draft problem, webby? Variable pipe damper? Something fixed and calibrated to 0.05 wc?

On an insert, there isn't a solution really. I have had them keep the air on or near low and has helped.

 

[webby3650]

I have never seen this happen in a freestanding BK by the way, only the insert.

 

[rdust]

I'm treading in the land of ugly stoves.

Searching Google Images, it appears the Blaze King thermometer does not show actual catalytic temperature... just "inactive" or "active". Moreover, there's no, "oh chit" too hot portion of the dial. So, I guess asking how hot you've seen your cat run is not going to generate many useful answers, but have you ever seen evidence of over-firing your catalytic combustor?

The BK probe does not show numbers but if you're interested in the numbers replacements are cheap. I replaced my BK probe with a Condar this season after mine failed but rarely pay attention to the thing except to make sure it's around 500 before closing the bypass. My cat is on it's 4th season and in my opinion is getting a little tired.

I just took a peek at it for you, I loaded the stove about an hour ago, it's dialed down to the low end of normal with some light flames in the box, stove top is around 650 over the cat, the probe is a tick over 1400 and the cat is glowing bright.(blowers off)

 

[Ashful]

I have seen evidence on a few service calls. It's typically a door gasket.

Dwelling on this a moment, this seems to agree with my experience, which is against convention. Jotul's manual repeats advice often found here, to raise the primary air to reduce cat temps, by burning off more of the wood gas in the firebox. My experience counteracts this oft-repeated advice, as I find turning up the primary air exponentially increases wood gas production, and thus cat temp.

 

[Ashful]

I just took a peek at it for you, I loaded the stove about an hour ago, it's dialed down to the low end of normal with some light flames in the box, stove top is around 650 over the cat, the probe is a tick over 1400 and the cat is glowing bright.(blowers off)

Right now I'm playing games with throttle and bypass damper, trying to keep mine under 1800F, and mostly failing. They seem to peak 2 - 3 hours into the burn, and I loaded at 10pm. Hence, the interest in BK.

 

[bobdog2o02]

I still have a back up stove, your welcome to run a princess for a week. Should heat the same as an Ashford.

 

[tarzan]

Dwelling on this a moment, this seems to agree with my experience, which is against convention. Jotul's manual repeats advice often found here, to raise the primary air to reduce cat temps, by burning off more of the wood gas in the firebox. My experience counteracts this oft-repeated advice, as I find turning up the primary air exponentially increases wood gas production, and thus cat temp.

Over all, turning up the thermostat does increase cat temps. At least in my stove. The cat on my BK will live large for a few hours off the smoke created by shutting the draft down to create a smoldering fire though but never gets "to hot" from it.

There's realy no need to worry about over firing the cat on the BK In my experience. You would almost need to deliberately set out to over fire it to achieve a cat killing situation.