Optimum wood size for Tarm 40

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penfrydd said:
What's the optimum wood size for good burns in a tarm 40? The wood will be mixed species. I've heard that they were designed for fairly small (4") diameter wood. Is this true?

Thanks

Don't know about the Tarm 40, but that's certainly true for my EKO 25. Optimum burn is dependent on having about the correct amount of surface area exposed and generating wood gas. Too much and you get 'puffing', too little and you're pushing a lot of extra air up the chimney. Optimum efficiency is probably with wood a bit smaller than 4" average diameter.
 
My Tarm manual recommends 4-5" diameter pieces. Small splits and rounds definitely work much better. OK to have a couple of bigger splits/rounds, put them on top when you load the firebox. They cause problems as they fall over the nozzle or cause bridging if loaded at the bottom or in the middle. I don't think I have anything over 6" anymore, and most is smaller.
 
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