Had A Good Keystone Cat Burn Last Night

[Todd]

Loaded up the stove full with some White Birch and a chunk of Super Cedar and she took off fast, within 20 minutes the new cat probe was up to 450 while the stove top was only 100. I decided to engage the cat with air setting of #1.5 since the new s/s cat is suppose to light off at 400. 10 minutes later the cat temp was at 1000, stove top 350. I'm liking this cat probe, last year I would of waited for the stove temp to come up to at least 200 before light off, much quicker now.

At the 60 minute mark the probe was reading 1400, stove top 550 and external pipe temp 290. Turned it down to #1 and stove top stabilized at 570, probe 1300, pipe 250. I burned this way for 15-20 minutes with that familiar floating fire burn then turned it down to .75 which snuffed out the flames and turned the cat beet red. The first 20 minutes after turning it down the stove top rose to 600, probe back up to 1400 but the stove pipe dropped to 210. I've noticed this rise in temps in the past when you snuff out the flames, gives the cat more fuel to burn. The old Fireview use to run away occasionally up over 700 when I did this but the Keystones haven't done this yet.

Another 20 minutes and the temps started to slowly recede. Everything was looking good so I went to bed in a nice toasty house. Next morning 9 hours after match light the stove was 200, probe was 400 and I had enough coals for an instant relight but just let it go out since the house stayed up to temp. Probably do the same tonight.

Here's a pic of that low cat burn, looks like I need to clean my glass, low burns in the shoulder season seems to get that corner a little dirty.

 

[leeave96]

Very nice.

I may fire mine up tonight, but very likely for sure tomorrow. Temps are to be in the low 40's with rain. It will be a good day for a low output burn to knock off the chill.

Bill

 

[fire_man]

Todd:

Thanks for the great Post. Always good to read Time/Probe temp/stovetop temp numbers like that - I think it helps to see how the "seasoned " woodburners operate. One disadvantage of this new stove thing is the learning curve starts all over again. Well, at least WS is just a phone call away. Any word on you making the trip in October?

 

[Todd]

Yeah, I was bored last night and wrote down temps every 5 minutes for 2 hours, my wife thinks I'm a nut case. %-P I like watching that cat temp, it's so much faster than waiting on the stove top. The steel cat lets you get away with quicker light offs and reloads.

I Wish I could make the BBQ but I don't think I'll make it, just started a new job and don't think I should ask for time off so soon but I haven't ruled it out 100% yet.

 

[raybonz]

Nice burn Todd! My old CDW cat wasn't visible unless I lifted the cooking hotplate..

Ray

 

[leeave96]

Small break-in fire going in my Keystone tonight.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[firefighterjake]

Yeah, I was bored last night and wrote down temps every 5 minutes for 2 hours, my wife thinks I'm a nut case. %-P I like watching that cat temp, it's so much faster than waiting on the stove top. The steel cat lets you get away with quicker light offs and reloads.

I Wish I could make the BBQ but I don't think I'll make it, just started a new job and don't think I should ask for time off so soon but I haven't ruled it out 100% yet.

The important thing is that we here at hearth.com think you're perfectly normal and sane.

 

[SolarAndWood]

I love those pics of non-fires with the cat glowing.

 

[jpl1nh]

Nice Todd. First fire for the season in the Keystone coming here tonight. Will be a load of old dried bark, a couple of small splits of pine or hemlock and some 1 -2" diam hardwood branches. Just enough to get a good cat light off and then let it coast down for the night. It's very hard not to get some glass buildup with the shoulder burns. If you have any bark on the birch, there is so much volatile oils in it that it makes a somewhat smokey fire. I have a lot of birch these days as the woods around me are growing past the birch phase and the white birch is dying out. So I burn it mostly when I can run the stove hotter and more consistently. It would be great to meet you so don't completely rule out the Woodstock trip!

 

[Todd]

Nice Todd. First fire for the season in the Keystone coming here tonight. Will be a load of old dried bark, a couple of small splits of pine or hemlock and some 1 -2" diam hardwood branches. Just enough to get a good cat light off and then let it coast down for the night. It's very hard not to get some glass buildup with the shoulder burns. If you have any bark on the birch, there is so much volatile oils in it that it makes a somewhat smokey fire. I have a lot of birch these days as the woods around me are growing past the birch phase and the white birch is dying out. So I burn it mostly when I can run the stove hotter and more consistently. It would be great to meet you so don't completely rule out the Woodstock trip!

Nice to see you back on the forum jpl. I noticed exactly what you describe about the Birch, very smokey at start up, that's when my glass darkened up and once she warmed up it burned most off except the lower corners. I think I'll mix in some oak and stick the birch in the back of the stove to see if it makes a difference next time.

 

[VCBurner]

Small break-in fire going in my Keystone tonight.

Thanks,
Bill

Hey Bill,
Nice to see that you settled with the Keystone. Seems like a nice stove from what I hear, do they come with a cat probe?

Todd:
Loaded up the stove full with some White Birch and a chunk of Super Cedar and she took off fast, within 20 minutes the new cat probe was up to 450 while the stove top was only 100. I decided to engage the cat with air setting of #1.5 since the new s/s cat is suppose to light off at 400. 10 minutes later the cat temp was at 1000, stove top 350. I’m liking this cat probe, last year I would of waited for the stove temp to come up to at least 200 before light off, much quicker now.

