How do you load your insert

[prezes13]

How do you guys load your inserts? east west? Or north south? 99.9 % of the time I load east west however I came across few short cut splits and I loaded it north south and I kind like it better. Better use of a fire box tighter fit, make me wonder if I will get a longer burn. What do you guys think? Is it worth it extra work when you cut your wood?

 

[blacktail]

I try to cut a bunch of my wood at 12-13" for NS loading. I much prefer NS loading. Sometimes with EW loading the positioning of wood can interrupt the air flow and require a little adjusting. EW is also more likely to let wood fall against the glass.

 

[stejus]

Most likly depends on size of insert. For me, 100% of the time for full loads go N/S. If i want a smaller fire I sometimes go N/S and E/W. Never 100% E/W for me.

 

[seabert]

I try and alternate between NS and EW on reloads. I also do an X load when I have two large splits. Every time I load I think about optimal airflow so I have a clean and efficient burn.

In the morning restart on a hot bed of coals I almost always do NS and as soon as i have good flame I toss in one or two EW. That gets me up to full temp quickly.

 

[velvetfoot]

N/S

 

[Beardog]

E/W for the most part, unless I have some smaller pieces on hand

 

[buc74]

My insert at our cabin burns the best NS, which I do if at all possible. Sadly I have like a 15" max NS, but as much as 20' EW.

Our Wood Stove at home is 18 x 18 so I go NS on the bottom layer and EW the next, then NS for the top layer. Can get as long as a 11 hour burn with her shut down over night.

 

[larry3228]

After I rake the coals to the front I put one small split E/W at the back of the firebox. All the rest are N/S.

 

[USMC80]

both, depending on temps and amount of coals left

 

[NSDave]

prefer N/S especially for starts, but I will do e/w for reloads ona good coal bed.

 

[northwinds]

My wood gets cut to all kinds of sizes, so it it can get put into the insert east-west, north-south or a combination. I've always thought I got longer burns going east-west,
but I had enough small coals to eek out an overnight burn last night going north-south on my small insert.

 

[Paul L]

Though I've read the opposite here quite often, I have no chance of getting an overnight burn with E/W loading. N/S lasts much longer. Firebox is 2.35 cubic feet.

 

[TradEddie]

My current wood was cut for my old slammer, so I've generally been loading E-W while I get to the newer wood that was cut shorter for the new insert.
However, when suitable splits are available, I'll use N/S, it works so much better for long overnight burns. In the case of the Lopi, at least, the secondary air supply runs up the back of the firebox, so loading E-W could restrict the pre-heating of the air.
The tapered shape of the firebox makes N/S loading difficult without pre-planning, so I am also a fan of the "tunnel of love", to get the best of both worlds, easy loading and good airflow.

TE

 

[MofoG23]

N/S.

When I'm starting it from being cold, I'll loosely toss the splits in there (N/S - E/W), but once I have a coal bed, it gets packed tightly N/S.

 

[Bagelboy]

I load E/W and than pack it as tight as possible and try to fill in all spots. Some E/W and some N/S!

 

[bens_igloo]

N/S on a Regency 2400 insert. Way easier to pack it in tight and lights a lot easier too.

 

[etiger2007]

Ive been a E-W loader for the most part due to that's what my stove said on line was the way to load it and I always read on here N-S burned down faster. I read these post about loading N-S and thought "I have a ton of short splits that I could try this on" . I typically get four to five splits in loading E-W. Tonight I grabbed a bunch of short splits and loaded the stove , I got six splits in no problem the biggest split positioned in the middle on top of another split, I truly think I could get ten in there e/z but im afraid the stove will glow. Loading this way seems to light faster but the air adjustments are impacting the flames more, should be an interesting burn. Of course I picked one of the coldest days to play games.

 

[edge-of-the-woods]

Are all the NS folks cutting your own wood short so it will fit? Or is your insert deep enough to take an 18" piece NS without problem?

We've got a new Regency CI2600 and it'll take a 20" log EW, but is only 13" NS from the fire brick to the andirons. Since we're getting our wood from someone, I'd say 90% of it is too long to lay NS.

 

[begreen]

A lot of inserts have a wide and shallow firebox. That is going to dictate primarily loading E/W. If the insert has a deeper more square firebox then there is the option of loading either directions. N/S loading seems to produce a faster burning, but hotter fire in our squarish firebox.

 

[prezes13]

Most of the time I load EW due to a shallow fire box. Sometimes I do cut it short enought to do NS but I have to cut it 12"-13" so it's a PITA. That's why I am not a big fun of inserts especially flushed ones and that's exactly what I got.

 

[velvetfoot]

Mine is a fairly flush insert and it takes 16" splits N/S no problem. Maybe 17". Can't measure now, there's a conflagration in there.
I did that rake forward thing again minutes ago. I think it's a keeper.

 

[mellow]

I can go either way with mine. If I want to get a quick hot fire going I go N/S, if I want a slow burning fire then I load E/W. Most of the time I am loading E/W and burning back to front with an air trench in my ashes.

Difference is I have a cat stove so I want to burn low and slow once I get the cat lit.

 

[velvetfoot]

With this combo, the E/W spilts are on the bottom and can't roll out, so more wood can be put in there.

 

[edge-of-the-woods]

Mine is a fairly flush insert and it takes 16" splits N/S no problem. Maybe 17". Can't measure now, there's a conflagration in there.
I did that rake forward thing again minutes ago. I think it's a keeper.

I think we have the same stove but a different face...that's what I read elsewhere on here, anyway. Ours is totally flush and is 13" NS from the firebrick at the back to the andirons. Are you loading yours to the andirons, or to the glass?

 

[Hatrackr]

Our kodiak 1700 takes longer logs NS up to 20" although if you push the 20" the glass gets dirty from blocking the air wash. I usually burn NS the only time splits go in EW is when I'm stacking then for a top down start of a cold stove although I see I may get longer burn times from EW so I'll have to give it a shot