What temp do YOU close(begin to)close your damper

[jimmieguns]

Hi , been have semi so so fires last few days producing heat. My question is , is there an "optimal temp" to wait to close the damper. Any ideas advice appreciated. Thanks

btw, just closed mine 95 percent after 2 hrs 15 min and temp 400 degrees

***this pic taken 1 15 hrs in and waiting for some heat!

 

[corey21]

How is your wood supply?

 

[jimmieguns]

How is your wood supply?

getting low-- 1/4 cord left-- pretty good and dry -mostly under 20 percent moisture and mainly 13-16 Percent range

 

[Trilifter7]

I normally close my bypass damper on my resolute at around 450-500* flu temp. Stove top temp all depends on if its a cold start or a reload but I normally go by the flew temp. Sometimes if it gets up there fast i'll check the wood to make sure it's charred before closing it.

 

[corey21]

getting low-- 1/4 cord left-- pretty good and dry -mostly under 20 percent moisture and mainly 13-16 Percent range

You have an insert i am not very good with them maybe someone else will chime in that can help.

 

[remkel]

I have never operated an insert, but Corey's question is what comes to my mind.

 

[jatoxico]

Third person on LI that said stove's been funny last couple days (includes me) . I start shutting down around around 400 stove top but that is not a hard and fast rule. Depends on what the fire is doing. I'm into the color, don't like sooty orange. Sooty orange = more air for me. I don't like your thermo placement door temps are not accurate. Can you get it on the top somewhere? In the vent maybe. Mine is in the vent and I need a flashlight to read it but it's accurate in that position.

 

[jimmieguns]

Third person on LI that said stove's been funny last couple days (includes me) . I start shutting down around around 400 stove top but that is not a hard and fast rule. Depends on what the fire is doing. I'm into the color, don't like sooty orange. Sooty orange = more air for me. I don't like your thermo placement door temps are not accurate. Can you get it on the top somewhere? In the vent maybe. Mine is in the vent and I need a flashlight to read it but it's accurate in that position.

Hey Neighbor-- in Suffolk here- you? where in the vent r u referring? do you have a pic? got this gauge today at Home Depot-- wasn't sure of best placement though

 

[jatoxico]

Hey Neighbor-- in Suffolk here- you? where in the vent r u referring? do you have a pic? got this gauge today at Home Depot-- wasn't sure of best placement though

Yeah Suffolk near West Meadow, you? Can you place it in the vent where the hot air comes out? That's usually the stove's top.

 

[jimmieguns]

Yeah Suffolk near West Meadow, you? Can you place it in the vent where the hot air comes out? That's usually the stove's top.

Holbrook area......... yeah I guess I could put it there---but thats the output temp-- right? i thought we should adjust by INTERNAL insert temp..am i wrong?

 

[jatoxico]

Holbrook area......... yeah I guess I could put it there---but thats the output temp-- right? i thought we should adjust by INTERNAL insert temp..am i wrong?

That should be your top temp which is usually the best you can do especially with an insert since you can't check stack temps. After awhile you get to know when "my thermo reads this the fires doing this" if you know what I mean.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Not a lot of wood in that firebox. Also, measuring temps in an insert is different than on a free standing stove.

Combine the two and there's your problem.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Holbrook area......... yeah I guess I could put it there---but thats the output temp-- right? i thought we should adjust by INTERNAL insert temp..am i wrong?

How, exactly, are you measuring internal temps?

 

[jimmieguns]

That should be your top temp which is usually the best you can do especially with an insert since you can't check stack temps. After awhile you get to know when "my thermo reads this the fires doing this" if you know what I mean.

yeah i think so.......still trying to figure things out-- my first real season of any "real" woodburning-- love it so farr-- but frustrating in the learning process-- i have no patience

 

[jimmieguns]

Not a lot of wood in that firebox. Also, measuring temps in an insert is different than on a free standing stove.

Combine the two and there's your problem.

Yes I agree---- That was a burned down initial fire i started just before i added .....where would you put it BB , you can see my insert pic, i assume. Thanks!

 

[BrowningBAR]

Yes I agree---- That was a burned down initial fire i started just before i added .....where would you put it BB , you can see my insert pic, i assume. Thanks!

You can put the thermometer anywhere, you just need to be aware of how that spot reflects the temperature of your stove as a whole. You need to find out what is the recommended spot to measure temps and what temps are recommended for that stove. I have no experience with this stove.

 

[jimmieguns]

You can put the thermometer anywhere, you just need to be aware of how that spot reflects the temperature of your stove as a whole. You need to find out what is the recommended spot to measure temps and what temps are recommended for that stove. I have no experience with this stove.

Gotcha- that makes alot of sense! Thanks again!

 

[jatoxico]

Holbrook area.........

Know it well, especially Holbrook wines and liquors by the Costco!

 

[jimmieguns]

Know it well, especially Holbrook wines and liquors by the Costco!

lol --yep been there a FEW times ! doing a sangria tonight....anyway glad you are nearby--could use all the help you can offer!

 

[jatoxico]

lol --yep been there a FEW times ! doing a sangria tonight....anyway glad you are nearby--could use all the help you can offer!

Anytime, pretty good number of LI folks here. Been helping me get it right . Not to mention the rest of the crowd, it's a good group.

 

[rijim]

Not a lot of wood in that firebox. Also, measuring temps in an insert is different than on a free standing stove.

Combine the two and there's your problem.

+1 on the small amount of wood; have you tried loading that thing right up? Don't know where to get a good temp reading, but, load that thing up get the wood going well and charred then start closing the air control by 1/4 increments waiting maybe 10 between and watch your secondary burn. With a free standing EPA stove, the air is pretty close to right when the fire is on the secondary tubes and just dancing across the logs; if you star to loose it you closed too far, open up and restart you'll learn what to expect from your setup pretty quick.

 

[jimmieguns]

+1 on the small amount of wood; have you tried loading that thing right up? Don't know where to get a good temp reading, but, load that thing up get the wood going well and charred then start closing the air control by 1/4 increments waiting maybe 10 between and watch your secondary burn. With a free standing EPA stove, the air is pretty close to right when the fire is on the secondary tubes and just dancing across the logs; if you star to loose it you closed too far, open up and restart you'll learn what to expect from your setup pretty quick.

Thanks--i but have an insert. its reco'd to not heat it up TOO fast or damage can result-- i don't know much-- novice here trying to learn from all my new friends here! thanks! HNY

 

[Stubborn Dutchman]

So the pic is of one of your break in fires? Good man for following the manual! The second year burning gets so much easier. Then you are just fine tuning things for max efficiency.

 

[Swedishchef]

I close my door after 10 minutes or so and then let the primary air do it's thing until flu temperatures reach about 400-500. Then I turn it down to about 1/6th.

Andrew

 

[velvetfoot]

I close my door after 10 minutes or so and then let the primary air do it's thing until flu temperatures reach about 400-500. Then I turn it down to about 1/6th.

Andrew

Do you open it up again when down to coals?