Adding single logs with a cat stove.

[dreezon]

I have a fireview and was trying to maintain a small fire at moderate temp (275 to 325 on the top). When the fire wood get down to one red log or coals, I would add a small split or two.

Is this a problem in any way? Do I need to bypass the cat for a few minutes, even if the temp remains above 250º on the top? I did just to be safe, but maybe that's not really necessary with well-seasoned wood.

 

[Todd]

According to Woodstock you should always bypass for at least 10 minutes to drive off moisture, but I have heard other cat stove owners that do it with good dry wood. I have never burned 1 or 2 splits at a time always 3 or more and if I don't need the heat I turn the air way down.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I always remember that anything under 3 does not burn good at all. Try it in an outdoor fire sometime so you can see what happens. 3 or more burns great. Less than 3 is difficult to make a fire. So, when I put wood in, it is almost always 3 or more at a time.

Yes, you do need to bypass the cat whenever you add wood. Todd says some do it with super day wood. My wood is super dry but I will always disengage that cat when wood is added. Better to be safe than sorry and we are only talking 10-15 minutes, which also happens to be about the same amount of time for setting the draft.