How long does it take you all to get your stoves to 500 degrees? I did a top down tonight with two good sized quarters on bottom, then smaller quarters(2) then some kindling and some newspaper knots and a few pine cones for starter, it got to about 250 degrees after an hour or so, so I put in another big quarter and now after another hour it is 400 degrees. I did just shut the damper and the thermostat moved itself to a mid point position so I have opened it completely for a little bit and will close it to mid point but wonder what I am doing wrong. Oh, supposedly the bigger and mid size pieces are "kiln dried" wood. NOt sure it is true but... by the way, if so, what moisture % should those pieces that are kiln dried by and what % moisture should "seasoned" be? Thanks guys.
How long does it take to get to 500 degrees
- Thread starter sandie
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Last year, my fires were started with Menard's wax-sawdust small firestarters, kindling, and poorly seasoned splits of oak and other hardwoods. My Lopi Freedom would achieve targeted temp of 500 degrees and the fan would turn on, in about an hour.
This year, I'm using MUCH better seasoned wood (3-4" splits, seasoned over a year) and Super Cedar firestarters. I have 500 degrees in only 15-20 minutes, and 600+ degrees stovetop temp with the blower on in only 30-35 minutes. I'm actually worried the stove is heating up TOO quickly, and have choked down the secondary air when the stove top is only 200-300 degrees.
This year, I'm using MUCH better seasoned wood (3-4" splits, seasoned over a year) and Super Cedar firestarters. I have 500 degrees in only 15-20 minutes, and 600+ degrees stovetop temp with the blower on in only 30-35 minutes. I'm actually worried the stove is heating up TOO quickly, and have choked down the secondary air when the stove top is only 200-300 degrees.
With the right wood, dry seasoned small splits with air spacing, I can get to 500 F in a half hour or so.
With wood not dry, it is a fight where I need to pour on the air, play with the spacing, try to get some better wood in there, and it could take over an hour.
It is probably your wood. Although getting enough air and spacing is also necessary. Try the driest wood you have in small splits.
With wood not dry, it is a fight where I need to pour on the air, play with the spacing, try to get some better wood in there, and it could take over an hour.
It is probably your wood. Although getting enough air and spacing is also necessary. Try the driest wood you have in small splits.
I usually start my fires with a small section of a pallet (1 16 inch piece) and a small homemade firestarter out of dryer lint or sawdust in a piece of egg carton. I put a few other pieces of kindling and a larger split. Within 20 minutes I am over 500.
sandie said:
Sounds like you need to use smaller splits to get started. I can't make it to 500 in a half hour like some of these guys, but using a lot of small (2 to 3 inch) splits with plenty of space between them and the primary wide open (but the door closed), I usually get there in 45 mins. to an hour.
A test burn I did for a customer this fall, I had a 3100ST stove up to 500+ in like 20 minutes or less. I think it got up over 600F because i remember thinking I was going to get the thing too hot and out of control.
I timed it last Friday, 1/2 hour at 500 degrees. I also used some soft maple and pine to get the oak going.
gyrfalcon said:
Wow!! What's changed??
It takes forever for me to get my Tribute to 400+ degrees, much less 500+ degrees (stovetop temp, of course).
I can get 750*F in 15 mins if I try hard, but I wouldn't recommend it. I have a link below for those who want to try it. I found that when I was having problems getting the stove up to temp in a reasonable time, I was using wetter wood than normal. I found the stove would reach 400*F and stall there for 30 mins or so, then take a jump to 650*F. Basically, the energy was being used to vapourize water, and once that was done, it would take a jump in temp. If able, I would focus more on Flue gas temp than stove temps, 'cause different stoves heat a different rates, but flue temps are more uniform between different stoves.
Bottom up fire
Uber seasoned hard wood splits
Small amount of kindling
small piece of fire starter
500F+ at 20 min.
600+ at 30-35 min. and tuned down for the long haul.
Uber seasoned hard wood splits
Small amount of kindling
small piece of fire starter
500F+ at 20 min.
600+ at 30-35 min. and tuned down for the long haul.
I can get the stove top temp to 500 degrees in 30-45 minutes usually . . . providing the wood is good. It's much easier and faster if the stove is warmed up from hot coals vs. a cold start.
I posted this yesterday on another thread.
"Given the meticulous approach of Hearth community members…...I kept meticulous notes of temps this afternoon.
Inside 66, outside 38
Loaded up with elm, top down start with door open.
