Locust... WTH...

[Bret Chase]

Tonight for some reason, my locust is giving me trouble....

I cannot seem to keep my stack temp "in the green"... never had a problem before tonight... I'm using splits out of the same pile as I have been... but I cannot seem to keep the fire properly going w/o the doors cracked... until I threw in a "kicker"... i.e. a 2x4 scrap from work... it took right off almost instantly.

did I just end up with a couple of splits that weren't ready?

also... when I opened up the stove there was a bit of liquid dripping out of the end of the split... I thought to myself "ok... I guess it was a wet one" until I noticed that the liquid was on fire...


anybody else ever see that?

 

[jdp1152]

I've definitely seen the liquid bubbling/dripping out. All of last year to be exact! Never have seen it on fire except on a fatwood stick.

 

[pen]

Warmer temps today than it has been?

Could the cap have some blockage on it?

Close a pipe damper last night and forget to open it today?

Any chance these splits came from the bottom of the stack?

Do something to screw up your karma?

pen

 

[swagler85]

I'm using splits out of the same pile as I have been...

As in they were dried in a pile? Could be of you pile it up to dry that the middle isn't getting enough airflow and just didnt season. Some guys on here have good luck just piling splits, most prefer to stack.

 

[Bret Chase]

Warmer temps today than it has been?

nope, same sappin temps it's been all week... nights in the 20's... days in the 40's

Could the cap have some blockage on it?

Possible but unlikely

Close a pipe damper last night and forget to open it today?

No, I modulate the pipe damper more than the air dampers on my smoke dragon...

Any chance these splits came from the bottom of the stack?

'bout mid way through......

Do something to screw up your karma?

probably...

 

[Bret Chase]

As in they were dried in a pile? Could be of you pile it up to dry that the middle isn't getting enough airflow and just didnt season. Some guys on here have good luck just piling splits, most prefer to stack.

it was stacked.. I use "pile" generically

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Locust does not season very fast; how long has it been cut, split and stacked? Do you know from what part of the tree the "bad splits" came? Sometime the splits from a large base of a tree take a little longer to season. And remember the most accurate device for measuring the moisture content of your firewood is a multi-year calendar.

 

[Jags]

And then there is simply the occasional fire that doesn't want to burn. It happens. Usually when you are trying to get out the door for a meeting or birthday party. It happens to me about twice a year.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

We've found that almost any wood from time to time will act that way. We've even found some white ash that was in the stack for 7 years. Just all of a sudden, we'll get one or two that seems it never dried at all. Never could figure this out as to why but it just happens. Rare, but it happens. I'd just forget it and know that you did the right thing by adding some good burning wood with it.

 

[tfdchief]

Well, I know a little bit about fire and trust me, it is a strange animal that can act many different ways, even in a wood stove.

 

[Bret Chase]

And then there is simply the occasional fire that doesn't want to burn. It happens. Usually when you are trying to get out the door for a meeting or birthday party. It happens to me about twice a year.

I think this was the case.. it's fine today...

I wish my stove had a glass door.... because when the wood squirts out whatever flammable liquid... it's neat to watch...

 

[Wood Duck]

I don't stack my firewood as nicely as Backwoods Savage, nor do I cover it as he does, but I get the same thing he described and you seem to have. A small percentage of the wood just isn't as dry as the rest. Sometimes it is just a split or two, sometimes it is a whole stovefull or more. I rule out weather, blockage, and dampers, and all that is left to blame are wet wood and karma. I can't rule out bad karma, but I tend to think it is bad firewood. I had a bad firewood day yesterday, but I am back on track today.

I think covering my stacks would help with this situation, so I have my eyes open for some suitable free material.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Maybe a little coon pee too?