First Burns for the Austral

[Chuck the Canuck]

Hi ya'll. So I'm just starting my first fires in the new Austral, and I'm wondering if I can burn it in, cure the paint and all, within one day, so that I can have a nice overnight burn... Any suggestions?

Cheers

 

[begreen]

Do at least one small fire to drive moisture out of the firebrick. Two would be better. Then have at is with a decent sized fire, maybe a half load until you get used to the stove.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Do at least one small fire to drive moisture out of the firebrick. Two would be better. Then have at is with a decent sized fire, maybe a half load until you get used to the stove.

Thanks BG. I'm going to put the 2nd small one on right now, and I'll follow that up with a 1/2 load for the overnight fire. The Austral came equipped with a blower, but I've never used one. Can I just pretend it's not there for now while I get the basic operation down, or should I be using it?

Cheers

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

So as I mentioned, I've never used a blower on a stove before. Any of you Drolet users out there have any suggestions as to whether I need to use it, and if so what would be a proper procedure for using it?

Cheers

 

[realstihl]

Just do what works for you. Some people like "em" and some don't. Try it for a while and see. I don't see big gains with a blower and they make noise.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Just do what works for you. Some people like "em" and some don't. Try it for a while and see. I don't see big gains with a blower and they make noise.

Well I'd prefer not to use it if I didn't have to (extra electric costs money).... I guess it would come in handy to take some heat away from the stove if it was getting too hot....

 

[Hardrockmaple]

You'll have to try burning with and without the fan running to see what best suits your needs. I found that keeping it running on low seemed to work best for me. I picked up the thermodisc kit at a Home Hardware and installed it.

(broken link removed to http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Heating-Ventilation-Cooling-Home-Comfort/Heating/Stove-Fireplace-Supp/Blowers-Fans/100-120-Degree-Thermodisc-for-Drolet-and-Flame-Woodstoves/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I5531793?Ntt=drolet)

 

[DamienBricka]

The Austral came equipped with a blower, but I've never used one.

When I got my Austral last month I removed the blower and stored it. One I never used a blower and Two I really did not feel like doing some electrical wiring. My house heats fine without the blower. You probably do not need it, JMHO

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

You'll have to try burning with and without the fan running to see what best suits your needs. I found that keeping it running on low seemed to work best for me. I picked up the thermodisc kit at a Home Hardware and installed it.

(broken link removed to http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Heating-Ventilation-Cooling-Home-Comfort/Heating/Stove-Fireplace-Supp/Blowers-Fans/100-120-Degree-Thermodisc-for-Drolet-and-Flame-Woodstoves/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I5531793?Ntt=drolet)

Thanks Hardrock. That thermodisc kit only cost $26.00....

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

When I got my Austral last month I removed the blower and stored it. One I never used a blower and Two I really did not feel like doing some electrical wiring. My house heats fine without the blower. You probably do not need it, JMHO

Like ya'll said, I suppose I need to run the stove for a while with and without the blower, in order to see if it makes any difference or not...

 

[begreen]

It really depends on the house design and how well heat will convect naturally from the stove location. If the stove is located centrally where the heat is needed then it could do fine without a blower. If it is at one end of a house in a big room with a high ceiling, a blower may be helpful.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

It really depends on the house design and how well heat will convect naturally from the stove location. If the stove is located centrally where the heat is needed then it could do fine without a blower. If it is at one end of a house in a big room with a high ceiling, a blower may be helpful.

I was quite successful at establishing a thermal convection loop with the old stove (no blower) by putting a fan on the stairs blowing down into the basement where the stove is (I also removed the header and sides around the door in the basement to facilitate warm air movement upstairs). So given that this method worked quite well with the old stove, I don't know if I need to bother using the blower with the new stove.....

 

[tekguy]

I was quite successful at establishing a thermal convection loop with the old stove (no blower) by putting a fan on the stairs blowing down into the basement where the stove is (I also removed the header and sides around the door in the basement to facilitate warm air movement upstairs). So given that this method worked quite well with the old stove, I don't know if I need to bother using the blower with the new stove.....

I would think it would still work, sometimes I use the blower - other times not - it is far from the quietest and I dont really notice a difference either way

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

I would think it would still work, sometimes I use the blower - other times not - it is far from the quietest and I dont really notice a difference either way

Yeah, I think I'll give it a try without the blower for now and see how it goes. This stove really seems to put out the heat quite nicely all around (no heat shields on sides), and boyz oh boyz you guys weren't kidding when you said you could shut down the fire pretty fast with the primary air damper I love it

 

[Huntindog1]

I dont use the blower on my Myriad which is same as Austral but on a pedestal.

By allowing the top of the stove stay hotter easier should be a more efficient burn. (maybe)

 

[DamienBricka]

By allowing the top of the stove stay hotter easier should be a more efficient burn. (maybe

That maybe a good point

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Well I was able to shut down the air completely on the stove for the first time this morning (without starving the fire to the point that it was going out) and I was rewarded with some beautiful secondary burning going on. I'm thinking that if I turn on the fan I might cool off the stove and lose the secondary burn???

(The stove top was around 725 F, flue around 300 F)

Here's a short clip of the burn:

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[tekguy]

Well I was able to shut down the air completely on the stove for the first time this morning (without starving the fire to the point that it was going out) and I was rewarded with some beautiful secondary burning going on. I'm thinking that if I turn on the fan I might cool off the stove and lose the secondary burn???

(The stove top was around 725 F, flue around 300 F)

Here's a short clip of the burn:

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View attachment 129930

Thats good, I haven't really noticed a difference with fan on or off with secondaries either to be honest.. it has more to do with wood selection and how I load it to get them to fire

I need to have a hot coal bed it seems for good secondary action

if your top was 725 I bet the side near the top where even hotter radiating more heat, the top and sides above the firebrick radiate alot

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

if your top was 725 I bet the side near the top where even hotter radiating more heat, the top and sides above the firebrick radiate alot

Yeah, I noticed that the sides were hotter than the top! I tell you, this stove heats the house up alot faster than the old one ever did

 

[begreen]

Turning on the fan when the stove is that hot should not kill the secondary burn.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

wow that things got awesome secondaries. Will be fun to sit and watch.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

Turning on the fan when the stove is that hot should not kill the secondary burn.

Great, I'm glad to hear that! Thanks.

 

[Chuck the Canuck]

wow that things got awesome secondaries. Will be fun to sit and watch.

Yeah it looked pretty awesome... almost like a rainbow of fine misty flames shooting down from the secondary baffle thingy I absolutely love it!