2016-17 Blaze King Performance Thread (Everything BK) Part 2

[jatoxico]

I've never seen an airtight wood stove with a double walled flue liner that didn't blaze in 5 minutes or less.

as long as your stove is airtight and can be damped as far as necessary,

Don't mean to be nit-picky but EPA stoves are not air tight.

 

[lsucet]

Nice! I'm not sure there's much advantage having wood below 10%-12% but, as long as your stove is airtight and can be damped as far as necessary, I don't think there is any harm!

Do your meter readings gradually go lower the longer the probes are embedded in the wood? The most accurate reading is the highest number you see as soon as the probe is inserted. Wood that dry wouldn't stay that dry where I like even if stacked in the middle of a dry barn!

That is the highest numbers. This is the four season that i have this wood plus it was seasoned for awhile before i got it. It comes from a good family friend that that is what he does. No reason to lie to us.

 

[Ashful]

Forgot bypass damper for 30 minutes this morning. Stove got hot enough that house filled with smoke, but damper felt fine and stove went right under control after closing bypass and lowering the thermostat.

I know that I need to inspect the bypass damper gasket retainers when the stove is cold, but I'm not sure what I'll be looking at or for.

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

That is the highest numbers. This is the four season that i have this wood plus it was seasoned for awhile before i got it. It comes from a good family friend that that is what he does. No reason to lie to us.

You may have misunderstood me because I wasn't accusing anyone of lying.

My point was that every time I've used a ohm meter to measure moisture content the wood reads the wettest as soon as I stick the probes in. By the time I took a photo, the reading would have drifted to a drier reading. And since a moisture meter is just an ohm meter with a calculator built into it I'm thinking it might have a built-in "high function" whereby it locks onto a reading once it senses the reading is drifting lower (drier).

Can anyone confirm whether purpose built moisture meters start to drift lower shortly after inserting the probes (or not).

 

[tarzan]

Forgot bypass damper for 30 minutes this morning. Stove got hot enough that house filled with smoke, but damper felt fine and stove went right under control after closing bypass and lowering the thermostat.

I know that I need to inspect the bypass damper gasket retainers when the stove is cold, but I'm not sure what I'll be looking at or for.

Why would your house fill with smoke? Thermostat will work either way.

If the bypass damper passes the dollar bill test, you're good.

 

[lsucet]

I wasn't accusing anyone of lying.

I know you didnt say so at all. Was not my intention to make it sound like that neither. What I was trying to say is, than since I got it, it was already seasoned and low MC, plus all this time. The oak still heavy but it has really low. MC. I checked later with a different meter and it shows like 1-2 points lower.
I like better the one in the pictures cause that one has a testing board built in the pins cover and I can check if is calibrated.

 

[Tar12]

Question...is it absolutely necessary to run double pipe for a BK? and why? I ask as my buddy is NOT running double wall on his Princess and he is not having any issues?

 

[Ashful]

Why would your house fill with smoke? Thermostat will work either way.

If the bypass damper passes the dollar bill test, you're good.

Smoke was from paint curing on stove and pipe. This two-year old stove was making "new stove smell".

 

[Ashful]

Question...is it absolutely necessary to run double pipe for a BK? and why? I ask as my buddy is NOT running double wall on his Princess and he is not having any issues?

Not necessary. I have one of each, and have no issues with the single wall, but it's less than 6 feet long. If I were running up to a cathedral ceiling with stove pipe, I might be more concerned.

 

[webby3650]

Question...is it absolutely necessary to run double pipe for a BK? and why? I ask as my buddy is NOT running double wall on his Princess and he is not having any issues?

It's a recommendation, kinda like some engine manufacturers recommend premium fuel. Sure it will run on regular, just not as well.
Some BKs are being ran on single wall with no issues at all that they notice. BKs run a very low flue temperature compared to other stoves, it's important maintain a hot flue for draft as well as creosote prevention. The double wall pipe keeps the flue warmer preventing loss of draft and excessive creosote build up.

 

[moresnow]

Question...is it absolutely necessary to run double pipe for a BK? and why? I ask as my buddy is NOT running double wall on his Princess and he is not having any issues?

I am running 6' of telescoping single wall. Zero issues. The cool flu temps are unsettling. I have not had a excessive creo buildup. I also clean it every month or month and a half. I might get dual wall in the future just to experiment.

 

[webby3650]

I am running 6' of telescoping single wall. Zero issues. The cool flu temps are unsettling. I have not had a excessive creo buildup. I also clean it every month or month and a half. I might get dual wall in the future just to experiment.

Ya, 6' straight up usually isn't an issue.
Every month? Dang! I sweep once a season, and only get a few tablespoons of dust.

 

[moresnow]

3rd year burning. 1st year with a BK. Looooooow flu temps. Single wall. Yepper, you betcha I am keeping a close eye on it. Such a breeze with the sooteater we consider it a bit of insurance until we are comfortable. Which we are getting there now.

 

[Ashful]

Let's not forget, all BKs are not equal. I'm running Ashfords, which are less efficient than a Princess, and thus warmer flue temps.

