2017-18 Blaze King Performance Thread PART 3 (Everything BK)
- Thread starter webfish
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
Happy Stacker
Member
But the difference in price is way higher than most sellers charge. Here are a couple ads in my neck of the woods...
"Description
Very nice (no bugs clean) Split all ready 14-16” mixed hardwood seasoned firewood for sale $120/ face cord , or $350 a bush cord . delivery available"
Description
"I have for sale firewood, asking $125.00 per face cord or $399.00 per bush cord,please call today 416-418-2428 thanks."
In my area there is never a mention of any style of cord in the multiple local adds. Just a description of the wood, always seasoned no doubt. And a very detailed description of the truck the seller uses to deliver. This description is important because this is how you know how much wood you will be getting.
Many sellers have allot of pride in their truck so if you order six "truck loads" and say something demeaning about the guys truck on the first load delivered, you can often get a better deal!
Many sellers have allot of pride in their truck so if you order six "truck loads" and say something demeaning about the guys truck on the first load delivered, you can often get a better deal!
Ashful
Minister of Fire
A cord is a unit of volume, L x W x H.
A “face cord” is not a unit of volume, it’s a unit of area, L x H. In everyday language, it’s 4 feet x 8 feet x whatever the hell the seller wants it to be.
For example, I could make a face cord of parque blocks, but it’s only going to be 8% of a cord.
Many states (including my own) have specific language in their weights and measures making it illegal to sell wood by “face cords”. However, it IS legal to sell a fraction of a cord, for those of you incorrectly assuming a face cord is always going to be 1/3 cord, so you can always ask the seller to quote it as such.
A “face cord” is not a unit of volume, it’s a unit of area, L x H. In everyday language, it’s 4 feet x 8 feet x whatever the hell the seller wants it to be.
For example, I could make a face cord of parque blocks, but it’s only going to be 8% of a cord.
Many states (including my own) have specific language in their weights and measures making it illegal to sell wood by “face cords”. However, it IS legal to sell a fraction of a cord, for those of you incorrectly assuming a face cord is always going to be 1/3 cord, so you can always ask the seller to quote it as such.
Last edited:
AlbergSteve
Minister of Fire
The Chinook, ugly? I can't help it but every time I look at the Princess I imagine an animated cartoon character, smiley face on the glass door, squatting and puffing smoke from every opening to the tune of " Camptown Races"!
If you had a look under the very top of the stove while the combustor was active want would you see? Mostly slow lazy blue flames? or does all pf the combustion happen within the catalyst?
Love that show, well any Alaska show!
BK’s are very common in Alaska. That alone shows that low and slow isn’t all they are good for, contrary to what some people think.
Well that's it for burning this year. Woodshed full a month ago, chicks moved out to the hen house, time to sweep the stack and do the regular maintenance to make ready for next year. One thing I have noticed, the cat never seems to plug up like other people's do. I brushed it off once with a paint brush when I removed the anti-flame impingement screen to pound it flat but it didn't really need it. Happy burning from sunny California. What shed did I put that Barbie in?
When will you be eating these chicks?
I will be smoking one of these tomorrow on my kamado joe!
I will be smoking one of these tomorrow on my kamado joe!
Ashful
Minister of Fire
About which stove are you inquiring?
Ashford 30, yes you can see the combustor. Flame show is your choice, just turn the thermostat dial to suit. Lowest setting = black box. Highest setting = raging natural fire look. Or, anything in-between.
One could always peer through the cat thermometer hole observe for presence of any glow down stream of the cat. Personally, I am waiting for the whole-house thermoelectric DC generator I can parallel into my solar inverter.
When will you be eating these chicks?
They are layers. About 3 years from now they will be soup and broth.
When will you be eating these chicks?
They are layers. About 3 years from now they will be soup and broth.
Last edited:
Reason I ask is I am doing a lot of experiments with stoves. my understanding is the dark blue flames are the most chemically efficient. Most carbon dioxide and least amount of particulates and carbon monoxide. it's more obvious on a non cat stove.
For catalytic combustion understanding, try this:
http://www.chimneysweepnews.com/Combustors.htm
An informative read indeed.
Happy Stacker
Member
Some great info in that article. I did not consider buying a cat stove when I replaced my stove this season since I thought I would be replacing the cat too often. But this article stated...
"Less than .4% of all OEM combustors are replaced in the first three years of the warranty coverage. Less than 10% of all OEM combustors are replaced during the EPA mandated 6 year warranty."
