Okay, I've used my stove a few times now and have noticed that when I keep the stove in the "good operating" zone on my Condar stovetop thermometer, I have the air control open more and add wood "more" often. When I go for a long, overnight burn, I shut the air down somewhat and get a much longer burn. The longer burn is at the expense of temperature though. After the stove is burning more slowly, with less air, the temperature is in the "creosote" zone. If I open the air to get the temperature back up, the stove doesn't burn nearly as long.
Also, no matter where I have the air control, if I need to let the fire go out, as the wood is being consumed and no more is added, the temperature goes down below the ideal operating zone. (This sounds like a no-brainer...how could it not go down: stay high until the last minute and then instantly drop to room temperature?)
Is it possible to have a 3-4-5-6 hour burn with the air input lowered, but still keep the stove in the "good operating" zone? Or as the wood is consumed on a long burn, is the temperature by definition going to be lower than otherwise, and is this probably going to be in the creosote zone?
If all of you long-time overnight burners are able to keep an all-nighter going with the temperature in the "good" zone, then I'll blame my wood.
Also, no matter where I have the air control, if I need to let the fire go out, as the wood is being consumed and no more is added, the temperature goes down below the ideal operating zone. (This sounds like a no-brainer...how could it not go down: stay high until the last minute and then instantly drop to room temperature?)
Is it possible to have a 3-4-5-6 hour burn with the air input lowered, but still keep the stove in the "good operating" zone? Or as the wood is consumed on a long burn, is the temperature by definition going to be lower than otherwise, and is this probably going to be in the creosote zone?
If all of you long-time overnight burners are able to keep an all-nighter going with the temperature in the "good" zone, then I'll blame my wood.