Does this make sense for kindling woodstoves?

[Alan Harris]

I've developed a hand-held, battery powered blower that gets campfires and wood-burning fireplaces blazing in about two minutes. I'm wondering if a tool of this kind would be of any interest for faster kindling of wood stoves. Any thoughts? We've just started a crowd funding campaign to manufacture it in America, but we need some advice on whether it would appeal to folks who burn wood or pellets in their stoves. If you want to see it in action (only if you feel like it) you can look at either our website (www.fiair.net) or our crowd funding site ((broken link removed to http://www.indiegogo.com/fiair)) Thanks for any opinions you can offer.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

First off Alan, I hope you got permission from this web site to post this.

Second, I would highly doubt that would have much of a market for wood burners. We don't burn green wood in our stoves so lighting a fire is super easy. Besides, we also have Super Cedars.

 

[webbie]

A friend of mine invented something like this about 20 years ago - didn't look anywhere near as nice, it was basically like a regular flashlight body with a different head. It never went anywhere.......

That unit sure looks nice, but it's very important to KNOW if you have a market for it....that is, will people buy it? Where? For how much?

I could see it maybe selling in some catalogs....but it's hard getting into them.

Best of luck....though!

 

[schlot]

I'd put in the "toy" category for serious/full time burners as most the people here are. Which means IF some of us have some disposable money after buying Xmas presents we MIGHT get one.

Now for the "gentleman" burners who burn a lot less frequently and use the fire place for decoration, it might be something of interest. I would also offer that people with stoves/inserts wouldn't use it much, but those with open hearths would more likely use it based on the above comments.

Also, I could see a wife buying this for her husband, since we guys love power tools/toys.

Good luck with your adventure.

 

[Rickb]

For camping / green wood I always just use a air mattress blower that's rechargeable.

 

[webbie]

I see it as a Brookstone, Plow and Hearth, etc. type item....as others have said, not a need but possibly a gift for those who already have everything! The bigger market may be the BBQ end of things, as well as more casual burners (outdoor fireplaces, etc.)

 

[NWfuel]

Can I get a free sample? If you offer free samples you will receive many thoughts
Thomas

 

[jwoair23]

I would be willing to try it out and post a review here if you like? I live in Pittsburgh, just a thought! Not asking for a free one, just saying I'll provide some feedback for you in this forum if you so desire.

 

[Adkjake]

Nope, wouldn't have any interest in spending any $$ on such. If you need something like that to start a fire, well, think propane, not wood

 

[WellSeasoned]

Cool, something to blow ash and embers all over the place.

 

[fossil]

It's a nice sleek design. I hope you find a market for it and get your required seed money to launch the product. I need nothing like it to get a fire going in a wood stove. If I did, I think I'd just spring for a little good old hand-operated bellows. But, as I said, I don't even need anything as simple as that. Our appliance intallations, properly executed and operated, generally are just rarin' to provide a good draft of combustion air through our fireboxes, so we really don't need anything but tinder, kindling, a flame, and the laws of physics to get things going. The airflow takes care of itself.

 

[rdust]

As others have stated for an open fireplace or outdoor fire I could see it if people are burning unseasoned wood. The stove/insert crowd won't have much interest.

With that said the people who are frequent posters on this site are pretty fanatical about burning wood and heating our homes with it. Most of us probably aren't in your target market.

I'll also echo what WellSeasoned has stated it sure seems like a good way to blow hot embers around the house! In the age of the sue happy America it will surely need some warning labels.

 

[suprz]

I would consider buying one, at this point in my life, i am all about making my life simpler. if i can get my fire going faster whether it is my campfire, or the woodstove its all good with me. i appreciate you taking the extra time and consideration to make it in america even though it is more expensive.

 

[BrianK]

http://m.instructables.com/id/Better-than-a-Bellows-A-Fireplace-Blower/

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I can't see myself using it. For grilling it's too much fun to use white gas. For the fireplace or woodstoves, paper and kindling or a small piece of some super cedars I bought a couple years ago work fine. If I felt the need for one I'd probably grab the wife's hair dryer when she wasn't looking. For camping or to take hunting with me I carry a magnesium/flint stick which has never let me down.

