I like bigger splits, usually tongue depressors.
2014-2015 Blaze King Performance thread (Everything BK)#2
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I like bigger splits, usually tongue depressors.
My family and I left the house on Thursday at 1:00pm just after getting the stove loaded and running at 1.5 with the blower on low. We returned on Friday just before 3:00pm. Reloaded the stove on hot coals and had it cruising at 450F before our bags were unpacked. I Really like this stove.
I'm about tired of this weather. I just filled up my garage rack with a 1/3 cord mix of red oak and soft maple. After that's gone I only have about a cord left of the wood I planned to burn this year. If I can get back to a full load and a partial load a day or 24 hour burns it will go a long way towards making me feel better. 
Guess it's just my luck then. I have adjusted the door latch twice, the first time before the first fire, and fluffed up the gasket more times than I can remember. Fluffing up the gasket gives me a good seal for a couple weeks but I'm already out of adjustment on the latch. I mentioned on this thread when I got the stove that it had sat on the dealers floor for a few years about 7ft from the cash register so I suspect the door got quite a workout from curious folks.
The knife edge hits the gasket fairly square all around, so I suppose from what I've read from you and others, my gasket is just wore out. I will replace it for next season and hope that fixes it. No big deal but I definately don't want it to ruin the cat.
I'm about tired of this weather. I just filled up my garage rack with a 1/3 cord mix of red oak and soft maple. After that's gone I only have about a cord left of the wood I planned to burn this year. If I can get back to a full load and a partial load a day or 24 hour burns it will go a long way towards making me feel better.
I heard we might make it to freezing next week. Last day of February -14, -20 yesterday. Yes, enough.
I'm into Siberian elm now. I have about 1.5 cords of ash, but it will take some snow blower work so I can plow with the atv so I can get my trailer close to it. I'm sure after a couple loads of the elm, I'll dig it out.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Heck, if it can do that on Doug Fir, I should be cruising with my oak!
Went to a local dealer this morning, and saw an Ashford in person my first time. The four sample splits I took with me did just barely fit, N/S above the ash lip. The fans really did make a big difference in the way that thing rolls out the heat! Waiting to see what they can do on pricing for two units in one order, and taking some more careful measurements of my installs, before making any decision.
Can someone explain to me the ash pan operation? He pulled it open with the stove going, and it did not seem to be gasketed, so I'm guessing it's not a direct grate-drop system like Jotul. One of those dreaded firebox floor plugs?
I don't mind burning some sub par wood but the Siberian elm would help motivate me to dig out the ash too!
If it's like my Princess it's just a plug in the floor. I can count on one hand how many times I've used mine.
I've noticed some dealers back off the door adjustment on the floor models so the gasket doesn't get crushed. I thought this was a nice touch when I was looking at stoves.
Sounds like the PE. Keep it clean and use it for a bun warmer.
Dieselhead
Minister of Fire
if it's like mine its a floor plug. I love the ash pan, so much less dust in the house compared to shoveling ash into a bucket.
Don't dread it, embrace it! It's awesome! Anyone who doesn't utilize this ash pan system on a BK is just plain missing out.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Having always had a grate in the floor, thru which ashes just naturally fall into the pan as you rake the coals, I guess I don't really understand the plug system. My only familiarity with it is the several complaints I see here each year, of folks turning their stoves into a forge, with a loose ash plug. Never paid attention to whether those plug complaints were coming from the owners of BK or another brand.
My old stove had the grate in the floor of the firebox. Didn't take me long to start just letting the ash drawer fill up and just scoop ashes. When I hauled it out of here the ashes in that drawer were 19 years old.
The 30-NC has the plug and I replace it with firebrick.
The 30-NC has the plug and I replace it with firebrick.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Cool, thanks guys. I have seen stories of plugs that have been knocked out of place when shoveling out a stove, or otherwise, but again... maybe none of those stories were from BK owners.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
So, how do you use the plug? How do you re-seat it, if you're keeping the recommended 2" of ash in the firebox?
Tried it a few times, I'm not missing out in any way. I plan to cut the loop off it in the off season and seal it in place with some furnace cement.
Too bad!Tried it a few times, I'm not missing out in any way. I plan to cut the loop off it in the off season and seal it in place with some furnace cement.
If only you had an ashhoe, that makes a big difference.
bobdog2o02
Minister of Fire
No need to seal. Once the fire brick and plug get ashed over it seals itself. Cutting off the loop happened for me after my first ashpan endeavor.Tried it a few times, I'm not missing out in any way. I plan to cut the loop off it in the off season and seal it in place with some furnace cement.
I don't clean out every day/week. I had more ash etc than the pan could hold and it took forever to corral into the tiny hole. My shovel works great.
If I do a really good cleaning on a mild day, it seems like I inevitably knock it out of place. That means I end up with a bit of an air leak, and that means I end up burning hotter than I want. It's not like the stove goes out of control, and it seals back up with ash by the next day. Just an annoyance too me.
I suppose it's okay as far as ash pans go. I just don't like fishing the plug out and shoving ashes thru the small hole. I don't know about the Ashford pan, but I would have to make 2-3 trips outside vs shoveling it all in a bucket at once.
blueguy
Feeling the Heat
But the belly on the 30 series fireboxes is only 3" deep compared to the ravine in the King 
In the dead of winter, I can usually get a couple weeks worth of ashes into my pan before emptying, but I think it's also a lot deeper than the Ashford pan?
I like the pan, when scooping we'd always end up with a layer of ash dust everywhere
In the dead of winter, I can usually get a couple weeks worth of ashes into my pan before emptying, but I think it's also a lot deeper than the Ashford pan?I like the pan, when scooping we'd always end up with a layer of ash dust everywhere
Joful, on your which stove thread I stated that if you only get one blower between the two stoves it would be best to use it on the 12 hour cycle stove. You may have taken that to mean the stove is not capable of a 24 hour burn with the blower on. What I was alluding to is that in my opinion you will get better use of the blower by using it on the stove that is ran harder.
But as Nancy said, "you'll just have to get it to see what's in it"
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