Thr Jotul instructions say to never open the ash pan door while loading, and I never will (I know that from using my Clayton over the years). But the instructions don't say anything about leaving the side door open for a minute or two to let the splits catch when I reload. Is this ok? It just seems like it helps to get the draft going and heat up the flue. I figured since the instructions didn't addess the issue it might be ok, but I don't want to damage the stove in any way. Thoughts?
Oslo 500 Leave Door Open Briefly at Load
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Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
I'm not sure if it's advisable either, but if I'm not in a rush, I always stay with the stove, door cracked open a little, during reloads.
I've been doing it for four years in my 550 and it seems to be fine. I just leave it cracked a little bit, to where the latch touches the frame. Don't leave the room as it can run away real fast.
I know the ash pan door is a no no, it sounds like a freight train coming down the tracks. The draft heats the space too fast and too hot. I do leave the side door open a bit on startups, probably not much more than 4-5 mins. The side door does not seem to have the same effect as the ash pan door.
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Toploader
Burning Hunk
I do it often on start up, not on a reload because raking the coals forward and opening the air all the way works really well.
Just don't leave the room, if you do set a timer.
I find this stove really goes through wood fast if I let it get up to temp too fast, if I start to ease the air back at about 300 F and close it off to where I want it [usually closed all the way] 50 or 100 degrees before my desired temp it will get there and cruise for for a longer time.
Just don't leave the room, if you do set a timer.
I find this stove really goes through wood fast if I let it get up to temp too fast, if I start to ease the air back at about 300 F and close it off to where I want it [usually closed all the way] 50 or 100 degrees before my desired temp it will get there and cruise for for a longer time.
No issues or worries . . . in fact I suspect most of us Oslo users probably have the side door ajar a bit on a cold start . . . but as mentioned . . . do not leave the room . . . you don't want to be distracted somewhere else on the off chance that an ember pops out.
I agree with all your replies, guys. I don't leave the room, and keep an eye on it. I know how quickly wood stoves can take off once the
air gets flowing. And I only do it for a couple minutes, as mentioned, the air flow is good when the door is closed, it just seems to need a little
more for the first 3-5 minutes. After that, the door stays shut.
Toploader, I have noticed that it helps to start shutting the air down when the temps are in the 300s, even though the Jotul manual says to
wait until 400-600. It just burns through the wood too fast if I wait that long. But so far, I have been shutting it down gradually when it gets to
400, and I have been getting 8 hour burns, so I am pleased. I just want to get it to that spot where I am getting the maximum heat AND the
maximum burn time. I know it takes a little while to learn your stove, and I feel like I'm getting closer to getting the best burn.
air gets flowing. And I only do it for a couple minutes, as mentioned, the air flow is good when the door is closed, it just seems to need a little
more for the first 3-5 minutes. After that, the door stays shut.
Toploader, I have noticed that it helps to start shutting the air down when the temps are in the 300s, even though the Jotul manual says to
wait until 400-600. It just burns through the wood too fast if I wait that long. But so far, I have been shutting it down gradually when it gets to
400, and I have been getting 8 hour burns, so I am pleased. I just want to get it to that spot where I am getting the maximum heat AND the
maximum burn time. I know it takes a little while to learn your stove, and I feel like I'm getting closer to getting the best burn.
Nick Mystic
Minister of Fire
I use the same technique with my Jotul F600 on cold starts or reloads with large splits. As mentioned by someone earlier in this thread if you let the latch hit the lip of the side door opening it will hold the door open about a half inch. This seems to be an ideal amount to get a decent draft going without creating a blast furnace effect. If I don't burn for a time with the door cracked on cold start ups my firebox quickly builds up with smoke and extremely slow burning. With the F600 I've discovered that the stove really needs a decent bed of hot coals to perform optimally. Until the bed is established it's pretty much impossible to get any sustained secondary action going.
Toploader
Burning Hunk
Toploader, I have noticed that it helps to start shutting the air down when the temps are in the 300s, even though the Jotul manual says to
wait until 400-600. It just burns through the wood too fast if I wait that long. But so far, I have been shutting it down gradually when it gets to
400, and I have been getting 8 hour burns, so I am pleased. I just want to get it to that spot where I am getting the maximum heat AND the
maximum burn time. I know it takes a little while to learn your stove, and I feel like I'm getting closer to getting the best burn.[/quote]
And one great thing about the Oslo is that it is so controllable, you can keep the stove top at 450 to 500 on a full load if you want but if you need more heat on those really cold days you can crank it up. Once you get to know it, it requires minimal effort to run it the way you want.
wait until 400-600. It just burns through the wood too fast if I wait that long. But so far, I have been shutting it down gradually when it gets to
400, and I have been getting 8 hour burns, so I am pleased. I just want to get it to that spot where I am getting the maximum heat AND the
maximum burn time. I know it takes a little while to learn your stove, and I feel like I'm getting closer to getting the best burn.[/quote]
And one great thing about the Oslo is that it is so controllable, you can keep the stove top at 450 to 500 on a full load if you want but if you need more heat on those really cold days you can crank it up. Once you get to know it, it requires minimal effort to run it the way you want.
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