Good luck though! There are lots of people who don't know how to start a fire.

Matt

 

[GrampaDennis]

In my old stove, on a few occasions when the newspaper and my secret ingredient (shredded paper cups) burnt out before the wood got going, my Plan B was a pushbutton operated MAPP gas torch. It made plenty of heat and the torch stopped burning the instant you let off the trigger. It usually got the wood going in a few seconds. It's sort of a lighter on steroids.

If my new EPA stove (currently on order) starts as easy as everybody says, I shouldn't have to resort to Plan B anymore.

I already own the torch, and have other uses for it. When I burn brush piles, the MAPP gas torch is my lighter of choice.

The battery-powered blower may be a great gizmo, but doesn't appeal to me for use around the stove.

 

[osagebow]

Good luck, hope the BBQ market likes it. Enjoyed the video with all the "Yinzers". Makes me yearn for a three rivers tailgate.

 

[corey21]

Maybe for my outdoor grill if that.

Hope it works out.

Cool, something to blow ash and embers all over the place.

That could happen.

 

[etiger2007]

I really wouldnt want the ashes flying all around. Might work?

 

[firefighterjake]

No offense . . . wouldn't be interested . . . seasoned wood + kindling + Super Cedar (or some newspaper) with the side door cracked ajar and I have more than enough draft to get the fire going in short order.

 

[Alan Harris]

First off Alan, I hope you got permission from this web site to post this.

Second, I would highly doubt that would have much of a market for wood burners. We don't burn green wood in our stoves so lighting a fire is super easy. Besides, we also have Super Cedars.

Thank you Dennis. I should have read the rules more closely before diving in. I will omit any links in all future posts. That said, I am VERY grateful for all of the feedback from members. We're learning a lot here and It helps us to course correct as we work to bring FiAir to a U.S. factory floor.

 

[Alan Harris]

A friend of mine invented something like this about 20 years ago - didn't look anywhere near as nice, it was basically like a regular flashlight body with a different head. It never went anywhere.......

That unit sure looks nice, but it's very important to KNOW if you have a market for it....that is, will people buy it? Where? For how much?

I could see it maybe selling in some catalogs....but it's hard getting into them.

Best of luck....though!

Thanks, Craig...You are quite right about knowing whether our market exists. We have gotten positive feedback about FiAir at the Hearth, BBQ & Patio Association (HP&BA) convention and directly from fireplace users, tailgaters and the backyard grilling community. We're also investigating campers and other outdoors enthusiasts. While we're working on raising the bucks to make it in America, we're also digging deeper into wood stove users and you've been helpful.

Alan

 

[EJL923]

For camping / green wood I always just use a air mattress blower that's rechargeable.

+1

 

[Alan Harris]

I'd put in the "toy" category for serious/full time burners as most the people here are. Which means IF some of us have some disposable money after buying Xmas presents we MIGHT get one.

Now for the "gentleman" burners who burn a lot less frequently and use the fire place for decoration, it might be something of interest. I would also offer that people with stoves/inserts wouldn't use it much, but those with open hearths would more likely use it based on the above comments.

Also, I could see a wife buying this for her husband, since we guys love power tools/toys.

Good luck with your adventure.

You are right on the money! Our research on gender and "toys" is pretty powerful. We guys do love our toys and "playing" with fire with one hand free to swig beer can't be all bad! If the gods smile and FiAir ships from our US manufacturer this spring as we hope, it just may become the 2013 Father's Day Gift of the Year! Thank you for your feedback about stoves/inserts vs. open hearths. You guys are great.

 

[Alan Harris]

For camping / green wood I always just use a air mattress blower that's rechargeable.

Hey Rick - whatever floats your boat. You can hammer nails with a shoe, too; but we designed FiAir specifically for the job of kindling & stoking wood and charcoal fires. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the world is big enough for FiAir and the DIY solutions! Thanks for the feedback!

Alan