Coaling phase

[Creekheat]

Once your load of wood is down to "very large coals" not cool enough or small enough for a reload but large coals several inches deep and red with small flames still dancing on it, do you open your air control and try to get the twmps back up for a shorter time or let it slowly die? Advantages to this?

 

[NHcpa]

You can see the coals and I just plunked in 2 large splits and opened the air control. Once it reaches temp, I will engage cat and throttle down air control just a tad above full closure. I also note we have similar hearth set ups.

 

[Typ0]

I have sub par wood and I am either raking forward and throwing a small spit on there to burn it down with the air wide open or I just keep feeding the stove. I had a problem with the firebricks and since I fixed that the back has not been burning well and I am ending up with a crap load of charcoal in there....was thinking about shoveling it out for the grill in the summer LOL.

I'm interested to hear about strategies with good wood....

 

[mark cline]

Depends on how much heat you need . If your house or room temp is comfortable, then open the air full and burn the coals down for when its time to reload. If you need heat , then load on top of the coals and keep an eye on the temps. , it will take off fast. But loading on top of coals will reduce the amount of wood you will be able to put in.

 

[Typ0]

I will also add there is a lot of good advice about what you "should be doing" but the reality is we learn about the stove and wood we are working with and do the best we can in the space we have. Point being don't be afraid to experiment and learn. Just don't load up a crap load of small stuff as dry as cardboard that might be a wild ride....

 

[Creekheat]

Good points!

 

[prezes13]

Most of the time I will open the air full and let the stove burn it down then load it full.

 

[Creekheat]

That's what I am doing too.