Ok.. yes I know the manual say 16" is recommended. However, things happen sometimes now don't they? Somehow I had this long split in my pile and it managed to make its way to the stack next to my stove. Now I obviously knew it was a bit long - sort of announced itself in the stack.. but once it is sitting there next to the stove what is a burner to do? Find a saw and cut it? Return it outside and let it get cold again? Nah... it sat there for a couple days as I debated stuffing it into the box. Hmm... could it fit? Would it... Of course this would happen when it was really cold and I don't have a tape measure with heat resistant paint on it so double checking the stove seemed a bit out of the question...
So, this morning I just had to give it a try. Coals were low so there was less risk of it catching fire right away. I put a couple splits across the bottom both to bring the level of wood to the door level (a couple more inches of box width there - side load you know) and also kept me from having to put the long boy right on hot coals where ol Murphy says it would burst into flames if it wasn't going to fit, right? So moment of truth comes - bottom splits are starting to burn and I lay the long one all the way across the middle and to my surprise I was actually able to close the door and latch it! test successful I finished loading the stove around it and let it go for the morning.
So, what did I learn? Well - besides the fact that I was lucky to get away with this - any longer and the door would not have closed, clearly I can get away with a few longer splits if I need to. I wouldn't cut all my wood to 20-22" as it only would fit there in the middle overhanging the door area, but one a load could in theory be done this way. I was even surprised when I went to reload that no coals fell out - they must have fallen toward the firebox for some reason.
Oh - and yes I did actually measure this piece before putting it in (3 times at least) - it was perhaps 1/8" shy of 22" at the longest point, ends were not cut perfectly square of course but not remarkably angled either. Should have taken a picture I know...
So, this morning I just had to give it a try. Coals were low so there was less risk of it catching fire right away. I put a couple splits across the bottom both to bring the level of wood to the door level (a couple more inches of box width there - side load you know) and also kept me from having to put the long boy right on hot coals where ol Murphy says it would burst into flames if it wasn't going to fit, right? So moment of truth comes - bottom splits are starting to burn and I lay the long one all the way across the middle and to my surprise I was actually able to close the door and latch it! test successful I finished loading the stove around it and let it go for the morning.
So, what did I learn? Well - besides the fact that I was lucky to get away with this - any longer and the door would not have closed, clearly I can get away with a few longer splits if I need to. I wouldn't cut all my wood to 20-22" as it only would fit there in the middle overhanging the door area, but one a load could in theory be done this way. I was even surprised when I went to reload that no coals fell out - they must have fallen toward the firebox for some reason.
Oh - and yes I did actually measure this piece before putting it in (3 times at least) - it was perhaps 1/8" shy of 22" at the longest point, ends were not cut perfectly square of course but not remarkably angled either. Should have taken a picture I know...