Woodstock Progress 24/7 burning

[John Kuhn]

With this cold snap I'm getting my first experience with continuous burning. Up to now with milder temps, I've been typically letting the fire burn down after the morning light and load, and then getting things going again either in the evening or next morning. Therefore buildup of coals was never an issue. After the continuous burn yesterday and last night I had a lot of coals built up. So today's strategy was to reload only 2-3 splits at a time, and before putting them in, move the coals to the front, and run with more air and higher temps. It's worked great, the coal pile is back to normal, and I'll be ready for a full load tonight. Will be interesting to see if my stove will keep the house above boiler thermostat set temp (65F) with tonight's wind and forecast low of -25F. Right now -10 outside and +73 inside.

 

[georgepds]

I burn 24/7 during cold stretches. More to the point, my wife burns 24/7

Every time I see with the bellows starting a fire from coals I fall for her again.

Me, I use a blowtorch and a fire starter

During the very cold stretches we get a coal buildup. I just rake it to shake the ashes down, and gather what's left near a new split. If there is a bed of them glowing orange, I leave them alone

 

[John Kuhn]

I burn 24/7 during cold stretches. More to the point, my wife burns 24/7

Every time I see with the bellows starting a fire from coals I fall for her again.

Me, I use a blowtorch and a fire starter

During the very cold stretches we get a coal buildup. I just rake it to shake the ashes down, and gather what's left near a new split. If there is a bed of them glowing orange, I leave them alone

Haha, bellows romance, I love it!
This morning -25 outside and 68 inside, with the stove top down to 300. Put some more splits in and increased the air to get back into the 400-500 range, so should be toasty when my wife gets up.

 

[Pertzbro]

I have a smaller shallow firebox in my insert. When I burn hard and hot and extended periods I get way too many coals. I typically will then pull them all forward and put one split on top of them E/W and burn it full Blast. My next load will be about an hour to an hour and half later and then i put a full load in and burn it at regular primary air levels. I then do it all over again. Full load and low air, one split on coals at full air, full load, one split, full load, one split.

It's what i have to do to get max heat out of a an insert with a shallow firebox.

 

[John Kuhn]

I have a smaller shallow firebox in my insert. When I burn hard and hot and extended periods I get way too many coals. I typically will then pull them all forward and put one split on top of them E/W and burn it full Blast. My next load will be about an hour to an hour and half later and then i put a full load in and burn it at regular primary air levels. I then do it all over again. Full load and low air, one split on coals at full air, full load, one split, full load, one split.

It's what i have to do to get max heat out of a an insert with a shallow firebox.

Makes sense to me, thanks for sharing!