Buck 74 air intake

[scott_johnson100]

Hi all,
I have a new Buck 74zc. I’ve been burning wood in various stoves for 30+ years. This stove is a struggle. It doesn’t seem to pull in a lot of air and the fire struggles unless the wood is super dry say less than 10%. The wood I have is oak in the 14-18% range. If I open the door a crack it will go. If I add more wood, that new wood won’t burn for a couple minutes.

The other issue is moisture content. I have wood that’s in the 14-18% range. If I split it, it’s visibly wet, but the meter still reads in an acceptable range. I also see moisture wicking out of the ends when burning.

To me and my experience, this wood it way too wet to burn, but the meter and the internet say it’s ok. My stove seems to not want to burn it either.

Am I missing something?

Thanks!

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Hi all,
I have a new Buck 74zc. I’ve been burning wood in various stoves for 30+ years. This stove is a struggle. It doesn’t seem to pull in a lot of air and the fire struggles unless the wood is super dry say less than 10%. The wood I have is oak in the 14-18% range. If I open the door a crack it will go. If I add more wood, that new wood won’t burn for a couple minutes.

The other issue is moisture content. I have wood that’s in the 14-18% range. If I split it, it’s visibly wet, but the meter still reads in an acceptable range. I also see moisture wicking out of the ends when burning.

To me and my experience, this wood it way too wet to burn, but the meter and the internet say it’s ok. My stove seems to not want to burn it either.

Am I missing something?

Thanks!

my meter has multiple modes. Check to make sure yours is in the correct mode. If you can visible see moisture when you fresh split a piece of wood, then clearly it isn't ready. What kind of wood is it and how long has is been seasoned? How is it being stored now?

I also keep about 2 days worth of wood inside by the stove.

 

[stoveliker]

Seems from here to be a wood issue, not a stove issue.
These modern stoves really want dry (drier) wood.

How tall is the flue? Is it lined?

Regarding the moisture meter, if the settings are correct, either it's broken, or you're not doing it right.
Are the splits at room temp? (I.e. been inside for 24 hrs)
The pins should be into the freshly split surfaces,. parallel to the grain, and in all the way, not just 1/25 of an inch.

 

[scott_johnson100]

Hi, it’s a borrowed moisture meter, and probably not a good one like a General. When you say that it needs to be all the way in the wood, I press it as far as it will go. Still seems like false readings. We’re talking about red and some white oak currently. I bought some white oak plus I recently split some red oak that’s be down a couple years. It’s definitely not ready, even though the meter reads that it’s ok. I think I just need to find some decent wood for this year. I have two cords drying for next year.

 

[scott_johnson100]

Also, the meter is set for hardwood. The wood is in a covered area but cold. I’m checking a fresh split too. I think the meter is off and I need to trust what I know to be dry or not. If it looks, sounds and feels wet, it is…

Thanks for the responses

 

[webfish]

Bring the wood inside to get to room temp. (as Stoveliker noted)

 

[kborndale]

And to be sure, you are resplitting the wood right before you check it?

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Also, the meter is set for hardwood. The wood is in a covered area but cold. I’m checking a fresh split too. I think the meter is off and I need to trust what I know to be dry or not. If it looks, sounds and feels wet, it is…

Thanks for the responses

they have meters on amazon for around 20 bucks. Cheap investment. Then see how the two meters compare.