2021-2022 BK everything thread

[kennyp2339]

@WoodFire89 I've had the same issue while doing the dollar bill test myself, same spot to, I replaced my gasket back in 2018, no issues with running the stove. I recently did the dollar bill test just to see where I'm at, I'm tight with almost tearing the dollar on 3 sides, then I hit the hinge side and I have just a little resistance, but no much, epesically when comparing to the other 3 sides, its been like that for a while. I did check the knife edge groove and noticed that my gasket somehow rolled a little more into the firebox (hard to explain since its also glued) so I have on spot near the top hinge that doesnt have a pronounced groove from the door cut into it. I'm going to replace my gasket as soon as possible (ordered one from hechlers hardware this past week) Overall, stove performance is just fine, no gaps, smells or noticeable issues like certain glass soot stains (its all uniformly black with deposits in certain area's and a clean patch making the V pattern) I'm just replacing it for peace of mind and well because these stoves are boring and I have nothing better to do with my time.
@JKanor - that looks great, good color and a center knife edge mark thats uniform, I'll post a pic of mine so you can see one thats in trouble of failure.

 

[Diabel]

Finally getting another cold snap here in PA Sunday to burn through the Holiday at least. While cleaning the stove up and setting up the next fire I took a picture of my door gasket.

Just for my piece of mind, does it look good and normal. Not having any issues and it passes the bill test (between the hinges is the least pressure). Figured why not ask. Stove is a 2015 that I got used in 2018, assuming it's factory..

View attachment 287924

This is one clean gasket and glass. Looks almost new. Must be the picture but it almost looks white, not the darker graphite high density one.

 

[MissMac]

I usually notice the heat output isn't the same. Like I load it up full and know how many coals are in there and whether the wind is blowingcold it is out, and I just have to turn the stove up a leetle bit higher to keep the house as warm as I expect.

At 11k hours you are probably getting close. When you are sure the heat output isn't as good as you are used to let the stove go cold, brush the pipe, inspect the cat face and vacuum if needed, look it over real good to make sure everything else is right. At this point I usually do one more burn just to be sure the heat output really is lower than I am used to, then swap the cat. You will need a new gasket everytime the cat comes out of the hole.

Well, I have been on the new cat for a little over a week now across a good spread of outdoor temps, and I can say with confidence that it was time to swap the cat. I know I could have continued with the old one, but now I realize at what level of reduced performance. I am back to getting what I expected from the stove - longer burn times for a given heat output, and have also noticed reduced emissions from the chimney. The old cat was just creeping so slowly towards fatigue that it was hard to notice. Lesson learned. I will be quicker to swap next time, and to heck with whether or not it still glows. Thanks @Poindexter

 

[Highbeam]

Well, I have been on the new cat for a little over a week now across a good spread of outdoor temps, and I can say with confidence that it was time to swap the cat. I know I could have continued with the old one, but now I realize at what level of reduced performance. I am back to getting what I expected from the stove - longer burn times for a given heat output, and have also noticed reduced emissions from the chimney. The old cat was just creeping so slowly towards fatigue that it was hard to notice. Lesson learned. I will be quicker to swap next time, and to heck with whether or not it still glows. Thanks @Poindexter

People wait way too long for several “reasons”. I’m guilty of waiting too long because I’m cheap and hate wasting. Working cats are pretty cheap and pay for themselves with wood savings.

 

[BKVP]

The glass is tight. Removed the door and replaced the gasket. Found that the gasket seam where the two ends meet was in the middle of the door. Is this correct? Looking in the manual, it states to start the seam in the lower right corner, which i did when replacing. Still having the same smoke smell with the cat engaged. And still coming from the hinge side of the door. Performed the dollar bill test with the new gasket. It is tight everywhere, except the hinge side, and this is with many adjustments of the latch for the loading door.

Is this adjustment supposed to be continued until the hinge side passes the dollar bill test? It seems that with each adjustment no improvement is made. Only result is the adjustment is pulling the handle side of the door in tighter and no where else.

Almost like the hinges need to be moved in towards the back of the firebox. I know this isnt possible, just my conclusion from the results of the latch adjustment.

If your available, call me at 509-522-2730 Monday morning. I'll be available 9 a.m.-3:00 p.m. based upon your time zone. If possible, have the stove at room temperature and have a very bright light (like on cell phone) or flashlight.

 

[WoodFire89]

If your available, call me at 509-522-2730 Monday morning. I'll be available 9 a.m.-3:00 p.m. based upon your time zone. If possible, have the stove at room temperature and have a very bright light (like on cell phone) or flashlight.

Much appreciated ! I will have the stove cooled down for the call.

 

[crstrode]

Let us know how your search ends up. I was considering grabbing a new cat for my Ashford 25 but wasn't having any luck online either.

I finally got one from my local BK dealer. I was unable to find one online.

Someone is making good coin from a Blaze King customer.
My cost was $396.57.
Holy catalytic Batman!

 

[Poindexter]

I finally got one from my local BK dealer. I was unable to find one online.

Someone is making good coin from a Blaze King customer.
My cost was $396.57.
Holy catalytic Batman!


View attachment 287979

You can check precious metals pricing online pretty easy. I like monex dot com personally, but there are many similar websites. Precious metal prices are currently pretty high.

 

[jetsam]

Hi All, it's been awhile. I just made the move from the White Mountains of New Hampshire to Aroostook County, Maine for a job with Baxter State Park. We bought a 2000sf Farm House on with a beautiful view and full exposure to the wind. It's always WINDY. The house has some Tractor Supply wood hog so I ordered a Blaze King Princess before I even moved in. I had a Sirroco 20 in New Hampshire so I am really excited to be getting the Princess.