Hey Todd, you're killing me, I miss my Dutchwest already, the ss cat made it so much easier to operate. I used to let the cat get up to 300 or sometimes as long as it was on its way up and close I'd engage and let her rip! Whenever I read about someone burning a CAT stove without knowing the cat temp it makes me cringe! It is just as important as the stovetop temp or firebox temp if not more. It'll also tell you when it's time to disengage the cat and reload the stove. If the cat is below 400 and temp is on its way down then the cat may no longer be burning the smoke, as you know. I just like to reminis and chat about it now so other people may also know how important a cat probe is, I think not having one is the biggest problem with the VC Encores and other cat stoves.

If I ever get a chance to burn wood again, the Keystone would be on the top of my list. I love the cat being so visible, the DW was visible only if you looked into the door and up! For now I'm just looking forward to learning the pellets.

Take care Todd.

 

[Diabel]

I am just looking on ebay for one of these cat thermos, there are different sizes...
Any idea what the probe length should be for the encore?
Thanks

 

[Todd]

Hey VCBurner
Sorry to hear your loss, are you going to change your handle to Pellet Burner? ;-) The Keystone is a great stove. It doesn't come with a cat probe but you can order one from Woodstock. The problem with the Woodstock stoves is the probe inserts into the back of the stove which is hard to read and I don't think it gets as close to the cat as it should there. I drilled a hole through the top plate so the probe sits right in front of the cat exhaust stream. So far it seems pretty accurate, it had no problem lighting off at 450 while the stove top was only 100, much quicker than relying on the recommended 250 stove top.

 

[Todd]

I am just looking on ebay for one of these cat thermos, there are different sizes...
Any idea what the probe length should be for the encore?
Thanks

I'd call Condar and tell them your stove model, they should have the answer.

 

[VCBurner]

No problem Todd, it's not that bad, just need to adjust to the new thing. The Windsor I'm picking up looks just like a cast iron wood stove in gray enamel. It's actually pretty nice looking and should keep us warm just the same. Glad you got yourself a probe. I used to live by the one on the DW.

I am just looking on ebay for one of these cat thermos, there are different sizes…
Any idea what the probe length should be for the encore?
Thanks

Diabel, they say you have to insert them in the back of the stove as well, so you're almost better off going with one that is hooked up to a digital read out screen. That way you can see the temp from anywhere.

 

[weatherguy]

Being a cat burner that stove burning low with a beet red cat is a beautiful site to me, my sister has that DW too, nice stove.

 

[Diabel]

No problem Todd, it's not that bad, just need to adjust to the new thing. The Windsor I'm picking up looks just like a cast iron wood stove in gray enamel. It's actually pretty nice looking and should keep us warm just the same. Glad you got yourself a probe. I used to live by the one on the DW.

I am just looking on ebay for one of these cat thermos, there are different sizes…
Any idea what the probe length should be for the encore?
Thanks

Diabel, they say you have to insert them in the back of the stove as well, so you're almost better off going with one that is hooked up to a digital read out screen. That way you can see the temp from anywhere.

I thought about the digital l one. I do have pretty easy access to the back of the stove, there is lots of room to stick my head to see. Ebay sells these in 1" probe & 2.5" probe just not sure which one the encore takes.

 

[jpl1nh]

Nice Todd. First fire for the season in the Keystone coming here tonight. Will be a load of old dried bark, a couple of small splits of pine or hemlock and some 1 -2" diam hardwood branches. Just enough to get a good cat light off and then let it coast down for the night. It's very hard not to get some glass buildup with the shoulder burns. If you have any bark on the birch, there is so much volatile oils in it that it makes a somewhat smokey fire. I have a lot of birch these days as the woods around me are growing past the birch phase and the white birch is dying out. So I burn it mostly when I can run the stove hotter and more consistently. It would be great to meet you so don't completely rule out the Woodstock trip!

Nice to see you back on the forum jpl. I noticed exactly what you describe about the Birch, very smokey at start up, that's when my glass darkened up and once she warmed up it burned most off except the lower corners. I think I'll mix in some oak and stick the birch in the back of the stove to see if it makes a difference next time.

Ya, birch in the back on the bottom, bark down. By the time the burn reaches it the stove is already hot enough so the smoke combusts instead of getting all over the glass. Even in dead winter, I keep all the birches, (white, yellow, black) away from the glass, same with pine and hemlock too.

 

[VCBurner]

I thought about the digital l one. I do have pretty easy access to the back of the stove, there is lots of room to stick my head to see. Ebay sells these in 1" probe & 2.5" probe just not sure which one the encore takes.

I don't know exactly, but the 1" ones I would think could be too short, I'm sure your local dealer would know too!

EDIT: I just looked it up on ebay the digital ones are 4" and Condar also has a 4" regular probe for $24. Looks like the 2.5" one may also be too short? I just got rid of my Encore and got a brand new front loading washer and dryer set for it!

Sorry for highjacking your thread Todd!