I have never raked the coals, so maybe that has been my issue. I have always just placed the new splits right on top, with an alternating pattern for staking them. The wood has never hissed/bubbled out or anything to indicate that it wasn't dry. I do have an outside air kit. And I've always opened the air up all the way on reload. I have about 1/3 of the wood from my neighbor left, so I need to get some new wood as even now with most of the wood around here being oak, it probably won't be dry for this next winter.
Fireplace Choice
- Thread starter Mykayel
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By alternating pattern do you mean a layer N/S then the next layer E/W, lincoln log style? If so that could be part of the problem. Stacking that way will put a lot of air between the splits, making a shorter burning fire.
The only reason I stacked them 'Lincoln log' style is to try to get the reload to light better without so much smoke (and that's how I've done the top down fire's when I start from scratch)... but I'll have to give raking the coals to the front a try.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
If it's dry, and your chimney warm/drafting, the wood will light stacked tight, with no smoke into the room. Stacking criss-crossed will cause a very hot burn in any stove.
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