"Replacement cost for a combustor can vary depending upon size and material, but the average combustor is $200. In some parts of the country that is equal to or less than a single cord of wood."
I think at some point I may switch to a cat stove, the hard part will be deciding on which one to get.
jetsam
Minister of Fire
Still burning 24x7 here, but hopefully not too much longer. Lows are going from the 30s to the 40s this week....
BK's stove technology has advanced to the point to where many cats are 10+ years old. Here is the take-home: the cat in a BK stove will save you more -way more- in wood savings than the cost of the cat. I realize that many Fell/limb/buck/split and stack without purchasing wood but with these BK stoves far less wood! Yeah! Many on this forum heat exclusively with wood and the cats last many many years. Historically, cats were a problem in the past as they were added onto existing stoves to clean them up to meet EPA regs. Things have changed dramatically. Cats are NOT fragile, they too have been vastly improved. If the simple do's and don'ts of burning are followed a cat can last a very long time. More importantly is the smoke free medium and low burn attainable without filling the flue up with creosote. No air tube stove can ever hope to match the low burn of a BK. Physics prevent it.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Not really. There are two companies that are so far ahead of the rest in the narrow catalytic stove market that, budget aside, it really just comes down to BK or Woodstock.
You’re in the BK Performance Thread, so guess which this crowd will recommend.
Last edited:
snojetter
Member
"Less than .4% of all OEM combustors are replaced in the first three years of the warranty coverage. Less than 10% of all OEM combustors are replaced during the EPA mandated 6 year warranty."
My combustor did great the first two years. Then I screwed up and my uncovered wood supply got a heavy dose of rain right before the big freeze. I was dealing with wet wood all season long. Not soaking wet - the wood burned very well - but enough moisture that I fouled the combustor 4 times over the course of the heating season. While clearing it up and vacuuming the combustor, I buggered it up pretty good...cracked several cells before I realized I was doing damage. Even so, this past season the combustor performed well when the heating demand was high. Only now when I want to burn low do I find the combustor struggles to stay active - I need to keep the thermostat cranked higher than I like or else it drops out of the active zone.
My point: I was limited to 4 seasons from my combustor and if this were normal, I'd not bat an eye to purchase a new one. The stove is that good and that convenient to operate. I have no intention of making a warranty claim on this one, since it was my negligence that shortened its life.
My combustor did great the first two years. Then I screwed up and my uncovered wood supply got a heavy dose of rain right before the big freeze. I was dealing with wet wood all season long. Not soaking wet - the wood burned very well - but enough moisture that I fouled the combustor 4 times over the course of the heating season. While clearing it up and vacuuming the combustor, I buggered it up pretty good...cracked several cells before I realized I was doing damage. Even so, this past season the combustor performed well when the heating demand was high. Only now when I want to burn low do I find the combustor struggles to stay active - I need to keep the thermostat cranked higher than I like or else it drops out of the active zone.
My point: I was limited to 4 seasons from my combustor and if this were normal, I'd not bat an eye to purchase a new one. The stove is that good and that convenient to operate. I have no intention of making a warranty claim on this one, since it was my negligence that shortened its life.
My parents finally bought one! Princess Ultra. it will go in the house replacing the Wood Pro ts2000. the Wood Pro will go in the shop replacing the barrel stove out there. I'm excited.
The wood pro is a decent stove but it has two serious knocks against it. The firebox is only 1.1 cu ft and the stove is notorious for smoke spillage.
The wood pro is a decent stove but it has two serious knocks against it. The firebox is only 1.1 cu ft and the stove is notorious for smoke spillage.
snojetter
Member
My understanding is the steel cats don't last as long...I know there are pros and cons to each style. I'll have to do my homework.
Yes, this is true they do last longer but not by that much. One season? A load of damp wood and a ceramic job might crack slightly shortening the life to that of a steel cat. It comes down to personal preference-weighing the positives and negatives to decide steel or ceramic. Either one is a good choice. The steel and ceramic cats are guaranteed by BK for 10 years. That is long enough for me. The wood I did not have to carry in and the phenomenally low burn rate attainable make a cat stove makes a cat stove the only stove to have.
I prefer the steel cat for these reasons: 1. Extremely fast "light off" (<10 minutes!). Steel cats activate at a temperature 100F below the ceramic units. 2. No worries about damp wood.
I have had both.
I’ve burned lots of “questionable” wood, often times it was wet and/or icy. I’m yet to see one of my ceramic cats cracked or otherwise degrading. They are tougher than they get credit for it think.
I believe the "ceramic" material has been improved. The steel cats have improved too.
- Status
