It's been a long time coming but I finally had my first fire in my Osburn 3500 insert today!
![[Hearth.com] First Fire, and a big Thank You to Hearth.com](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/318/318915-a85bcb5239264920101f979bf55069d7.jpg?hash=ZgaP4bGM8_ "[Hearth.com] First Fire, and a big Thank You to Hearth.com")
![[Hearth.com] First Fire, and a big Thank You to Hearth.com](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/318/318916-f1d2a925d1af4bcb9888caea3d4731d8.jpg?hash=_gz2oflejh "[Hearth.com] First Fire, and a big Thank You to Hearth.com")
![[Hearth.com] First Fire, and a big Thank You to Hearth.com](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/318/318919-191b39915f6d8bf9f7033bad7f97780e.jpg?hash=c2P_Rs6onT "[Hearth.com] First Fire, and a big Thank You to Hearth.com")
About 3 years ago, I bought the stove and had planned to install it right away and start using it, so I started researching online and found this forum. I'm so glad I did because the knowledge I have gained from reading through countless threads on here prepared me to have a safe, successful stove installation and first fire.
The main reason it took 3 years to get the stove installed and ready to use was because I discovered that my chimney needed a new crown and the top several courses of brick redone and I had a hard time finding a mason to do the work as most of them were booked out several years.
In the meantime, I learned all about the importance of dry wood. As luck would have it, some opportunities to get wood in log form presented themselves, so I got wood and processed enough of it to get me started for whenever the chimney work could get done and the stove installed. The silver lining in having to wait a few years to install the stove was that I was able to get ahead on wood, and I now have enough ready at under 20% MC for my first burning season and beyond, and I'm working on my wood for the next several years.
I wanted to say a big thank you to Hearth.com and all the moderators and members who share their knowledge so graciously with others. It is such a helpful community of enthusiasts that are willing to help others have a safe and enjoyable experience with their stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, etc.
About 3 years ago, I bought the stove and had planned to install it right away and start using it, so I started researching online and found this forum. I'm so glad I did because the knowledge I have gained from reading through countless threads on here prepared me to have a safe, successful stove installation and first fire.
The main reason it took 3 years to get the stove installed and ready to use was because I discovered that my chimney needed a new crown and the top several courses of brick redone and I had a hard time finding a mason to do the work as most of them were booked out several years.
In the meantime, I learned all about the importance of dry wood. As luck would have it, some opportunities to get wood in log form presented themselves, so I got wood and processed enough of it to get me started for whenever the chimney work could get done and the stove installed. The silver lining in having to wait a few years to install the stove was that I was able to get ahead on wood, and I now have enough ready at under 20% MC for my first burning season and beyond, and I'm working on my wood for the next several years.
I wanted to say a big thank you to Hearth.com and all the moderators and members who share their knowledge so graciously with others. It is such a helpful community of enthusiasts that are willing to help others have a safe and enjoyable experience with their stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, etc.
