BioBricks Burning Pattern

[derbydude]

I have read assorted threads about Bio-bricks or EcoBricks or HotBricks.
I wanted to clarify a few things.
From what I understand, you can can stack them up tightly - giving enough to room to expand.
But their burn pattern is much different from seasoned cord word which gives off more steady heat over a long period of time, correct?
Seems they burn very hot for a short while giving off most heat in beginning and then lingers on low heat for a long while. Is that true?
If burning in a CAT stove like BK Princess, how long can I expect good strong heat - assuming I stack up to max. vs burning semi-seasoned or seasoned cord wood.
Please share your experience since I will be mostly relying on these bricks.

 

[webby3650]

I burned 2 entire bundles in my Ashford. It ran for 48 hours or so with a low heat setting. The cat seemed to go inactive easier with the bricks, I assume its because there is less smoke.

 

[webby3650]

Here, I found the thread I created when I did this test.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/blaze-king-ashford-bio-brick-challenge.118981/

 

[bobdog2o02]

my experience has been the same as webby's, Good heat for a long time but the cat went inactive........

 

[webby3650]

my experience has been the same as webby's, Good heat for a long time but the cat went inactive........

I didn't find this to be any trouble though. It never smoked when it went inactive, and it always fired right back up if I opened the air on the stove.

 

[ridemgis]

I've supplemented with these for a couple of years. You do want to pack them tightly together while being sure not to place them right up against the baffle or door to allow for expansion around the outside of the pile. A tight stack like this with some loose kindling on top for a top down fire seems to give the best result for a long and manageable fire. If place them loosely, or on top of a thick bed of coals they will outgas and burn almost beyond control.

 

[HotCoals]

Dang things are prolly to dry..need to soak them in water to get the M.C. up some.

Joking.
(broken image removed)

 

[jeff_t]

When I filled my stove with them, I originally had them packed too tightly. I had to spread them out some to get it hot enough to light off the cat.

YMMV. Proceed with caution, especially in a non-Blaze King stove.

 

[Swedishchef]

I have used some in my stove, I add 2-3 with wood that I feel is not seasoned properly (some pieces will be about 26%). It help keep the fire hot for the first hour, then the other wood kicks in. I find they are great but I never heat with them alone, they get hot...and fast!! I remember one time putting 5 of them in the stove with nothing else. I lit the stove, left the door open a crack for 4-5 minutes and when I came back I had a nuclear bomb in the stove. Closed everything up as tight as I could, primaries went out, secondaries were humming.

Andrew

 

[Doug MacIVER]

I have read assorted threads about Bio-bricks or EcoBricks or HotBricks.
I wanted to clarify a few things.
From what I understand, you can can stack them up tightly - giving enough to room to expand.
But their burn pattern is much different from seasoned cord word which gives off more steady heat over a long period of time, correct?
Seems they burn very hot for a short while giving off most heat in beginning and then lingers on low heat for a long while. Is that true?
If burning in a CAT stove like BK Princess, how long can I expect good strong heat - assuming I stack up to max. vs burning semi-seasoned or seasoned cord wood.
Please share your experience since I will be mostly relying on these bricks.

this will be season 3 using Canawick brick, usual mid winter load of 6-8 brick w/ 1/4" space. burn wide open 5-10 min, partial or immediate full close of draft. bricks then burn leisurely top down till all in flame. stove temp rises to 450-500*. 8 hrs later stove top 250-275, restart the process for a work day. I burn a small jotul f100. be careful not to let your stove run away, these things get rippin real quick.

 

[derbydude]

I have used some in my stove, I add 2-3 with wood that I feel is not seasoned properly (some pieces will be about 26%). It help keep the fire hot for the first hour, then the other wood kicks in. I find they are great but I never heat with them alone, they get hot...and fast!! I remember one time putting 5 of them in the stove with nothing else. I lit the stove, left the door open a crack for 4-5 minutes and when I came back I had a nuclear bomb in the stove. Closed everything up as tight as I could, primaries went out, secondaries were humming.

Andrew

When you had the "nuclear" experience, did you have gaps between the bricks?
I believe they say pack tight so that less area is exposed and they won't all burn up immediately.

 

[jeff_t]

Those other stoves are nothing like a BK. When you turn that knob all the way down, there is a hole less than the diameter of a dime letting air in. The secondary tube type stoves aren't regulated like that. I've never had anything 'go nuclear'. I can go from a hellish inferno to completely dark in literally seconds with any type of wood fuel or bricks.

Every setup is different. No matter what you burn, the first few fires should be kept within reason until you know how the stove acts. As you get comfortable with it, then you can step it up.

 

[Swedishchef]

Yes, it went nuclear for 2 reasons. 1- I left LARGE gaps. 2- I had door cracked open and bypass damper open which immensely increase chimney warm up time and temporary draft. The bypass damper opens a back plate that allows for smokw to go directly out the back of the stove. So with the door open it was sorta mimicking a furnace
I learned, and now I pack them tightly and let them burn slower. They're a nice addition to wood.

Andrew

 

[begreen]

I packed the Castine with these bricks. It was a non-event. The fire burned in a steady, orderly fashion.

 

[Treacherous]

I packed the Castine with these bricks. It was a non-event. The fire burned in a steady, orderly fashion.

Same experience here... no issue with NIEL

I have never tried to burn more than 4 at a time but just a good clean burn with excellent secondaries. I normally burn mixed with my other firewood but sometimes go solo with the NIELs.