smoke dragons?

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bucketboy

Member
Aug 7, 2009
52
central ontario
wondered why older stoves are called smoke dragons? we have an old lakewood and i only have smoke for approx 5 min after loading the stove or upon a cold chimney.
 
I believe it was because most of them aren't nearly as clean burning as new stoves and tend to send a lot of smoke up the chimney. With the EPA ratings, most pre-EPA stoves are considered to be not nearly as efficient; I'm sure this is because many of the Mfgs put a lot of science into the new burning techniques and have greatly lowered their unburned particle output. I do believe that my 1970's era Jotul 118 burns quite clean when hot...of course, this is just a feeling. :D
 
Fact is that a non-epa stove will probably NEVER burn as clean as the EPA - BUT - that doesn't mean that a properly burning old stove cant do a good job. The term comes from the huge old stoves that were loaded with tons of wood (often green) and then cranked down to a smolder, with the chimneys looking like an old steam engine pulling a load up a hill.

If you run an older stove with good temps, you will not get the billowing smoke that the smoke dragons are known for. (good, dry wood too)
 
Jags said:
Fact is that a non-epa stove will probably NEVER burn as clean as the EPA - BUT - that doesn't mean that a properly burning old stove cant do a good job. The term comes from the huge old stoves that were loaded with tons of wood (often green) and then cranked down to a smolder, with the chimneys looking like an old steam engine pulling a load up a hill.

If you run an older stove with good temps, you will not get the billowing smoke that the smoke dragons are known for. (good, dry wood too)
Well said!
 
I know of a few "dragons" in my area. I can tell you that the users are not doing anything to support clean burning. This is unfortunate because they can be a somewhat clean burn. The wood is a big part but it is hard to tell anyone about it, they like I, will not know until they use truly dry wood to burn...
 
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