Possible to over-stuff fire box ?

[msnell]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it after a few searches.

With the Blaze King (Ashford 20), I understand the catalyst & air control knob are supposed to be an automatic safety for overheating. But what about overstuffing the firebox? Is it OK to put as much wood as will fit without putting pressure on the box itself? Or should I not go higher than the fire bricks are tall around the sides?

 

[Dieselhead]

When it’s called for I stuff mine to the gills. As little air space as possible. Lots of great photos in the wood shed forum in the post named “what’s in your stove”. It’s called stove Tetris 🤓

 

[begreen]

It is possible to overwhelm the cat, especially if the wood is super dry. Top-down lighting helps reduce a large, initial bloom of wood gases.

 

[stoveliker]

BK advises to stuff it.
Why? Opening the stove is not ideal (for the cat, for efficiency, for particle emissions). Stuff it and run it for as long as the need-for-heat makes you set the thermostat.

Indeed top down lighting is the best.
And if it takes off fast, close the bypass a bit earlier than the gauge indicates (often you see the cat start glowing immediately anyway; the gauge lags behind).
I have a tall flue and sometimes run "wide open" on a cold start - with the wide open not with the thermostat at 6 pm, but at 4.30 or so, so that I restrict the air a bit and it accelerates less fast. That will avoid a bloom of gases when you dial down further.

 

[fao1989]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it after a few searches.

With the Blaze King (Ashford 20), I understand the catalyst & air control knob are supposed to be an automatic safety for overheating. But what about overstuffing the firebox? Is it OK to put as much wood as will fit without putting pressure on the box itself? Or should I not go higher than the fire bricks are tall around the sides?

I stuff my A25 insert in every square inch I can fit dry wood!