I normally load n-s, but with the new wood it is cut to fit in e-w (w-e) whatever you call it. I am sure you all will correct me if I am wrong. I do not like the way it burns and coals up in the e-w pattern. You have to be so careful when you open the door so the coals do not fall out. Any suggestions other than loading n-s?
I am not diggin the e-w loading
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![[Hearth.com] I am not diggin the e-w loading](/talk/data/attachments/40/40453-2a4d59f75b2934b8183c477ebbbebe83.jpg?hash=xAXD5LOxCQ)
Seriously, use the poker to create a "V" in the coal bed from front to back with the wide part, maybe three or four inches, at the front. Then load on the coals E/W on top of it.
Hopefully my husband won't see your post or the 13 will be going down the driveway on a dolly to another neighbor's house or on ebay and the 30 will be movin on in...especially near the shoulder season (Oh no...) I am not kidding
! I will try the v in the coal bed. I normally make a trough in the middle from front to back but will try the v.
! I will try the v in the coal bed. I normally make a trough in the middle from front to back but will try the v.
I don't like it either. My last insert could go ns, but my new one is ew. Just now, in fact, some pieces just rolled down and rested against the glass (wife loaded stove before I came home). I don't empty the ashes that much, but that also is a factor. I put the front pieces to one side or other, so that they're held in place by the metal's edge.
With my T4, I try to make sure the front-most splits are pushed either E or W far enough to be sure that if they fall forward they hit the steel on the door side rather than the glass. If possible, I load so the burn will naturally fall toward the back. If not, I'll open the door slightly mid-burn and give the top splits a push toward the back with my stove glove or coal rake.
It is kind of a pain, but I have been cutting several splits in half every few days. My Altera seems to be a lot happier with the shorties loaded N-S. With an E-W load, I get about 3-4 hours between reloads. With the N-S shorty load, I can get an all night burn (with locust).
Loco Gringo
Feeling the Heat
My insert is built for EW - wider than it is deep. When I start the fire, I put some short splits NS or diagonally, then some EW, and smaller splits on top (a top down fire). When that burns down, I even out the bed of coals, leaving a small open place at the front. I used to put a larger log on the front and then back build. But, I found that tends to burn cooler in the front and not keep the glass clean. Now I put a larger log in the back, a smaller log in the front. and then fill them in between, packing them in so that they are a relatively solid construction. I haven't had a problem with logs rolling down to the glass, and I seem to get a longer burning, and cleaner, fire this way.
Yeah I hate E/W west burning in the 30. Does great in both of the Jotuls. With the 30 I invariably end up with a unburned split in the back or a ton of coals. When I load the sucker at nine at night I want to get up to a reasonably warm house at eight the next morning and just enough coals to start a new load. N/S gets that done for me.
Of course twice the wood has disappeared as would have with the 13.
Of course twice the wood has disappeared as would have with the 13.
I love the square fire box of my Endeavor. Load it N/S or E/W, if you get a piece just a little too long, put it in diagonally.
BrotherBart said:
*shudders*
The Dixette is going through a bit of wood first season >:-(
Not that it hasn't been brutally cold here. I know some of the locals have blown through wood this year as well.
But, I am now becoming a master of maximum heat with less wood, adding wetter wood at a higher temp, etc. Glass & cap are clean. I must be doing something correctly
Gamma, if you can, cut those splits into 1/2's or 1/3's, and load N/S, a second layer E/W. Much better in the 13. We've got a chop saw set up in the basement, works on the smaller size splits, the bigger ones go in the 13 E/W, or I burn them in the Pacific.
I have to admit that I can't stop trying E/W in this thing. It is just such a pretty fire and it looks like the stuff burns more efficiency that way since that is what it was designed for. In fact I have decided to try it again tonight. Going down to 12 degrees here. If it doesn't work again I guess we bundle up and go looking for an all night mission. Because I can turn three splits around mid burn, but not six big ones.
I know. I know. No fool like an old fool. >:-(
I know. I know. No fool like an old fool. >:-(
I think less wide splits would help in the 13. We're going to split alot this spring that size, and see what happens. It'll probably be the cherry at the farm, so it will be ready for next year.
I'll usually do E/W in the Pacific for longer burns (3-4 splits deep, depends on the size and the outside temp), but the box is deep enough to do it. Not so in the 13.
I'll usually do E/W in the Pacific for longer burns (3-4 splits deep, depends on the size and the outside temp), but the box is deep enough to do it. Not so in the 13.
BrotherBart said:
BB, what about smallish splits N/S for the base, and then E/W? Just a thought. The N/S would pick up the air from the dog house, and by the time that was cooking, the E/W would be beyond smokin'.
BrotherBart said:
Insanity: Doing the same thing over & over, thinking the results will change.
Don't do it
;-)
The doghouse from mine is on a shelf in the garage. I think Hog is right. I will contemplate for a couple of more beers. The back split from the afternoon E/W loading is just sitting there looking like a red door stop. I don't need that kinda grief at bedtime. The bad boy will probably be loaded the way God intended wood to be burned again for tonight.
For one thing all of my splits are size XXX since I split for N/S and a large firebox. I'll mess with it in the daytime when we get another cold day like today. I wouldn't mind that day coming next December.
Thanks for the groan slap Hog.
For one thing all of my splits are size XXX since I split for N/S and a large firebox. I'll mess with it in the daytime when we get another cold day like today. I wouldn't mind that day coming next December.
Thanks for the groan slap Hog.
BB they calling for 12 degrees for us tonight also, got home from work and the house temp had dropped to 72 from this mornings load at 6 am. I got the Endeavor cranking now headed for a toasty 80 degrees. N/S all the way!
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