After using wood stoves for almost two decades I started experimenting with compressed wood products like biobricks and hardwood pellets. I now use the pellets as a substitute for kindling and toss in 1/2 to 1 pint before adding more cordwood. When building a new fire I use a combination of pellets, biobricks and a piece of cordwood, then apply a propane torch to the pellets for about 2 minutes. Previously, when burning wood gathered from the wild, it was often necessary to rearrange the fire in order to get it to start quickly without generating much smoke. The compressed wood products startup consistently like clockwork and generate minimal smoke. In fact you have to close the secondary air intake fully after about 8 minutes. The biobricks are useful for long duration burns so at night I stack up 4 to 6 of the larger blocks (biobrics xl). In the morning there are still large coal chunks burning.
I admit I was somewhat stressed about going through our first winter in a large 1858 house with only two woodstoves. With the most recent cold snap we keep the woodstoves going constantly, and I must say it was quite comfortable.
I admit I was somewhat stressed about going through our first winter in a large 1858 house with only two woodstoves. With the most recent cold snap we keep the woodstoves going constantly, and I must say it was quite comfortable.
