From a modern BK to a Franklin stove

[dh1989]

I've been running my Blaze King stove at home for several years now without issue. 12 hour reloads are the norm. I've been away at a cottage in rural Maine where the primary heat source is an Atlanta Stoveworks model 26 (Franklin replica). Needless to say this has been a learning curve. I've finally managed to get it going without much smoke rollout and was getting maybe 3 hours to a burn. I decided to try a longer night time burn and packed it full. I ended up burning some paint off the black pipe as the the stove overfired. I had the air intake closed down and the key damper turned as far as I could but it still got too hot. Windows are now open venting out burnt paint odor. Anyone have any tips for me on safely running this old stove?

 

[Tar12]

My tip would be to get rid of it..I have attempted to operate 2 of them over the years and they were both uncontrollable...very dangerous IMO.

 

[Max W]

I had a Franklin stove / fireplace for a short while. Mostly used it for ambiance and open fire cooking. It had a hinged grill. The multi hinged doors don’t close tight enough for a loaded up burn up as you discovered. At least it wasn’t glowing, if single wall.
Tar12 is likely right but if you are just staying somewhere where that is not an option and the overall set up is otherwise safe I would say run smaller fires and add wood more frequently.

 

[stoveliker]

I guess turning down even sooner. But you might end up with more creosote in your chimney.

The joy of less advanced stoves...

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Smaller loads. I doubt it's airtight.

I remember burning in my grandfather's potbelly. I dont miss it. But it looked cool.

 

[snobuilder]

Is this the only heat source and was this a surprise to you?
I'm trying to understand how you got to the point you're at. I assume you rented this place? Totally new to you?
Strange story for sure and a tough situation to be thrown into without any knowledge.

I will most likely be the only one using my stove in the WI northwwods . All visiters will only have to have the knowledge of a HVAC thermostat

 

[marty319]

Is this the only heat source and was this a surprise to you?
I'm trying to understand how you got to the point you're at. I assume you rented this place? Totally new to you?
Strange story for sure and a tough situation to be thrown into without any knowledge.

I will most likely be the only one using my stove in the WI northwwods . All visiters will only have to have the knowledge of a HVAC thermostat

Thank heavens for as unsafe you have been

 

[spudman99]

Before you retire, take out a few coals and put them in a steel box. Place box near your feet under the covers. Add a few logs for overnight. Restart stove in the morning.

Oh...wait.... we are not in colonial times. Disregard the above....heheh

 

[snobuilder]

Thank heavens for as unsafe you have been

That was your 454th post....very scary!

 

[marty319]

That was your 454th post....very scary!

🥱

 

[Max W]

Thank heavens for as unsafe you have been

Snobuilder said
“I will most likely be the only one using my stove in the WI northwwods . All visiters will only have to have the knowledge of a HVAC thermostat”

I don’t have to agree with snobuilder on other things to see that this is safe practice and stands by itself in this thread. It can be too easy to criticize or pile on.

 

[Ashful]

That was your 454th post....very scary!

Other than a possible reference to a fairly inferior Chevy big block, I don’t get the reference.

 

[snobuilder]

Other than a possible reference to a fairly inferior Chevy big block, I don’t get the reference.

You got me....its farenheit 451....I was close . Lol ...

 

[snobuilder]

Snobuilder said
“I will most likely be the only one using my stove in the WI northwwods . All visiters will only have to have the knowledge of a HVAC thermostat”

I don’t have to agree with snobuilder on other things to see that this is safe practice and stands by itself in this thread. It can be too easy to criticize or pile on.

Seriously. I would have to write a book of instructions on how to run my Peasant Hearth high efficiency inferno.

 

[Ashful]

You got me....its farenheit 451....I was close . Lol ...

Only 3°F off! Heck, less than 2 degrees, if you work in Celsius. 😀

 

[bholler]

Seriously. I would have to write a book of instructions on how to run my Peasant Hearth high efficiency inferno.

Would that include periodic inspections to make sure the wall and or floor is not on fire? Farenheit 451 is a fantastic book though

 

[snobuilder]

Only 3°F off! Heck, less than 2 degrees, if you work in Celsius. 😀

Yea, I guess I was getting burned...ouch.

 

[snobuilder]

Thank heavens for as unsafe you have been

How does this help the OP? Is this acceptable? I was replying to the OP so what was the intent of your pissy little comment?. Realy nice that you have likes as well. If these threads turn into pissing matches you all only have yourselves to blame. When you lock them....look in the mirror. You are the reason.

 

[snobuilder]

Would that include periodic inspections to make sure the wall and or floor is not on fire? Farenheit 451 is a fantastic book though

I was replying to the OP. What is the intent of your pissy comment?

 

[bholler]

I was replying to the OP. What is the intent of your pissy comment?

Simply trying to convince you of the severity of your safety issues.

 

[marty319]

How does this help the OP? Is this acceptable? I was replying to the OP so what was the intent of your pissy little comment?. Realy nice that you have likes as well. If these threads turn into pissing matches you all only have yourselves to blame. When you lock them....look in the mirror. You are the reason.

🫂

 

[Ashful]

You two bickering scared off the OP! 😂

I think Limestone called this way back in post #5. If you're just renting, deal with the smaller and frequent loads, and appreciate how far we've come. You'll hug your BK when you get back home, just don't let your wife see you doing it.

 

[dh1989]

I'm still here. We've been out and about snowshoeing yesterday and doing some sightseeing today.

I appreciate the tips. Smaller loads to keep it under control seems to be the key. Here's what I've figured out so far:

-Smoke rollout is inevitable. Starting and reloading these stoves just spill some smoke into the room. I haven't figured out any way around it. The slanted plate at the top sends the smoke right out until the doors are closed. Luckily there is a good exhaust fan here.

-Tinker with the key damper. On a calm warmer day it needs to be almost full open. It's gusting to 40 MPH with temperature falling today. I can almost close it all the way without smoke rolling out.

-Small loads. This thing can throw heat if kept under control. It was 90 with the windows open when I overloaded it (30 outside). The doors are in no way airtight. If I run it shut down as much as possible it can still get overfired easily.

Yes, I am spoiled with the set it and forget it nature of my BK.

 

[savageactor7]

2 different stoves, you'll never come close to the efficiency of the Blaze King so forget about the tweaking and just let the Franklin be a Franklin and accept it for what it is.

 

[Ashful]

Excepting the obvious case of a cold pipe, or indoor temperatures not much warmer than outdoor, smoke roll-out is nearly always a function of fireplace (or stove door) opening size to flue cross-section. Simply put, it takes a bigger pipe to prevent smoke roll-out on a bigger opening. So, if that stove has double doors, you might do well to work as much as possible with just opening one of the two doors.

For an absurd case in point, look up the chimney of any cooking fireplace, such as the one shown in my avatar. With fireplace openings of 20 - 40 square feet, you'll see a flue large enough to understand the origins of any story of people or jolly fat elves entering a house thru the chimney. Santa didn't have to squeeze down to 6" diameter, in the 18th century.