Rhonemas said:
I have a soapstone insert.
The first fire is always frustrating, it's difficult to get a good burn going, takes a while for the secondary burn to kick in, and takes a long time for the unit to warm up (2-3 hours). Once it's going and you've gotten over that first fire the second and any fire after that simply sings.
Last night, I started from a cold start and all my memories came back about how difficult the first fire is and how it burns nothing like the rest. Today it's suppose to reach high temps, I'm working late, and instead of letting my unit go out and have to deal with that first fire when I come home tonight I decided to let my soapstone idle (that is, I packed it and turned down the air so when I come home tonight there should be coals and the unit still warm). Do other people with soapstone stoves have that much trouble with the first fire that I do? It could be my draft, my chimney is short, have flex liner going to solid, which is ovalized, and crimped at the block-off plate. May be my liner situation more than it is the soapstone.
I have a Hearthstone Tribute . It is VERY small. So is my house. It seemed like the right fit . Time will tell .(House needs more insulation and new windows, etc.) I am used to a big steel Shenandoah(box stove.) So , this little stove takes getting used to. Also this is a different house, chimney , draft, wood , etc.
It takes me about an hour to get to 250 . and an hour more for surface temp to reach 300 or better.
I have to use splits that are less than 16" long. and the smaller the diameter of the wood is for the first fire , the better my results .
Last night , I used 3 very slim wide (4/5 inches) and a whole lot of small kindling. One of the larger pieces on its side in a good amount of criss-crossed kindling,over a few knots of paper/2 larger pieces on top of that/ one more knot of paper on top to help heat up the chimney and get the draft going.
I got to 300 in an hour and a half .
My stove's Max temp.(according to the manual is 500.) I like it best when I can keep it at 400/450 .
When it is warm outside, that is more difficult to do.
When it is cold out...no problem.
Once I have a good bed of coals going, I can put anything in there and it burns great! But the initial start up has a definite learning curve .
I think I am finally figuring out what my stove likes and how to feed it .
I would love to try the cedar fire starters...does anyone know where they are available? Are they ok to use in a soapstone stove...the manual
seems to frown on such things.