Small Fires in Big(ger) Firebox

[velvetfoot]

The firebox in the new insert seems a lot bigger than the last one. I'v been loading it full and damping down, and it's put out the heat for an incredibly long period of time, even with just barely a glow. With the big load, incredibly, it all burns into a fluffy ash. Now that the days are getting warmer, I can see a small fire in the AM and PM - why waste wood?

I just started a small fire with only 3 moderately sized splits, not trying to stuff the firebox. While I'll find out soon enough I guess, what can I expect from a smaller fire in a big firebox?

 

[kingquad]

You'll probably need to feed it a little more air than when it's packed full, especially in milder weather.

 

[northwinds]

Small, hot, fast fires. This is the time of year that I'm burning a mix of popple, cedar and cottonwood. The trick is to warm things up fast
and then have the fire go out before overheating the place. I woke up to low 60's in the house. It's 72.5 now, and the sun is starting
to take over as the smallish fire dies down.

 

[Jags]

You may also find out that instead of three medium splits, you will want to take a couple of those mediums and split into smalls. More surface area. My terminology for this is "flash fire". Small, hot, fast. It keeps the burn clean and basically just brings the stove up to temp and the fire is already starting to die out. Just one dudes way....

 

[velvetfoot]

Thanks guys.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Right Velvetfoot. No harm in burning small fires in a big stove. Save that wood as you might need it next winter.

 

[pen]

I also keep the ash in the stove quite a bit deeper than I normally would when I need to run the unit hard mid-winter. I find the extra ash helps to insulate a few of the coals so that I can relight that stove off of just a few pieces of wood 12 hours later easily by raking the few coals I find up to the front center (in front of the dog house) and then resting 1 very small piece of kindling on top of them, then loading the other splits. Some of the time the kindling isn't necessary.

pen

 

[n3pro]

The kind of weather I like pallet wood. Free, burns hot, fast and don't take many coals to get it fired back up if needed.

 

[kettensäge]

I would roast if i used all of my 6.5 cu ft. I try to use the rationale that the amount of wood going in determines the heat output and adjust air settings to maintain proper combustion.

 

[firefighterjake]

Morning and evening fires for me here . . . the other day I burned up a whole bunch of my chunks. This is the perfect time of year to do so.

 

[BobUrban]

I have been burning chunnks, junk(wood), shorts and odd ball pieces - most of which is coming from my fire pit pile. I find it best, for me anyway, to have a short, hot fire in the AM to take the chill off and not anything overnight. I find getting a decent small fire a chore when I am starting it with the outside temp 50 or above(evening).