Top Down on North South & East West Combo load.

[bigealta]

This is in a Jotul f400. What i like about this set up is the max air flow it provides helping for fast hot starts and the ease of set up.
1st lit at 2:52P,
Draft shut 1/2 way at 3:07P.
Last pic at 3:09P.
No paper or firestarters, Just 3 pine cones (picked up off ground) and sticks and splits.

 

[EbS-P]

Lots of space on the NS. I have to leave space like that to get my top down going now. Used to not have to but air sealing the house and the stove (and wood that at the bottom of my stack) change things. I’d love to have enough short wood to burn It all NS for a season. NS loader will be a requirement if the F400 ever gets replaced.

 

[bigealta]

Lots of space on the NS. I have to leave space like that to get my top down going now. Used to not have to but air sealing the house and the stove (and wood that at the bottom of my stack) change things. I’d love to have enough short wood to burn It all NS for a season. NS loader will be a requirement if the F400 ever gets replaced.

Yeah met too. I'm into a spalted wood stack that i really never should have brought home. Some burns fine but some doesn't. This loading gives the extra air flow needed to help get the junky wood going. And yes the short 9" N/S are in short supply but i have enough for some limited use. If i had a ton of shorts i'd burn with this same combo set up all the time. It's even better for reloads on hot coals. I often smother the coals for longer than I'd like on my hot reloads.

 

[bigealta]

Here is a "Slow TV" 2hr. youtube of the Top Down Combo load with No paper or any fire starters. Door is closed tight at about 3 minutes in and not opened again till reload time 2 plus hours later. This combo load is working great. Wish it was easier to stack short pieces!

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[EbS-P]

I wish the f400 was 16” deep!

 

[bigealta]

I wish the f400 was 16” deep!

Yeah I guess that’s what the f 45 and 55 is for.

 

[JamesGuido]

quite often i started top down using my old VC with the top loading lid... did not have a side door.
but now with my Jøtul F500, it is easier to load from the side and light bottom up.

i do miss using top down starts.

 

[bigealta]

quite often i started top down using my old VC with the top loading lid... did not have a side door.
but now with my Jøtul F500, it is easier to load from the side and light bottom up.

i do miss using top down starts.

Why is it easier to start bottom up with the f500? I have a Jotul 118 clone that does cigar type burn that I use top down and it works great in that too. What make top down start harder in the f500?

 

[JamesGuido]

Why is it easier to start bottom up with the f500? I have a Jotul 118 clone that does cigar type burn that I use top down and it works great in that too. What make top down start harder in the f500?

for me, top down loading is easier from accessing the interior thru the front doors wide open.
but i find it more difficult doing so from the side.

on start up this morning

 

[bigealta]

James - Are you doing Cold starts or on Hot / Warm coals?

 

[JamesGuido]

James - Are you doing Cold starts or on Hot / Warm coals?

This morning was a cold start, most of my mornings are cold starts.
Only when it’s extremely cold outside (5°F or colder) will I have embers from overnight.
I set the furnace thermostat at 60.

 

[Crab]

for me, top down loading is easier from accessing the interior thru the front doors wide open.
but i find it more difficult doing so from the side.

on start up this morning

View attachment 310053

Cool...This is almost the exact way I load a start up fire in my F45. I load NS, not sure how you are loaded. I do put a stick or two of kindling on top of the splits and a 2x2 +/- kindling split between the bottom splits. 90% of the time I get a smooth startup with minimal smoke as the secondary's fire early on. I burn well dried red and white oak, 14% MC. ...On reloads I do not pack the firebox, max of 5 decent size slits, tightly put together. I am a little leery of overfire with the very dry oak. Maybe one day I will load it up.