Does this qualify as secondaries?

[Sconnie Burner]

Sorry for the sideways pic. The left is actually the top of the fire box. They are rolling flames sepearated from the wood. There doesn't seem to be any flames actually coming from the tubes? Its dark when I get home so can't Check to see if the chimney Is smoking or not. I can this weekend though. Just trying to decifer a clean burn from a less desirable one from the looks of the fire.

 

[pen]

How close to closed do you have the air control?

I have an average (not overly tall) chimney and for me, when the stove is cruising I probably have the air control about 5% to 10% open yet. Too much more than that and the air the chimney is looking to pull in will come through the air wash over the glass and feed the fire, and the secondaries won't feel as much pull to make them light off.

Focus more on setting the air control for a clean burn, and less on secondaries.

pen

 

[pen]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Here's my stove with some secondaries going about 1/2 way through. Turn the volume down though, I breathe loudly

Also, I made that video to purposely show secondary action. I generally don't turn the air down fully to get them to be that pronounced. If I do, with the draft that I have, things look all great and wonderful for a few hours, but by the time I wake up in the morning, I would have a excess pile of coals left and sooty glass. Giving things just a touch more air (about 5-10% open in my case, your situation may be a bit different) gives me the best burns, albeit not the most perfect looking secondaries.

Don't get too worked up if secondaries aren't perfect all the time, they are simply there to assist in keeping things clean and you getting as much energy from the smoke as possible. If that happened without needing secondary action, so be it.

 

[Sconnie Burner]

That's with the stovetop at 600 and the air at about 10-15% open. Should I make it a goal to have those burning or is what I see fine as long as there is very little smoke coming out the chimney?

 

[pen]

If the air is only 10-15% open, and that stove top is at 600, it sounds like you are doing well.

Usually people who are having a problem have the air 50% or more open, and can't get the sucker over 350 easily.

Well done, you are fine.

pen

 

[Sconnie Burner]

Thanks for all the help pen! And putting my mind at ease of my burning practices that I was starting to second guess when I saw the icicle. I it thought was from smoke condensing in the stack! And trickling out.

I only got to play with this stove for a short period late February, when I moved into the house till the end of March. I purchased a face cord of wood when i moved in and it was probably too wet to learn anything about the stove. I now have hopefully drastically drier wood to "play" with after busting hump from snow melt to the end of April cutting dead full standing elm and some dead oak tops.

 

[pen]

Dry wood makes all the difference.

I don't know of many people who haven't gone though that exact same thing when burning in a new home, even when they know better, it's just hard getting good wood that first year.

Keep at it, you are ahead of the curve.

 

[Colorado Boy]

So is it safe to say there should be very little flames coming off the wood when the air control is set correctly. The majority of the fire should be up around the tubes?

 

[pen]

So is it safe to say there should be very little flames coming off the wood when the air control is set correctly. The majority of the fire should be up around the tubes?

I find it depends on how much wood is in the stove, what the outdoor temps are, how I loaded the splits, etc. Sometimes there are more visible secondaries than others, sometimes more of the flame is on the wood, it simply depends.

In the end, so long as the flue temps and stove top temps are reasonable, along with the burn time for the fuel provided and the size of the stove, then just enjoy what is seen through the glass and don't get too worked up,,,, regular inspections of the flue to make sure deposits aren't building too quickly also help keep the mind at ease, even better yet, just run the brush though (even as much as monthly if you are worried) until you can get a feel for things.

pen

 

[SlyFerret]

Looks about right to me!!

Don't get too hung up on textbook secondaries. You'll get used to how your stove burns soon enough. The big secondaries are only a part of the burn cycle anyway, maybe 1/3 or so.

I spent a good part of my first year with my stove fussing over getting it set just right and swearing when I screwed it up.

-SF

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

how long should secondaries burn? Seems i only get them for about 5 minutes or so, is that normal?

 

[ddahlgren]

how long should secondaries burn? Seems i only get them for about 5 minutes or so, is that normal?

If it is not colder out I get the same results as the chimney is fairly short. At this time of the year I have to settle for enough fire up the chimney to keep the draft good and a clean fire.

 

[richmhv]

The key is whether you're getting visible smoke. If the secondaries go out and you start belching smoke, that needs to be rectified by opening up air a little. If they go out because there's nothing left but charcoal, that's fine. All of the volatile stuff that makes up wood gas is gone. The charcoal can smolder without smoking. 5 minutes is a bit short. You may be closing the air a little too quick. On a 3 log load, you should get some sort of secondary burn for an hour or more until the wood is reduced to coals, but it doesn't have to look like a gas oven burner. Floating lazy aurora like flames are fine an pretty to watch besides.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

If you want some really nice secondaries put a couple spilts of dry pine on a hot coal bed and close the air. It's a thing of beauty.

 

[BobUrban]

Love the video Pen - looks like a gem of a burn cycle going there. I made a short video like that shortly after I got my 30 into action and I was so mesmerized by the secondary action I said, "that is f-ing awesome" out loud w/o realizing it until I listened/watched the vid. Had to do a re-take before I sent it to my sister.

My favorite - for viewing pleasure - is when the stove goes dark with zero action for a few seconds and then combustion happens and there is a big flame inside that dies back down and repeats. Probably not the best scenario for a burn cycle but man it looks cool.

OP - I will reiterate the above: Looks good and as Pen mentioned - if its working don't try to fix it. Not every load up will burn exactly like the last but if you are consistent with your fuel and process it should be similar enough to get comfortable with what is going on, what will happen and the heat your stove is producing.