How to build a fire in a wood stove
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blacktail
Minister of Fire
I watched a couple minutes, then skipped ahead to beyond the five minute mark. There still wasn't a flame, so I shut it off.
And I thought I spend too much time fussing with my stove.
And I thought I spend too much time fussing with my stove.
Simonkenton
Minister of Fire
He finally got the fire started and the door closed at 9:14. By that time, I'm opening a window. But he WAS using Artisan Fire Wood.
heavy hammer
Minister of Fire
Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
That's exactly why my Oslo went out the door for 400 bucks and 2 small guys lifted it up and walked it to their truck.
jetsam
Minister of Fire
In my house, that was six months worth of kindling and six years worth of newspaper.
I came away from the video with the following insights:
1) That guy is REALLY RELAXED.
2) I bet watching a fire is cool when you're stoned.
3) This guy is not allowed to set fires in my stove.
4) That's a pretty stove!
5) If this is the "BEST" way to set a fire, he must have tried some worse ones. He should make a video about that instead.
6) OMG light the damn fire already. Pretend it's cold outside!
7) A blowtorch could change this guy's life forever.
8) I wonder if the dryer's done yet.
9) Hey look, 50 degree temp differential in here! Good job, my stove!
10) I want a sandwich.
11) OMG he's still screwing with that.
12) Did he chop a perfectly good split into those tiny little kindling pieces? On purpose? Maybe he cut down the tree with dynamite or something fun like that.
13) I want to cut down a tree with dynamite.
14) OMG he's STILL screwing with that.
15) Nobody would know if I skipped some.
16) Hey, there IS a fire at the very end.
17) I don't think I need to rewind to see the middle parts.
I came away from the video with the following insights:
1) That guy is REALLY RELAXED.
2) I bet watching a fire is cool when you're stoned.
3) This guy is not allowed to set fires in my stove.
4) That's a pretty stove!
5) If this is the "BEST" way to set a fire, he must have tried some worse ones. He should make a video about that instead.
6) OMG light the damn fire already. Pretend it's cold outside!
7) A blowtorch could change this guy's life forever.
8) I wonder if the dryer's done yet.
9) Hey look, 50 degree temp differential in here! Good job, my stove!
10) I want a sandwich.
11) OMG he's still screwing with that.
12) Did he chop a perfectly good split into those tiny little kindling pieces? On purpose? Maybe he cut down the tree with dynamite or something fun like that.
13) I want to cut down a tree with dynamite.
14) OMG he's STILL screwing with that.
15) Nobody would know if I skipped some.
16) Hey, there IS a fire at the very end.
17) I don't think I need to rewind to see the middle parts.
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drz1050
Minister of Fire
hahaha that first minute is golden. Let's put this piece riiiight here... no, wait, that other piece fits a little better.. move it over 1 inch.. now switch places with the other one again.
Who knew making a fire had to be so precise?
Who knew making a fire had to be so precise?
saskwoodburner
Feeling the Heat
I'm gonna have to watch some parts of that again, but is it my ears, or does the fire crackling/flame dancing (and the cat around the 8 minute mark) sound weird? Like when he walks away, the video is sped up?? If it takes that long, either with a sped up video, or normal speed, it's time to take up another hobby or get used to freezing.
You can see him moving around in the stove glass at super speed, so yeah....that's a slowwwww fire.
You can see him moving around in the stove glass at super speed, so yeah....that's a slowwwww fire.
CheapBassTurd
Minister of Fire
Didn't watch it. (data plan)
From the responses my first thought was "use yer propane torch or get frozen
solid".
The wife and I both light our campfires/ bonfires all summer long with the torch,
and we're still on the same bottle three years. I don't solder much. That lil' thing
makes a great hot spot in a very short time, uses very little kindling, and no paper.
I didn't know if that was in the "unwritten rules" of woodstoving to cheat with a
jumpstart or not. LOL
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeap
Now I watched a couple of minutes. Not an efficient fella. Not downing the guy.
He just does stuff very carefully which may keep him alive longer.
From the responses my first thought was "use yer propane torch or get frozen
solid".
The wife and I both light our campfires/ bonfires all summer long with the torch,
and we're still on the same bottle three years. I don't solder much. That lil' thing
makes a great hot spot in a very short time, uses very little kindling, and no paper.
I didn't know if that was in the "unwritten rules" of woodstoving to cheat with a
jumpstart or not. LOL
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeap
Now I watched a couple of minutes. Not an efficient fella. Not downing the guy.
He just does stuff very carefully which may keep him alive longer.
KpR
Member
Wow . . . just a few seconds shy of 6 minutes before he even strikes a match. Very, very meticulous with the wood and placement vs. me who usually just puts a few large splits on the bottom. A medium sized split or two on top followed by some kindling and a quarter or so of a Super Cedar. Light. Leave door ajar. Wait until the temp comes up. Close the door. Wait and start adjusting the air. Usually by 10 or 12 minutes the fire is well under way.
Clydeburner
Member
And i thought i handled my wood too much from felling, logging, splitting, stacking, moving to another wood shed, moving to yet another wood storage indoors, then to the stove room, and finally to the stove.... who got time left to play Jenga before you light the damn fire..... Throw some wood in, grab the torch, and 10 mins close the air down... enjoy the day.... this guy somethin' else. 
