Tips for loading the stove.

[McKeznak]

So what is everyone's strategy for loading up the stove for the night? I can think of two major methods,
1) Smaller pieces that allow you to stuff the most amount of wood into the stove, but in turn providing more surface area to burn.
2) Larger pieces, not as much overall wood in the stove but less outside surface area.

Just thinking, I've been trying to do a combo but I'm curious where everyone else is at.

 

[Nick Mystic]

Assuming all the wood has a similar moisture level you are generally going to get a hotter, but faster burning fire with small splits filling a stove. In fact, this is a good way to push a stove into "overfiring" range if you aren't extremely careful regulating the primary air control. Leave it open a little too long and you can have a runaway fire. Conversely, several large pieces of wood are going to produce a slower, more controlled burn. However, it will take longer to establish the fire and one must be patient and not rush things if it is an overnight burn or you run the risk of not having the fire get properly established if the primary air is shut down too soon. That will lead to smoldering and creosote building up in the flue. Using hardwoods like oak will give the longest burn for overnight heating.

 

[claydogg84]

I try to use as many large splits as possible and fill the voids with the smaller stuff.

 

[velvetfoot]

Packed, front to back.

 

[ADK_XJ]

So what is everyone's strategy for loading up the stove for the night? I can think of two major methods,
1) Smaller pieces that allow you to stuff the most amount of wood into the stove, but in turn providing more surface area to burn.
2) Larger pieces, not as much overall wood in the stove but less outside surface area.

Just thinking, I've been trying to do a combo but I'm curious where everyone else is at.

I did large splits up to about half the firebox height and then filled another 1/3 with 2-3" diameter splits and then kindling. Definitely took a while to establish but this was at 4:30 in my i2400 and it's still cruising 5 hours later.

Hey, out of curiosity, seeing as you own both the "i" and "f" versions of the 2400, what features do you like better about one over the other?

 

[velvetfoot]

Just to interject here, I haven't used kindling for years. I like the Fireliters fire starter-can be broken up by hand into many pieces along scored lines.

 

[Tenn Dave]

One large split on the bottom in the back, 2 medium splits in the front and one medium split on top of the back large split. I burn well seasoned oak and hickory and only load 4 splits per load (approx. 70% full). Winter temps in Tenn are not super cold like up North, so this is all that's required for a 12 hour reloading schedule.

 

[DougA]

I use smaller pieces during the day when I can load multiple times and when I want lots of heat. At night, I load the largest pieces as late as possible and that gives me a warm home when I wake up 8 hrs. later, with lots of active coals that will start the smaller splits going very fast. If you are cutting trees yourself, you will always have a combination of both and I try not to let anything go unburned.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

I can fit two layers of splits when I reload on coals. I put 3 larger pieces on the bottom and arrange them so a triangle shaped split fits in between them on the second layer to minimize airspace. I usually get 2 splits on the second layer or 3 if they're smaller. I also keep small limb pieces to fill in any gaps at the top. When burning oak I usually have nice square and rectangle pieces so it's easier to load 6 splits stacked side by side on each level.

 

[firefighterjake]

With the temps we are having right now . . . big wood . .. best BTU wood (i.e. beech, oak, sugar maple, etc.)

 

[Ashful]

Cat stoves won't go into run-away, the way Nick Mystic's non-cat might, so I can fill with any size I like. However, I get the best compromise of restart time and long burn with a few dry small pieces under a load of larger splits.

 

[McKeznak]

Thanks everyone this is all fantastic information. Yup MC is %15-20 I always load NS and ya I've been saving my Red Oak for these times, last night it dropped to -30C

Seems like the consensus is
Large Splits for longer burners despite the decrease in volume of fuel.

 

[McKeznak]

Hey, out of curiosity, seeing as you own both the "i" and "f" versions of the 2400, what features do you like better about one over the other?

"i" is the insert and "f" is the freestanding.

I prefer the freestanding since I don't have to use the built in fan. I find I need to use the fan on the insert. However the insert is prettier all surround by the stone fireplace and it's on the main floor in my living room so it gets used more. The F is in the basement that I'm currently insulating.

The freestanding unit has an ash dump hole pan which is useless, other than that they are almost identical. Same size firebox, same brick layout, same top baffles etc etc

 

[ADK_XJ]

"i" is the insert and "f" is the freestanding.

I prefer the freestanding since I don't have to use the built in fan. I find I need to use the fan on the insert. However the insert is prettier all surround by the stone fireplace and it's on the main floor in my living room so it gets used more. The F is in the basement that I'm currently insulating.

The freestanding unit has an ash dump hole pan which is useless, other than that they are almost identical. Same size firebox, same brick layout, same top baffles etc etc

Right, I knew the prefix meaning but thanks for the info. We also have our "I" in the living room and it is a pretty nice look but I could eventually see adding some type of freestanding unit in the bedroom end of the house for radiant heat.

To avoid getting too off topic, I switched things up my bit tonight after having a bit more coals than usual from burning some big splits today that it took me a while to burn down. I'm currently burning a stack of two N/S and E/W alternating piles of smaller splits with 3 decent sized chunks (4"+) on on the top.

 

[McKeznak]

Ya I'm burning down some coals right now, when it's down to -36C outside so the coals just aren't enough to keep the house up and I'm too stubborn to turn on the oil heat

 

[Ashful]

I used to have the same problem, McKeznak. Trouble is, wife would complain about the wood burning, 'cuz she was cold while I was waiting on coals. Now, I just set the programmable T-stat on the boiler to be 70F when we're home, and it's my personal game to keep temps above that 70F point with the stoves, as much as I can. Sometimes, when trying to burn down the coals, the boiler is doing more of the work. No biggie, I'm still pumping the same net BTU's per year into the house with the stoves, so I make up for it other times of day.