have a jotul castine and load ew with 20'inch splits. Usually 3- 4 inch splits and full length of firebox. When fully loaded goes for 7-8 hours with nice bed of coals for restrart. Anybody else use full lenght splits to fill firebox?
20 inch splits
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I burn 24" splits people ususally cut to what ever fits in their stove not sure what you are asking?
toddnic
Minister of Fire
Nick Mystic
Minister of Fire
My Jotul F 600 will take 24" splits in the EW configuration. I typically cut my wood around 20" so that I have a couple inches leeway when loading and to allow burning on the ends of the logs. However, from time to time I'll end up with a log that is 23" or 24" long and I'll load it in the stove when it's cold so that if I encounter a problem, such as a piece of coal holding me up as I push it into the firebox, I can re-position the split without having to pull out a burning split!
My splits are about 1-2 inches shy of either side when I load EW. I read somewhere that leaving a gap of between 1-2 inches is a good idea. Not sure why, maybe becuase the flames themselves need some space to take hold.?
...Also makes it easier to get the wood in of course...
...Also makes it easier to get the wood in of course...
I found it a little easier to use splits were a couple inches short overall, don't bonk the firebrick in back, easy to ensure the door closes.
When I was using wood stoves we would cut it as long as we could and still get it in the stove. Small pieces means more handling and more pieces.
Hickorynut
Feeling the Heat
I try to cut 18" + or - one inch. Pretty anal about it too. Use my 18" bar as a good reference. Think my stove could take 20 to 22 " but I like space as others have said......
Charles1981
Minister of Fire
My stove fits 22 inches but its super snug and you can only get about 2 small/medium splits in that size or 1 big overnight honker. There is more room to fit splits on top but they have to be about 18 inches as the firebox tapers as you move vertically.
Regardless I cut all my wood to 22 inches the first year as I was like "oh yea" it says my stove takes 22 inch logs. Bad Idea. I then needed smaller splits to fill the top of the fire box and had only a short supply.
The past two years I have cut my wood 18 inches. That way there is a few inches on either side to catch, I feel it provides much better air flow in the stove as well, and I can really jam the wood in there tight.
I also have and 18inch bar on my saw and that makes it super easy to cut to spec as well without having to have a marker piece and make guide cuts down an big fat log.
Regardless I cut all my wood to 22 inches the first year as I was like "oh yea" it says my stove takes 22 inch logs. Bad Idea. I then needed smaller splits to fill the top of the fire box and had only a short supply.
The past two years I have cut my wood 18 inches. That way there is a few inches on either side to catch, I feel it provides much better air flow in the stove as well, and I can really jam the wood in there tight.
I also have and 18inch bar on my saw and that makes it super easy to cut to spec as well without having to have a marker piece and make guide cuts down an big fat log.
I'm "new " to cutting firewood, with thousands of hours chainsaw use, many time 80 foot in the air (arborist).
Anyhow, I need to break my habit of just cutting into whatever length we can get out of the yard. I find that by using my bar to measure, I end up with even cuts, and my go to saw usually runs a 18" so it makes measuring quick.
Anyhow, I need to break my habit of just cutting into whatever length we can get out of the yard. I find that by using my bar to measure, I end up with even cuts, and my go to saw usually runs a 18" so it makes measuring quick.
NE WOOD BURNER
Minister of Fire
- Dec 30, 2012
- 754
I am burning 20" splits in the 450 insert right now. No problems. Full bed of coals always. My piles are a mix of lengths from the kids cutting from the log pile. so as I bring in wood I separate and collate. Its a sickness. If I bring in a short piece it is accompanied by the shorter piece to fill the void-Ha Ha Ha.
I have a mark on my slider so I open it to 20"- its a sickness!
I have a mark on my slider so I open it to 20"- its a sickness!
Mine takes 22 3/4", I like to cut to 21-22" lengths to maximize my firebox fill. I'm not worried about leaving space to burn at the ends...
My firebox doesn't taper, I would think that would just be a big PITA to deal with...
My firebox doesn't taper, I would think that would just be a big PITA to deal with...
Not quite sure what the question is . . . if it's do I buck up my firewood to be the exact length of the firebox . . . nope . . . experience has shown me that ash can build up by the way I tend to load it and wood isn't always perfectly straight . . . I tend to cut it a couple inches shorter so I know it will fit into the firebox each and every time.
Nothing is worse than putting a split into the firebox, having it catch on fire and then discovering that the door doesn't close because I cut it crooked, there is a bit of a bend in it, etc.
Nothing is worse than putting a split into the firebox, having it catch on fire and then discovering that the door doesn't close because I cut it crooked, there is a bit of a bend in it, etc.
I have an e/w stove but sometimes like to cut splits short enough to load n/s . Either way it works better to have them cut short enough to have some wiggle room .........
Thx for all the replies. I was just wondering if people cut slightly shorter than their firebox and that is pretty much what people seem to do.
My wood burner takes 20" splits, and I have a 20" bar on the chainsaw. Makes measuring pretty easy, so I go with it. I find that since it tapers front to back, I can get a *slightly* longer piece in the very front of the firebox, but I hate re-cutting stuff that's too long, so I try not to make too many of those.
Yup . . . not a lot of folks are fond of running through their house with a burning split on fire . . . as they're trying to get the too long split outside into the snowbank.
Not to mention there is a little science/magic to a perfect load up coupled with 24/7 burning so loading into a hot stove. Having splits that "just" fit creates all kinds of OH SH#@ moments potentially.
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