Interesting note about a top down fire

[cmonSTART]

So, I'm home sick from work today and have nothing better to do. I don't build top down fires often, so I figured I would live a little. I'm in the habit of using strips of birch bark for tinder with my kindling if I'm starting cold. Well, my set up was nice. John Gulland would be proud, but under the newspaper knots there were strips of birch bark, as I normally use. Well, birch bark curls when it burns, so the nice stable newspaper knots resting on to of them went rolling and falling everywhere. Oh well. I let them burn out and added some more knots and all was OK.

Moral of the story, use the birch bark for traditional fires.

 

[Oregon Fire]

So, I'm home sick from work today and have nothing better to do. I don't build top down fires often, so I figured I would live a little. I'm in the habit of using strips of birch bark for tinder with my kindling if I'm starting cold. Well, my set up was nice. John Gulland would be proud, but under the newspaper knots there were strips of birch bark, as I normally use. Well, birch bark curls when it burns, so the nice stable newspaper knots resting on to of them went rolling and falling everywhere. Oh well. I let them burn out and added some more knots and all was OK.

Moral of the story, use the birch bark for traditional fires.

I have some fir that is relatively dry but has alot of sap in it. It doesn't light right off doing the classic top down start. I have been using a little gelled alcohol rather than using paper for starting - it works very well now.

jeff

 

[swestall]

I tried the top down fire start after watching the video: that thing really worked. At first my wife said, "what are you doing!" I told her and as she rolled her eyes, I lit it off.
Within a short time flames were all over and burning down to the bigger splits.
She conceded and we were both amazed that we'd not heard of this before.
Since then, I haven't lit a fire, we've just been using the coals every day to reload.
Our new Mansfield will be an opportunity to give it a shot again, and that's how we're going to lite off the break in fire.
More Friday.........

 

[cmonSTART]

For me, it works, but not nearly as well the way I normally do it. If I want heat quick, it's the traditional method for me. It's probably just a matter of practice and experience, learning how exactly to configure the wood. That and the draft is so poor right now because of the outside temperature nothing is burning well. I don't dare open the stove door. If I did, smoke would pour into the room.

 

[downeast]

It's the "old dog new tricks" thing guys. After 30+ years lighting fires, I tried the "top down" method last night.
It works. Repeat: it works. For a top loader it's easy: no matches repeatedly dropped into no where trying to get that bottom paper
going.
Whoever thought it up deserves a micro brew, maybe even a single malt ( Then again, I do not share my Laphroaig. ) Thanks.

 

[brooktrout]

I tried the top down fire start after watching the video: that thing really worked. At first my wife said, "what are you doing!" I told her and as she rolled her eyes, I lit it off.
Within a short time flames were all over and burning down to the bigger splits.
She conceded and we were both amazed that we'd not heard of this before.
Since then, I haven't lit a fire, we've just been using the coals every day to reload.
Our new Mansfield will be an opportunity to give it a shot again, and that's how we're going to lite off the break in fire.
More Friday.........

Where do we find this video? Thanks.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

I tried the top down fire start after watching the video: that thing really worked. At first my wife said, "what are you doing!" I told her and as she rolled her eyes, I lit it off.
Within a short time flames were all over and burning down to the bigger splits.
She conceded and we were both amazed that we'd not heard of this before.
Since then, I haven't lit a fire, we've just been using the coals every day to reload.
Our new Mansfield will be an opportunity to give it a shot again, and that's how we're going to lite off the break in fire.
More Friday.........

Where do we find this video? Thanks.

here's the link, its actually quite a nice video http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur/default.asp?lang=En&n=8011CD70-1

 

[brooktrout]

Wow- great video- ALL new burners should watch this video- should be a requirement to be a member!

 

[jpl1nh]

I tried the top down fire start after watching the video: that thing really worked. At first my wife said, "what are you doing!" I told her and as she rolled her eyes, I lit it off.
Within a short time flames were all over and burning down to the bigger splits.
She conceded and we were both amazed that we'd not heard of this before.
Since then, I haven't lit a fire, we've just been using the coals every day to reload.
Our new Mansfield will be an opportunity to give it a shot again, and that's how we're going to lite off the break in fire.
More Friday.........

Better take good advantage of your opportunity to light a top down fire. Its a soapstone stove so it might be a while before you need to light it again. ;-)

 

[jpl1nh]

It's the "old dog new tricks" thing guys. After 30+ years lighting fires, I tried the "top down" method last night.
It works. Repeat: it works. For a top loader it's easy: no matches repeatedly dropped into no where trying to get that bottom paper
going.
Whoever thought it up deserves a micro brew, maybe even a single malt ( Then again, I do not share my Laphroaig. ) Thanks.

Mmmm! Laphroaig, reminds me of my ole smoke dragon it does.