Vermont Castings Burn Observations

[Smokey Da Bears]

I also rake them around with the Defiant and try not to overload the back. @AsylumResident I like those percentages. Will you be providing calibration weights for our scales and the appropriate PPE? (sorry - I work in a laboratory)

With all this catalyst talk over the last 2 weeks, the algorithm has been strong! All I'm getting on social media lately is pictures of crumbling catalysts (all stove models, not just VC) and in the VC groups they are specifically talking about pulling the catalyst and going full secondary through the refractory. Anyone else? Or am I losing it?

 

[AsylumResident]

I am thinking about cleaning my flue sometime soon for a fresh start and then running the rest of the year without the cat. Then I can compare the first part of the burning season with the cat and the second part of the burning season without the cat. The real world is not a controlled laboratory setting so this won't be a perfect apples to apples comparison since there are other variables out of my control but it will at least give me an idea of what to expect in my flue if I decide to run without the cat.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

I am thinking about cleaning my flue sometime soon for a fresh start and then running the rest of the year without the cat. Then I can compare the first part of the burning season with the cat and the second part of the burning season without the cat. The real world is not a controlled laboratory setting so this won't be a perfect apples to apples comparison since there are other variables out of my control but it will at least give me an idea of what to expect in my flue if I decide to run without the cat.

One of the things you need to watch for with out the cat is your stove stalling. To avoid this you can't turn your primary air all the way back. You will need to keep the air open. Your flue temps will drop with out the cat and the air all the way closed.

 

[bullittman281]

Howdy,
I like the accurate weight distribution for maximum performance and agility. I understand they handle better closer to 50-50..... Or was that mass centralization???

The stove stall is a real concern and a catalyst's ultimate trophy if they can be made to work. This is their magic. Look at the likes of blaze king. My first knowledge of "down draft" style stoves was the Lopi Leyden and its magnificent spec sheet. Time proved that stove very hard to run and fragile as well. Operators at the time had a hard time with them stalling and leaking tar as is smolder to death, A cat that is operational can prevent that.
In other news I have thermocouple parts on order....

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Me personally I wouldn't be doing long burns or overnight burns without a cat.

The reward of having the cat helping the stove burn correctly out ways anything else. We've all experienced high cat temps and some have even warped the cat. Other then that nothing else happens. I don't understand why people panic.

Keep the stove pipe clean, burn dry wood and if the cat goes to 1700 oh well.

If you have any concerns keep a stick of chimfex handy. Everyone should have one anyway