New to wood stoves - what are your cool tricks?

[jalmondale]

Just got a new Woodstock Fireview installed last week. I'm completely hooked - the house is warm, the oil furnace isn't running, and best of all, there is a fire going! I think I've got the basics down (burning well-seasoned hardwood that's checked with a moisture meter, monitoring flue temps for when to engage the cat, keeping an eye on the surface temps to make sure it isn't overheating), but I'm curious what other tips and tricks folks here have for their stoves. Based on a comment on another thread, I just tried putting a pot with some orange peel on today, and now the house smells amazing! What other things have you discovered about the care/feeding of a stove, or cool things to try with it? Conversely, have you run into anything that sounded like a good idea at the time but which actually should be avoided?

 

[xman23]

You got the stove going and producing heat. That's job 1. As far as the stove goes, experiment with how you start fires, and run the stove. Wood burning requires a lot of prep work. I've tried a lot of different labor saving techniques. Storing wood with little to no maintenance, and handling wood less are just a few things I've worked on.

 

[stoveliker]

My trick is dry wood and understand (not only read) the manual. People often laugh about the manual, but that's the instructions you get from those who put thought into the operation, and have skin in the game.

Then just play with it as said above.

 

[buc74]

I second reading manual at least twice. Our current stove is our forth in our life of burning and the manual is the best I've ever read.

 

[Ncon]

Top down method for starting fire and zipper method when you have a bed of hot coals

 

[stoveliker]

Can you explain what you mean by zipper method? @Ncon

 

[Highbeam]

The fireview is a great performer.

Get one of these…

 

[EbS-P]

Pulp hook for handling firewood. Torch for lighting fire. Heavy canvas wood bag. No fireplace tools. If I can’t fix it with a welding glove and a piece of kindling it doesn’t need bothered.

 

[Ncon]

Can you explain what you mean by zipper method? @Ncon

Push all hot coals into middle, lay a split either side (n/s) and lay logs over top (e/w).

More details :

Hot Coals and the zipper method, something else to try. ****EDIT*** Pics at end of thread

OK so as we get deeper and deeper into the 24/7 season the situation with a large coal bed and the want/need for heat, and the battle for firebox space and what to do will continue. I have a waste not want not attitude when it comes to my BTUs. I work way to hard processing my wood to not get...

www.hearth.com

 

[stoveliker]

Ok. Thank you.
I always rake the coals to the front before I reload n/s.
Any difference you see between these methods?

 

[Ncon]

Ok. Thank you.
I always rake the coals to the front before I reload n/s.
Any difference you see between these methods?

I sometimes pull them forward and lay a split on top to help burn them down.
I like using this method in the morning to do a full load and find it helps in getting more wood in the stove and get it back up to temp.

 

[JamesGuido]

Push all hot coals into middle, lay a split either side (n/s) and lay logs over top (e/w).

More details :

Hot Coals and the zipper method, something else to try. ****EDIT*** Pics at end of thread

OK so as we get deeper and deeper into the 24/7 season the situation with a large coal bed and the want/need for heat, and the battle for firebox space and what to do will continue. I have a waste not want not attitude when it comes to my BTUs. I work way to hard processing my wood to not get...

www.hearth.com

i've always called this "the ladder"

 

[Prof]

If my wife would respond to this, she would talk about the amazing woods fairy that gathers our wood, splits, stacks and later carries it into the house to be burned (this is mostly me and to some extent the kids). Since you are already experimenting with putting a pot on the stove, I might suggest playing with cooking in and on the stove. I've had a blast with mine--in fact cooking with wood has become a bit of a lifestyle for me. I've got a leg of lamb in my wood-fired oven as I write this. There are a couple of good threads on hear on the topic. The thing I started with is throwing a large, unpeeled onion directly in the fire. After about 20 minutes, a couple layers are charred, but the inside is wonderfully cooked. BTW, welcome to the site--it has been an amazing resource for me through the years and I hope it is for you as well!

 

[Jags]

Super Cedars fire starters. The best on the market that I have found

(For the record, I have NO affiliation to Super Cedars in any way. Simply a very satisfied customer.)

 

[jwoair23]

Super Cedars fire starters. The best on the market that I have found

(For the record, I have NO affiliation to Super Cedars in any way. Simply a very satisfied customer.)

Agree with this 100%, half a puck has never failed to get a fire going for me.

 

[kennyp2339]

Firewood shed that holds 2 years worth of wood, biggest game changer for me, outside piles are fine, fiddling with tarps can work until you get a hole in one, or forget to take off and the moisture builds inside adding to the equilibrium of the split. The open sided wood shed is like a high paying insurance policy, you load it up in the spring and it stays under roof cover for 2 summers, gently baking away. This has allowed me to go with larger splits which in turn has made for hotter & longer burn times, 7" wide split tested at 15% moisture content has a lot of energy ready to be released.

 

[Dan Freeman]

Couldn't agree more with @kennyp2339 about the firewood shed for 2 years' worth of firewood.

 

[stoveliker]

Tongue in cheek: a 3 year shed

 

[bigealta]

Top Down load at cold start is the Biggest and Best change i've made in many years of burning. Next is just making sure i'm 2+ years out on seasoning the stacks, and also choosing to prioritize the best wood (Oak for me) for my limited storage space in small yard.

 

[velvetfoot]

Ok. Thank you.
I always rake the coals to the front before I reload n/s.
Any difference you see between these methods?

I do that too. Then, when I try to stack as many splits in there as I can, n/s, they tend to point down, rather than get hung up on the secondary tubes.

I like the firestarter squares from Rutland, but not using many lately.

Wear those welding anytime the door is open and there are coals that can pop out.

 

[jalmondale]

Thank you all for the great suggestions! I'm definitely planning a second wood shed, tarping the stuff for next year is already getting old.

 

[whatyousmokin]

but I'm curious what other tips and tricks folks here have

My biggest and most useful tip: Keep reading these forums!! I have learned a ton of information just by browsing these forums. There is a wealth of information here from some pretty smart people. And if you run across something that you need help with, seems this is the place to ask. I like how you can click on related topics and get very useful information. And if something stumps you, (eww ,bad pun?) just post a question!

 

[sweedish]

My most used tool. That and it doubles as my measuring stick, as long or shorter, n/s load. Longer it’s east west.

 

[30WCF]

Mine is a little flower bed thingy that I bent the prongs closer together than when I bought it.

 

[kennyp2339]

Mine is a little flower bed thingy that I bent the prongs closer together than when I bought it.

Same here and I have the sergeant stripes on my forearms to prove my stove tending when I forget to put the big glove on lol.