...
...
I'm really enjoying all the frustration reactions. I'm learning a lot from your comments. So, responses:
a.) Not high, unfortunately. I'm a contract programmer and often gigs require testing, so I cannot partake. I am ultra methodical by nature, however. It makes me fairly well suited to my chosen trade.
b.) I'm really surprised how many of you use a propane torch or some other "bought" fire starter. I'm going to have to try that and see how I like it.
c.) One thing I really like about this method is that I'm pretty damn confident I can start a fire just about anywhere with just an axe and flint. It taught me a lot about the moisture/air/heat triangle that makes wood burning possible. It has always seemed like part of being a human that I should know how to do this, since fire is so much a part of our past. I grew up with a propane fireplace and never had the opportunity to learn, so this was my outlet.
d.) I cleaned the flu just before filming this. Every damn time I do this I forget to lower the insulation block that sits on top of the secondary burn tubes. This was no exception. So the entire video the insulation block is in the wrong location and not really doing it's job. I didn't notice until right before I went to sleep last night.
e.) Please do a parody. I would thoroughly enjoy that.
Carry on.
a.) Not high, unfortunately. I'm a contract programmer and often gigs require testing, so I cannot partake. I am ultra methodical by nature, however. It makes me fairly well suited to my chosen trade.
b.) I'm really surprised how many of you use a propane torch or some other "bought" fire starter. I'm going to have to try that and see how I like it.
c.) One thing I really like about this method is that I'm pretty damn confident I can start a fire just about anywhere with just an axe and flint. It taught me a lot about the moisture/air/heat triangle that makes wood burning possible. It has always seemed like part of being a human that I should know how to do this, since fire is so much a part of our past. I grew up with a propane fireplace and never had the opportunity to learn, so this was my outlet.
d.) I cleaned the flu just before filming this. Every damn time I do this I forget to lower the insulation block that sits on top of the secondary burn tubes. This was no exception. So the entire video the insulation block is in the wrong location and not really doing it's job. I didn't notice until right before I went to sleep last night.
e.) Please do a parody. I would thoroughly enjoy that.
Carry on.
I use the little firestarters from my farm store or menards. they're 2.99 for 24 pieces. I use a single fire starter, put it in my clean stove, light it, then I stack kidling from pallet wood or dried hardwood. After a few minutes i'm ready to put full size split firewood on. i don't shut my stove down after 10-15 minutes though, in fact i wait until i've got a bed of coals before i shut it down, typically the 2nd load of wood will be when i shut it down. The firestarters are the best thing i've found thus far, no paper, no cardboard, justl ighti t and stock some kindling on it. they burn for 10 minutes which is plenty of time to get kindling going.
i have been loosely stacking it, putting some sticks, twigs, bark and cardboard and paper, then walk away for a minute, wait for it to die when I forgot I light it, open the door, fill the house with smoke, then open the door, let the neighbors dog in accidentially, chase the dog around my house, get the dog out, by this time the house is cleared of smoke, then I start the process again.
Once it is going, it heats up pretty quickly
Once it is going, it heats up pretty quickly
KpR
Member
You know he doesn't burn regularly; he opened the front door to build a fire on a Oslo. The only time you open that door is end of season to clean it out. Otherwise there is ash all over the place.
CentralVAWoodHeat
Minister of Fire
Overthinking it.
The part that bothers me is the newspaper. Don't use it. It goes up the chimney in flaming and smoldering chunks that fly everywhere. Some dry wood, a few pieces of dry kindling and a small fire starter does it. Crosshatch it, light it, and close the door with the air open. Once everything is ignited start turning the air down.
Everyone seems to be going for the 'best' in categories where 'correct' is good enough.
The part that bothers me is the newspaper. Don't use it. It goes up the chimney in flaming and smoldering chunks that fly everywhere. Some dry wood, a few pieces of dry kindling and a small fire starter does it. Crosshatch it, light it, and close the door with the air open. Once everything is ignited start turning the air down.
Everyone seems to be going for the 'best' in categories where 'correct' is good enough.
Thanks Trevarthan. I actually found it really relaxing to watch. It reminds me of a woodstove version of a Japanese tea making ceremony. Sometimes it's good for the soul to do something really well, really slowly and with care-full delight... That's what I took from this...
I will confess that when I have the time I enjoy setting up my stove for lighting in exactly as particular a way as you do here... except for the newspaper bit.. And I don't split my kindling quite that small!
I will confess that when I have the time I enjoy setting up my stove for lighting in exactly as particular a way as you do here... except for the newspaper bit.. And I don't split my kindling quite that small!
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CentralVAWoodHeat
Minister of Fire
I love 'Iight a fire' videos. My family makes fun of me when I watch in the summer.
I appreciated the mounted camera, and the lack of ' let a pro show you how it's done' narration. A quality vid.
The attention to detail made me itch though. I always try to light that match asap. That's my IT career showing.
Keep 'em coming!
I appreciated the mounted camera, and the lack of ' let a pro show you how it's done' narration. A quality vid.
The attention to detail made me itch though. I always try to light that match asap. That's my IT career showing.
Keep 'em coming!
Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
Progress Hybrid as with it's short leg option it would just fit in the hearth.
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