Newbie help!

[Fisherman85]

I recently installed an Osburn Stratford and am looking for some input on burn temp, and for how to keep the glass clean. Since it does not have a temp gauge (like a wood stove flue pipe) I am a little unsure how hot it should be. I have used a laser thermometer to check the temp of the secondary burn tubes, which has been 700+ a few times. This seems pretty hot, but I’m sure the temp that a class A pipe can handle is quite a bit more than a black pipe for a wood stove. As for keeping the glass clean, even with burning well seasoned ash it gets dirty within a few hours of use. Should I burn it even hotter? I will also try keeping the wood farther away from the glass next time.

 

[begreen]

Keeping the wood a couple of inches away from the glass should help. Are you seeing good secondary combustion pick up as the air is turned down?

 

[Fisherman85]

Yes on the secondary burn, but again, I’m not sure how hot I should allow it to get.

 

[begreen]

It's hard to get a measurement on ZC fireplace. Reading through the glass to the secondary tubes is likely to be inaccurate. Your best bet with the IR thermometer will be on the narrow area of face metal just above the door. See what it says there. I think 500ºF would be ok at that location.

 

[Woody Stover]

Can you open up the door when it's burning and shoot the inside of the box somewhere? I don't know if it's a good idea to do that, though..

 

[ColdNorCal]

I have a SBI Century stove, they also make Osburn , same metal, same factory. Spoke to SBI about stove top temps and they said temporary, not continuous, 700-750 temps are not a problem and nothing to be concerned about. Call SBI about best way to measure temps on your stove. They are very helpful.

The glass can get dirty sooner sometimes. Sometimes it doesnt for several days. I think sometimes its the wood, size of wood, dryness, closing the door too soon, outdoor temps and/or turning down the secondary air too soon... and the wood smolders a little.