DW fa288 grate covers ?

[Dutchwest288BBuster]

Greetings and thank you for a wonderful site. My first post. I recently purchased a dutchwest fa-288 and found the original manuals on line . I have been using the stove burning very well seasoned cherry hic and oak and it's been working very well. However I am concerned with a discrepancy I found in the literature . One manual says to use the under fire damper to start a wood fire" wich I have been doing" another says to never use the underfire damper when burning wood and that the rotating coal grates must be covered with grate covers. I am not new to burning wood. I've been getting up to 8 hr burn times dampening this stove down with all closed except the over fire damper. Will someone explain please when you have time. Thank you

 

[defiant3]

In order to burn properly, coal must get air from below the fire, thus the draft control on he aash pan door. Otherwise, one would simply use the side door control for wood burning. No reason you CAN'T use the lower one, but likely performance will be better on wood without it. Also it MAY prevent premature wear to the grates.

The real question is: what about the little one that feeds air to the Catalyst? In 30 years I've never had anyone or any literature that would explain how the *%^$ to properly adjust that thing!! How do you know you're doing THAT one right???

 

[Dutchwest288BBuster]

Thank you for explanation I only use the bottom damper when kindling a new fire. I will look at my manuals for instructions on the cat damper and post later