2017-18 Blaze King Performance Thread (Everything BK)

[WoodyIsGoody]

FWIW my 85 pound wife can do it one handed. You do have to push on the handle to get the click after the door is closed, but it is nothing like changing a tire.

So you're saying you're not worried that your wife's right bicep might resemble one of those female bodybuilders? I guess I can safely allow mine to operate it while I'm gone.

That would be scary to come home and see this:

 

[SculptureOfSound]

Not sure if this is the place for a non-BK owner (yet) to ask questions, but it does say "everything BK"...

Are there any issues with insulating a masonry firebox with durock/micore + roxul when using an insert? I presume some clearance must be left for air intake, which brings me to my next question - where exactly does the Sirocco/Ashford 25 draw air from? I'm trying to find a way to channel the air from my outside air vent that runs under the firebox to my (future) insert.

 

[Tegbert]

Well the wife and I made the trip to the closest dealer and I must say I’m quite impressed with what I saw. Walked into the show room and saw they had an ashford 30 on display with those eco fans on top turning away so I knew it was burning. Upon closer inspection they had it as low as they could without stalling the cat which was about halfway on the dial due to their flue setup. I must admit I didn’t believe ashful when he said he could practically touch it but man that thing was a lot cooler running low than mine. If everything works out one might just make its way home if I can sell the rockport private party for a decent price.

Couple questions about the ashford that I forgot to get while I was there.
With the fan kit the brochure says it is 31 1/8” deep. How far are the front legs from the front lip?

Clearance from the back of the stove is supposed to be 6”. Is that from the fan kit or from the stove body itself?


Lopi Rockport

 

[jetsam]

they had it as low as they could without stalling the cat which was about halfway on the dial due to their flue setup.

If their lowest setting was 50% on the dial, they had lousy draft. It can go much lower with proper draft.

I must admit I didn’t believe ashful

We get a lot of that around here.

 

[jetsam]

Not sure if this is the place for a non-BK owner (yet) to ask questions, but it does say "everything BK"...

Are there any issues with insulating a masonry firebox with durock/micore + roxul when using an insert? I presume some clearance must be left for air intake, which brings me to my next question - where exactly does the Sirocco/Ashford 25 draw air from? I'm trying to find a way to channel the air from my outside air vent that runs under the firebox to my (future) insert.

Can't speak for those. The Princess insert takes in air on the right side, by the thermostat knob, and does not have an OAK connector.

I roxuled right up to the insert inside the fireplace. I've seen lots of people expressing concern that the insert will blow stone wool fibers into their living space, but it really doesn't pull in air from back there, not for combustion and not for the blower.

 

[SculptureOfSound]

Can't speak for those. The Princess insert takes in air on the right side, by the thermostat knob, and does not have an OAK connector.

I roxuled right up to the insert inside the fireplace. I've seen lots of people expressing concern that the insert will blow stone wool fibers into their living space, but it really doesn't pull in air from back there, not for combustion and not for the blower.

did you ever run your Princess before insulating? If so, what kind of performance changes did you notice afterwards?

 

[Tegbert]

If their lowest setting was 50% on the dial, they had lousy draft. It can go much lower with proper draft.




We get a lot of that around here.

Well i should have taken a picture of the setup but they had a single flue with t’s and 90’s all over to connect about 5-6 stoves to it but the bk was the only one running. Still a horrible setup but got the point across about the heat output of the stove.


Lopi Rockport

 

[kennyp2339]

Not sure if this is the place for a non-BK owner (yet) to ask questions, but it does say "everything BK"...

Are there any issues with insulating a masonry firebox with durock/micore + roxul when using an insert? I presume some clearance must be left for air intake, which brings me to my next question - where exactly does the Sirocco/Ashford 25 draw air from? I'm trying to find a way to channel the air from my outside air vent that runs under the firebox to my (future) insert.

If it was me installing an insert I would just use micore board on the side (1/2" is equal to 1.2 r value) your just trying to deflect the heat, then either sheet metal or dura rock next gen for the block off plate with the roxal on top of that.

 

[BKVP]

Quick question about the by-pass adjustment, when the stove is cold I can take the hand open close it, hearing and feeling that little click. I just did a test load of 2x4 cut off since it was 44 deg out this am and got the stove up to temp, when to close the by-pass and that click is pretty much nonexistent. I will also note that I did the dollar bill test on the by-pass gasket a couple weeks ago and it pass giving me resistance all the way around the gasket when I was pulling the dollar through. Should I be adjusting this plate?
FYI planning on doing a full burn tonight, suppose to drop down to 38, so I will load her up with some, pine, cherry and ash.

