Retired my kindling

[Kevin Dolan]

I used to have a lot of kindling wood, small cedar split less than 1inch on hand for relighting the fire in my old smoke dragon. Now with the jotul castine 400 I have enough coals left in the morning to relight with good dry splits and reload for the day. My wife wanted me to start buying kindling to get the fire going in the morning and I was of the same opinion and nearly started buying some, but this wee stove and great dry ash gives me enough of a coal bed after about 8 hours from a load, to restart without kindling.
Any thoughts on restarting a small stove in the morning.
Best wishes for 2014 to all.

 

[rwhite]

I'm confused? You can start a fire without kindling but your thinking of buying it, but you have a lot on hand. If your 3 years ahead on wood it would seem you have kindling. You just need to split it. The coal bed determines whether I use kindling or not. If I think theres enough coals I just put the splits in an open up the air. If I have a small coal bed I may lay some kindling down first just so it doesn't sit and smoke and lights quicker. But I don't buy it, I just take a hatchet and convert the wood I already have. I also use firestarters on a cold stove. I think they do most of the work but I still throw some kindling in out of habit.

 

[dafattkidd]

I think what Kevin is trying to say is he can start a fire without kindling because he is able to achieve better burn times with his Jotul. Kevin, what were you burning in before you had the Jotul? Was the big change the stove or the wood?

Here is a thread that was helpful to me when i was burning in a smaller, 1.7 cf firebox. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/tips-for-small-fire-boxes.57987/#post-57987

I would still keep some kindling on hand. I always find it helpful to have good kindling on hand.

 

[tcassavaugh]

I just take some small splits too and place them over the coals....crack the door accordingly (if I have a lot I close it, few I leave it open) and wait for the fire to commence. I bought a box of fire starters have a few left but seldom use them....I even gave a bunch away. save your money, split some kindling. I like using cedar or pine if I have some......poplar isn't bad either for starting.

 

[Kevin Dolan]

I'm confused? You can start a fire without kindling but your thinking of buying it, but you have a lot on hand. If your 3 years ahead on wood it would seem you have kindling. You just need to split it. The coal bed determines whether I use kindling or not. If I think theres enough coals I just put the splits in an open up the air. If I have a small coal bed I may lay some kindling down first just so it doesn't sit and smoke and lights quicker. But I don't buy it, I just take a hatchet and convert the wood I already have. I also use firestarters on a cold stove. I think they do most of the work but I still throw some kindling in out of habit.

Rwwhite, I have a good coal bed to restart with so I don't really have to use kindling the way I used to with my old stove. Of course I have kindling by splitting some wood smaller but I really don't need to do that as my wood takes of on a bed of coals. Around where I live there are quite a few woodworkers who have super dry scrap wood they sell for kindling and I used to buy it but no need now. As I posted before, dry wood is like fine malt whisky, when it is mature it is divine

 

[Kevin Dolan]

I think what Kevin is trying to say is he can start a fire without kindling because he is able to achieve better burn times with his Jotul. Kevin, what were you burning in before you had the Jotul? Was the big change the stove or the wood?

Here is a thread that was helpful to me when i was burning in a smaller, 1.7 cf firebox. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/tips-for-small-fire-boxes.57987/#post-57987

I would still keep some kindling on hand. I always find it helpful to have good kindling on hand.

Thanks for the post daftkidd, I used to have an old timer, guessing around 2.5 -3 cu ft. Great stove but consumed wood like there was no tomorrow. The castine is a great stove and burns about one third less wood and heats our house well, as well as the old stove. I use smaller splits to get the coal bed burned down but mostly used larger splits for a longer sustained burn.

 

[Kevin Dolan]

I just take some small splits too and place them over the coals....crack the door accordingly (if I have a lot I close it, few I leave it open) and wait for the fire to commence. I bought a box of fire starters have a few left but seldom use them....I even gave a bunch away. save your money, split some kindling. I like using cedar or pine if I have some......poplar isn't bad either for starting.

I have fire starters but have no need to use them except for a cold start. What kind of dog is that on your pic?

 

[tcassavaugh]

I have fire starters but have no need to use them except for a cold start. What kind of dog is that on your pic?

its a terrier shepherd mix I think. vet didn't have a clue. he was a "death row" dog rescued from the pound. I got him at 6 months old over 10 years ago. he's built like a basset, short and long and stocky. he's got grey now where the snow is and he spends a lot more time by the fire. been a great family dog but not too kindly to strangers. he's getting up there, like me. I'll miss him when he's gone. hopefully, we'll have a few more good years together.

 

[bag of hammers]

he was a "death row" dog rescued from the pound

Gotta respect that. Good on you....

 

[tcassavaugh]

Gotta respect that. Good on you....

after we had him for about a couple of months, we went back and rescued a puppy, a beagle-shepherd mix, as a companion dog. she's the calming factor between the two for sure. they both love to ride with me and I take them with me when I can, mostly when I do errands with my ram diesel. they come a-running when they hear that thing fire up. I'd love to volunteer at our local shelter but i'm afraid i'd be running a kennel if I did. pet rescue-adoption is a great way to go. lots of good dogs out there that just had bad people or bad circumstance.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

"Around where I live there are quite a few woodworkers who have super dry scrap wood they sell for kindling"

Sell?!?! Sell the scrap wood?!?! Lol, as a carpenter I put piles of it out by the road for free, just happy to get it out of my way and I can only have so many outdoor fire's. Guess that's why so many of my neighbors that I've never met smile and wave as they drive by.