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

Let's not forget, all BKs are not equal. I'm running Ashfords, which are less efficient than a Princess, and thus warmer flue temps.

And that is a very good point Ashful!

Just because it says "Blaze King" doesn't mean its going to function like every other stove made by the same company. Heck, even the exact same stove can act radically differently, depending upon flue and other installation specifics!

 

[Highbeam]

So bk owners.... from a cold start, do you all start a small kindling fire, let it burn down, and then load full for the main event? The manual tells us to do this but I don't use this method.

 

[webby3650]

So bk owners.... from a cold start, do you all start a small kindling fire, let it burn down, and then load full for the main event? The manual tells us to do this but I don't use this method.

Never ever! I fill the stove completely, then set a sliver of Super Cedar in a crack and let er rip!

 

[moresnow]

So bk owners.... from a cold start, do you all start a small kindling fire, let it burn down, and then load full for the main event? The manual tells us to do this but I don't use this method.

Nope. I load it full with regular splits. 1/4 of a S.C. on the bottom center up front (The few times I have cold started I tucked the S.C. between the lowest row and the second row of splits). Light. Leave door cracked open for a few minutes (never leaving the stove un attended). Close door when decent flame is established. Wait till active. Close bypass and let rip for 10 minutes +,-. Reduce thermo to lowest setting in two adjustments spaced out by 10 minutes or so. Adjust fans to it's normal happy speed. Go back to couch. Done. Wear out remote. Pet dogs. Text wife at work and tell her it's been a brutal day....

 

[lsucet]

Well i have to disconnect the OAK from the back of the stove this AM. I noticed this morning that i went thru the wood i loaded last night some kind in the quick way. Still some in there but not like used to by amount of hours and load size.

I noticed the wind blowing strong, coming from southeast/east and hitting the front of the house where the the OAK is installed. I noticed some gust was causing some flapping noise in the tstat housing and flames in and out. I disconnect the OAK and hell was coming thru there.LOL

I sealed it for now with insulation and I have a decision to make in the future.lol Now everything is back to normal.

 

[Highbeam]

Well i have to disconnect the OAK from the back of the stove this AM. I noticed this morning that i went thru the wood i loaded last night some kind in the quick way. Still some in there but not like used to by amount of hours and load size.

I noticed the wind blowing strong, coming from southeast/east and hitting the front of the house where the the OAK is installed. I noticed some gust was causing some flapping noise in the tstat housing and flames in and out. I disconnect the OAK and hell was coming thru there.LOL

I sealed it for now with insulation and I have a decision to make in the future.lol Now everything is back to normal.

Supercharged blaze king!

 

[lsucet]

So bk owners.... from a cold start, do you all start a small kindling fire, let it burn down, and then load full for the main event? The manual tells us to do this but I don't use this method.

For me everything depend. Sometimes i do full and sometimes a small kindling/medium size splits.
I like the last one better.lol When I get here, a small load of kindling and small splits(uglies) is great because i do a quick/hot fire bringing stove and cat to temp quickly and the flue doesn't smoke much plus I burn on high that small load till coals.

Now I have a good bed of coals and can load the big boys in there for a long run.lol. At the same time i spike the temp again with the reload for another 20-30 minutes or so. Trust me, that second spike helps a lot on bringing the house back to temp quicker.

 

[lsucet]

Supercharged blaze king!

You bet, That's a good one

 

[Tar12]

So bk owners.... from a cold start, do you all start a small kindling fire, let it burn down, and then load full for the main event? The manual tells us to do this but I don't use this method.

It reached 63 degrees here yesterday afternoon and I let the stove die out. My son and his buddy and I decided to take a break from the wood cutting and went crow hunting this morning...upon my entering our home when I got back I looked at the stove and had to do a double take as there was a fire going! This is a huge milestone for my wife! In our 27 years of marriage and wood burning she has never started a fire on her own until this morning! I have been schooling her in the ways of the BK. She has been paying attention! lol There was the prettiest little T-Pee shape fire going you ever saw! I questioned her on her fire starting technique and she did everything right! Now maybe I can turn over fire duties....lol

 

[showrguy]

It reached 63 degrees here yesterday afternoon and I let the stove die out. My son and his buddy and I decided to take a break from the wood cutting and went crow hunting this morning...upon my entering our home when I got back I looked at the stove and had to do a double take as there was a fire going! This is a huge milestone for my wife! In our 27 years of marriage and wood burning she has never started a fire on her own until this morning! I have been schooling her in the ways of the BK. She has been paying attention! lol There was the prettiest little T-Pee shape fire going you ever saw! I questioned her on her fire starting technique and she did everything right! Now maybe I can turn over fire duties....lol

Well, that's a nice story, and all....

But, how many Crows did ya get ?? Lol.

 

[Tar12]

I am running 6' of telescoping single wall. Zero issues. The cool flu temps are unsettling. I have not had a excessive creo buildup. I also clean it every month or month and a half. I might get dual wall in the future just to experiment.

What kind of temps to do you get? Do you run a magnetic temp gauge?