I was told when I ordered from the nearest dealer that it was a 4-6 week lead time. That was back in November. When I called to check in, they told me "When you ordered, we said mid to late February." Ugh. SO now I am debating between flying through my meager (it's hard, and illegal to move firewood across state lines, and I don't trust anyone I don't know selling "dry wood") wood supply in the existing stove, or saving it for the Princess. Either way, I know I am going to be burning lots of oil.

Sob story aside, is there any magic password to get my Princess Faster? Can BKVP pull some strings for me? Northern Maine is COLD!

Bring a chainsaw, burn standing dead stuff. Princess likes it fine. Sweep the flue often.

 

[kennyp2339]

BK Princess door gasket, near the end of its life - 4 seasons
Take notice of the top right corner, the gasket rolled even though its glues in, this is a pressure issue, when the front latch is made snug it will put forces on the thick gasket the end result is down and in, this is a cumulative problem, 4 seasons and because of the roll effect I now dont have a snug dollar bill when I do the test between the 2 hinges, gasket will be replaced tomorrow, and I stress this, 4 seasons on it, very happy with the performance considering some door gaskets look like witches hair by the 3rd season due to break down and not being careful.
Also its important to mention, once the old gasket is out and the channel is cleaned of old rtv, I will be carefully checking to make sure the door glass nuts are snug and havent backed out.

 

[BKVP]

When we ship stoves, the doors are in separate boxes. In the manual and a tag on stove and one more with door tell the installer to adjust door tension. Not doing so almost always results in initial use crushing the gasket and shortening the life of the gasket. We suspect 50% are not properly adjusted upon install.

 

[Nealm66]

Ya, 4 seasons doesn’t seem very long. Something wasn’t right

 

[stoveliker]

When we ship stoves, the doors are in separate boxes. In the manual and a tag on stove and one more with door tell the installer to adjust door tension. Not doing so almost always results in initial use crushing the gasket and shortening the life of the gasket. We suspect 50% are not properly adjusted upon install.

My stove came on a pallet (to the original purchaser from whom I bought it) all wrapped and supported, with shipping labels etc. on there. And the door mounted...? It seemed to have been drop-shipped to him. But door on there...

 

[Diabel]

Would it be correct to assume if one uses the stove part time, (some weekends only), the life expectancy of the gasket increases? Or does it degrade regardless of use. How about the cat?

 

[Stump shot]

Bk Ashford 30 loaded with doug fir, split with a Eastonmade 5-way box wedge.

 

[BKVP]

Bk Ashford 30 loaded with doug fir, split with a Eastonmade 5-way box wedge.

View attachment 288055

Well done! Game On! Wood stoves tetras begins...

 

[Diabel]

My splits are big but uneven, so I will not be wining anything here. Still, 7/8 split load…..24h later……..7/8 split load….24h later repeat…..

I will be at the lake 10 days this Christmas……so wait 10 loads….

Happy Holidays everyone!!

 

[Nealm66]

Ya, I’m not going to win any contest unless it’s with another brand of stove lol. Definitely liking the cooler weather ( finally!)

 

[begreen]

I finally got one from my local BK dealer. I was unable to find one online.

Someone is making good coin from a Blaze King customer.
My cost was $396.57.
Holy catalytic Batman!


View attachment 287979

A $400 cat is not chump change.

 

[begreen]

Ya, I’m not going to win any contest unless it’s with another brand of stove lol. Definitely liking the cooler weather ( finally!)

It's about to go from cool (though a balmy 48º today) down to frigid by the weekend. Folks over in Eastern WA will be seeing negative temps.

 

[kennyp2339]

I finally got one from my local BK dealer. I was unable to find one online.

Someone is making good coin from a Blaze King customer.
My cost was $396.57.
Holy catalytic Batman!


View attachment 287979

I'd return that and shop somewhere else, you paid almost double the cost, go by measurements and not advertisement, check out midwest hearth for your cats, after your first one is kicked, turn that one into your dealer if it meets the warrantee period (most do btw)

 

[stoveliker]

Interesting little flames - only behind the flame guard in front of the cat. (Hour and a half after a pine reload). Tstat mid-swoosh.

 

[Larch]

Interesting little flames - only behind the flame guard in front of the cat. (Hour and a half after a pine reload). Tstat mid-swoosh.

View attachment 288295

I've had that same thing happen, and with jack pine also. Small flame dancing around behind flame shield, I never thought much of it, smoke hot enough it lights of outside the cat I guess. So much for no flame impingement!! Lol

 

[Diabel]

Interesting little flames - only behind the flame guard in front of the cat. (Hour and a half after a pine reload). Tstat mid-swoosh.

View attachment 288295

That is alien

 

[nellraq]

Hi there – – have a couple of questions regarding the catalytic combustor in my stove.

Once the combustor is glowing red, how long does yours stay red before it’s back to gray?

Once it’s gray, is it still working, and if so how long does it stay active?

Mine does glow red… But doesn’t last very long… Maybe 10 minutes. At this stage, there is some smoke coming out of the chimney – – no it’s not vapor!

yesterday I filled the stove completely – – it only burns well for about six hours. I came home to find Lots of logs that were only burned about 2/3 of the way, and lots of chunks hockey puck size and larger.… The firebox was black but came to life a little once a turn the thermostat up.
The thermostat was set at. 2

I am burning mainly fir and birch that was processed about seven years ago and is stored in a shed. It is dry!!

The stove has been used intermittently, and is nine years old.… Do you think it might be a faulty combust?

Would appreciate any help you can offer… And merry Christmas to everyone.

Whoops… Forgot to tell you that my Stove is a blaze king chinook 30