If you passed the dollar bill test, you can leave it be.

 

[webby3650]

Well i should have taken a picture of the setup but they had a single flue with t’s and 90’s all over to connect about 5-6 stoves to it but the bk was the only one running. Still a horrible setup but got the point across about the heat output of the stove.
That’s a crazy setup! There are reasons why codes should be met other than just stove performance...

Lopi Rockport

 

[jetsam]

did you ever run your Princess before insulating? If so, what kind of performance changes did you notice afterwards?

I ran it for a whole season with the dealer's install (no blockoff plate, no liner insulation). I did blockoff plate, liner insulation, and fireplace insulation all at the same time over the summer.

To complicate matters further, I had only wet wood the first season (sometimes it was going directly from the woods to the stove). I had much drier wood built up by the time the second season rolled around.

So the second season was MUCH better than the first season, but I changed too many things at once to say how much any one of them helped.

 

[kennyp2339]

If you passed the dollar bill test, you can leave it be.

Thank you, its just weird, I get the click when the stove is cold (although not as strong as it was when I 1st got the stove, and when she's within active range almost no click at all, when I do the mid season cleaning I'll adjust the plate since I take the smoke pipe off anyway to vacuum behind the cat. That's for getting back to me, fyi - with the new cat installed I'm back to ridiculous alien burn times with much better heat exchange.

 

[Highbeam]

Thank you, its just weird, I get the click when the stove is cold (although not as strong as it was when I 1st got the stove, and when she's within active range almost no click at all, when I do the mid season cleaning I'll adjust the plate since I take the smoke pipe off anyway to vacuum behind the cat. That's for getting back to me, fyi - with the new cat installed I'm back to ridiculous alien burn times with much better heat exchange.

The click tension is affected by the temperature of the stove. Hotter the stove, looser the bypass. It's noticeable only if you are a details person. I notice most on a hot reload how loose it gets. The bypass seal is not as critical as the door gasket.

 

[Blazing]

Not sure if this is the place for a non-BK owner (yet) to ask questions, but it does say "everything BK"...

Are there any issues with insulating a masonry firebox with durock/micore + roxul when using an insert? I presume some clearance must be left for air intake, which brings me to my next question - where exactly does the Sirocco/Ashford 25 draw air from? I'm trying to find a way to channel the air from my outside air vent that runs under the firebox to my (future) insert.

My princess insert is fully insulated with roxul and micore with zero issues. I can't speak for the new inserts.

 

[BKVP]

Your insert was not shipped that way so you or your dealer did so....just to clarify.

 

[webby3650]

Your insert was not shipped that way so you or your dealer did so....just to clarify.

I believe he’s referring to his masonry fireplace being insulated, not the insert itself.

 

[BKVP]

Love my King on Walnut!

 

[BKVP]

Going psychedelic.

 

[BKVP]

 

[BKVP]

Found tiny air leak...

 

[Blazing]

Found tiny air leak...
View attachment 200774

We like repair pictures hint hint.

 

[kennyp2339]

Found tiny air leak...

We like repair pictures hint hint.

Yea an no cheating by taking the door to work with you either, full back yard repair using tools we all have

 

[BKVP]

You mean I can't just get a new door? My door gasket hasn't been changed in many years, so I'll put a new gasket in the door.

But first I'll check to see if adjustment in door latch is possible. I usually adjust once a year.

 

[Highbeam]

You mean I can't just get a new door? My door gasket hasn't been changed in many years, so I'll put a new gasket in the door.

But first I'll check to see if adjustment in door latch is possible. I usually adjust once a year.

Are you pretty sure it's not the glass gasket?

 

[Ashful]

Thank you, its just weird, I get the click when the stove is cold (although not as strong as it was when I 1st got the stove, and when she's within active range almost no click at all, when I do the mid season cleaning I'll adjust the plate since I take the smoke pipe off anyway to vacuum behind the cat. That's for getting back to me, fyi - with the new cat installed I'm back to ridiculous alien burn times with much better heat exchange.

You're going to need a fire-retardant dollar bill to properly test this.