10 minutes - door just about closed, realise air supply is closed :red: ..... open air supply
15 min - flue probe 900, stove top 750 start closing down air - hellfire
20 m - flue 750, top 850 close air - aurora australis
25 m - flue 600, top 750 open air a bit
35 m - flue 400, top 600
1 hour - flue 400, top 600
I have found that the 13 and my retired Kent raise lower floor of house 1 degree each hour. (about 900 odd sq ft each floor with lower floor half set in hillside)"
"Given the meticulous approach of Hearth community members…...I kept meticulous notes of temps this afternoon.
Inside 66, outside 38
Loaded up with elm, top down start with door open.
10 minutes - door just about closed, realise air supply is closed :red: ..... open air supply
15 min - flue probe 900, stove top 750 start closing down air - hellfire
20 m - flue 750, top 850 close air - aurora australis
25 m - flue 600, top 750 open air a bit
35 m - flue 400, top 600
1 hour - flue 400, top 600
I have found that the 13 and my retired Kent raise lower floor of house 1 degree each hour. (about 900 odd sq ft each floor with lower floor half set in hillside)"
If it's the stove top temp, you'll notice quite a gap in time when comparing steel, cast, and soap stoves. Our old steel used to hit 500 in no time, but our Jotul Oslo takes a little longer to reach that temp, usually around 45 minutes, but it depends on the wood and split sizes. I usually just use newspaper and very small splits to start a fire, so this tends to take longer to really get going good and hot.
I haven't timed it, but if I were to guess, I think my stove is usually cruising along with the air damped back and stove top at 500 somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes after a cold start.
I'll time it this evening and see what I get.
-SF
I'll time it this evening and see what I get.
-SF
Stoves currently at 525, been there for 15-20 mins, peaked about 550. Left work at 4:30, came home took the dog out, then started the stove. Used my usual hybrid top down/bottom up fire. So maybe 30 minutes or so, this is with less than ideal wood, and not what I would consider alot of kindling, but I have good access to quite a few pallets so I need dont scrimp on it.
sandie said:
Is that vintage stove a catalytic? If not, you could try closing the damper sooner to increase the the amount of time the hot gases stay in the stove before being evacuated by the flue. I'd leave the inlet wide open until it's getting close to where you want, then start closing it down too.
Do you have the thermometer on the griddle? It might be defective or out of adjustment. If the bimetallic coil hasn't uncoiled, you can often adjust them by turning the entire coil while gripping the case. You'd need a reference thermometer, like an IR thermometer, of course to compare it to.
About 35-45 minutes from cold start using dry kindling (like hemlock or red maple.)
After say 20 minutes I add 2-3 medium splits and keep her wide open till 500+ then knock the draft control down 75% or more.
By then she's really ripping and after about an hour or so it's time to add 2-3 large/med splits.
Right now I'm burning odd chunks/splits of 12-14month seasoned Red Maple, Silver Maple, Cherry and Ash.
WoodButcher
After say 20 minutes I add 2-3 medium splits and keep her wide open till 500+ then knock the draft control down 75% or more.
By then she's really ripping and after about an hour or so it's time to add 2-3 large/med splits.
Right now I'm burning odd chunks/splits of 12-14month seasoned Red Maple, Silver Maple, Cherry and Ash.
WoodButcher
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It really depends on the stove too. I could get my old fisher to nuclear in just a few minutes. These new stoves w/ the less direct air ducts don't get as hot as quickly.
pen
pen
I can get my stove to 500 quick, but never do. I was told by my manufacturer, Regency, not to get the stove too hot, too fast. I start with a warm-up fire just to make some embers, then go for it.
I timed my start-up this evening. Took 40 minutes.
Oddly enough, I didn't light the stove this morning, but there were enough coals left over from last nights load to relight from coals instead of using my normal 1/4 piece of a super cedar fire starter.
-SF
Oddly enough, I didn't light the stove this morning, but there were enough coals left over from last nights load to relight from coals instead of using my normal 1/4 piece of a super cedar fire starter.
-SF
I don't understand the race to bring
your favorite stoves up to temperature?
There is high stress placed on the stove
structure and internal sealants during this
critical period. Why make it worse!
The expansion caused by the rapid thermal
rise is significant. Shortening the life of the
stove is the obvious and eventual outcome.
Would you start the cold engine on your favorite
car or truck and expect maximum output?
your favorite stoves up to temperature?
There is high stress placed on the stove
structure and internal sealants during this
critical period. Why make it worse!
The expansion caused by the rapid thermal
rise is significant. Shortening the life of the
stove is the obvious and eventual outcome.
Would you start the cold engine on your favorite
car or truck and expect maximum output?
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