Very dry wood with the primary closed

[JA600L]

I am experimenting with burning some skids in my quad. What I find is that I can close my primary air control the whole way and still achieve 300 + degree stove top with good secondary burn. It seems to me that doing this takes away any draft that was felt in the house. I guess this is what it is like burning very dry wood..... which brings me to my next point. Is burning soft dry wood with controls closed better than burning 20% hardwoods with primary cracked open?

 

[Swedishchef]

Personally I think that the hardwoods will burn longer no matter what. Especially at 20% MC. The extra little bit that the primary air would be opened while burning hardwood won't come close to offsetting the much larger density in the hardwood.

That's my 2 cents (eventhough we abolished the penny...)

Andrew

 

[begreen]

Without a doubt. Today I started out this morning with a batch of very dry doug fir splits. 4-6" each. The fire took off from the overnight coals readily. Stove temp hit 750F about 45 minutes later with air all the way closed. 4 hrs later the fire was hot coals and stove temp going down rapidly. I burned down the coals and put on a good load of 6-8" locust splits. 9 hrs later I am burning the coals down for a reload in about an hour. I love locust.

 

[BobUrban]

Every stove will burn a little differently with different set-ups, flue systems and outside weather. I can shut the primary right off after I get the going and have no problems with any dry fuel. Others may have different results.

Not familiar with your stove but 3-400 is when my stove just starts warming up and seems a little cool for max temps? Are you getting the most out of your stove?

 

[Huntindog1]

Just look up the BTU rating for different type woods that will let you know which woods yo can get the most heat.

One thing I have noticed is when I have wood thats around 20% maybe 21% the stove doesnt operate well , yes it will operate but when wood is more like below 18% the stove works much better. I can turn it down quicker before I burn up all my wood load and I can turn it down lower for a slower burn and still keep some secondary flames in the top of the stove going.

A person has to ask when they are getting a new load of wood going how much of the wood load did I use up just getting temps up to operational level so you can get the stove turned back down. Sometimes all that can be done much quicker by utilizing a little bit of kindling.