Optimum Oslo burning temp

[gbailey1972]

Ladies and Gents-
I've got a rookie "fire starter" question for you. Is there such a thing as an "ideal burn temp". I have a Jotul Oslo matte black the I absolutely love and can't wait to really start burning the 3.5 cords of wood (Oak and Hedge) that I've just been staring at for about two years now. Last year I was burning about 375 - 400 degrees. I know that outside temp matters a bit too, but just curious on opinions.

Tis the Season Coming Up

Greg

 

[rdust]

No way I can answer with a single temp. Some days 300 is enough others 600+ is needed.

 

[fossil]

Varies all throughout the burn of a load of wood. Goes up, comes back down. What's optimum is whatever air setting gives you the rate of burn you're looking for in whatever stage of the burn you're in. I don't use my thermometers looking for an optimum temperature, I use them to decide when (early in the burn cycle) to throttle back the primary air, then when (late in the burn cycle) to open it back up to burn down the coals in preparation for a reload. Get up to temp quick at startup (minimize creosote formation), always avoid excessive temp (overfire). Rick

 

[dafattkidd]

No way I can answer with a single temp. Some days 300 is enough others 600+ is needed.

These are my sentiments exactly.

 

[turbocruiser]

Yikes! Now I'm wondering whether I'm doing something wrong? On our stove ( a Regency CS1200 ) we are regularly recording "stove top temps" of 350 to 450 F (so far only from somewhat small fires) but I consider that temperature confusing since what I'm referring to as the stove top is really a relatively thick secondary cast iron cover that then covers the relatively thick sheet steel primary cover of our stove. So, what I really refer to more than those "stove top temps" is shooting my IR Laser Thermometer under the secondary cover and onto the primary cover (I'm sure I'm butchering these terms here folks so please pardon me I don't see any other accurate terms for these parts in my manual) and also comparing those temperatures to the temperatures right at the collar/connector of the firebox.

So, if my stove top thermometer is reading 350 to 450 F on that secondary cast iron cover, I'm typically reading in the 600 to 700 F range for the primary sheet steel cover and the collar/connector with my IR. As soon as it is 600 I start damping down the air and I've never seen anything higher than 750 so far still, from the posts and poll, it seems I'm slightly too hot here? Can someone clarify that for me? Thanks.

 

[begreen]

The poll is misleading and confusing. It should be directed only at Oslo owners. I will add this to the title.

 

[fraxinus]

The Jotul owners manual is pretty clear on this. You'll get the cleanest, most efficient burns with temperatures between 400 and 600 degrees.

 

[ansehnlich1]

I went with 500, somewhere between 450 to 500 is where I burn most of the time, but when it's cold I'll run it up to 600 pretty often.

 

[Stump_Branch]

I went with 500, somewhere between 450 to 500 is where I burn most of the time, but when it's cold I'll run it up to 600 pretty often.

Much agreed, looking forward to colder temps and a 600 thermo temp.

 

[turbocruiser]

The poll is misleading and confusing. It should be directed only at Oslo owners. I will add this to the title.

Okay, that's somewhat reassuring. I say it's "somewhat reassuring" because I basically still don't know what temps to shoot for (no pun intended) with my stove. Can someone comment on that please. Or this might be better in another thread altogether now that this one is "Oslo" titled? Thanks as always.

 

[Wade A.]

Me-my-own-personal-self, I think you might be over thinking things a bit here B.C. Your stove has an optimum "range" for burning, as noted. It doesn't come with a thermostat. Too cool is bad (creosote). Too hot is bad (stove damage). Go for the Goldilocks option. Your wood, size of fire, your room temperature preference and stage of burn cycle will all be in play. It is an art, not a science my friend.

 

[cdirks]

I like the art not a science part! That's what I'm finding out as a newbie!

 

[Wade A.]

I suppose that there are those here who can pin their stove temp through a whole burn cycle and repeat at will....I've never had much of an urge to spend the time to do that. Not that I don't admire the skill, just not something I see the need to aspire to. If anyone here thinks that achieving this is a requirement for burning your stove, I just want to offer one opinion that it is not.

Now.. back to filing, stoning and honing my lawnmower blades. I don't think I'm getting optimal cut after micro-viewing a sampling of grass blade edges.....uh-oh, uh-oh, Wapner, Wapner, definitely..... ;-)

 

[begreen]

The poll is misleading and confusing. It should be directed only at Oslo owners. I will add this to the title.

Okay, that's somewhat reassuring. I say it's "somewhat reassuring" because I basically still don't know what temps to shoot for (no pun intended) with my stove. Can someone comment on that please. Or this might be better in another thread altogether now that this one is "Oslo" titled? Thanks as always.

Most larger stoves will have a cruising temperature with a full reload. The T6 settles in at about 650-700F burning doug fir for example, until the bulk of the fuel charge is burned up. Our Castine would cruse at about 550-600F given the same wood, but albeit with much less wood. With hardwood the Castine would get a bit warmer and for longer, maybe 650F for 30 minutes, then a gradual decline.

 

[firefighterjake]

For me personally, the normal "crusing" speed or rather temp is between 450-550 . . . I usually try to keep the temps in that range, but sometimes I'll go higher or lower depending on the situation.

 

[xman23]

For everyone it will depend on the heat required to keep the house comfortable. For me, most days if the house has been up to temp for 24 HRS, the outside temp is double digit to 32 I can run 250- 350 at the top right corner. I would like to run hotter, but the house will overheat. If I need to run any less, we do hot burns then let the stove die, then relight, a pain in the butt. This is may not ideal for the stove, but it can be run at these temps.

When I need to heat the house I keep it cruzin at 500 - 600 for hrs. That where the Oslo shines, secondaries are rippin

 

[turbocruiser]

Edit: I deleted my messages here as I asked "Regency" questions in what was intended to be an "Oslo" thread. My apologies about that.