2015-2016 Blaze King Performance thread (Everything BK)

[Jeff in Maine]

You're getting confused with your lack of numbers on the stat dial. If you had a factory numbered stat like folks did when they wrote about burning hot on 3, then you would know that 3 is almost 100% open. It sounds like you are saying 3 o'clock which is only 50% open. There is no "6" on any BK dial unless you put it there yourself.

Leaving the glass dirty is fine. I choose to clean it every month or so to see a pretty fire but it never stays clean long, even in the cold part of winter when I can be in the single digits outside. The glass seldom (never have seen it) becomes 100% blocked, usually you will get the bottom corners black but the center and top will be clear enough to see fire. I have never been able to burn the glass clean. A razor blade scrapes it clean very well followed up with some rutland glass cleaner for lube.

yes I did print out my own numbers the day after I had the stove delivered but now... I think I would be fine without them ,..maybe

 

[BKVP]

Thanks BKVP but I am kind of lost ? I thought you were supposed to run the stove with the damper open for 20 min after each fill up? I run the stove till the dial is in the very beginning edge of the active zone, then close the bypass. Then the thermostat / damper is already wot / on 6 so I leave it there for 20 min ? am I doing something wrong please tell me cause I spent a small fortune here and don't want to ruin anything Jeff

If the cat is active, close the by pass. If not, leave it open until it is active.

 

[webby3650]

I just don't have the dirty glass issues with my Ashford and I have a minimum height chimney. I'm glad, because I really like to watch the fire. What little of it there is anyway!

 

[drz1050]

Are those splits right up against the glass, Webby? They seem to be pretty close.. What length do you cut them to?

 

[webby3650]

Are those splits right up against the glass, Webby? They seem to be pretty close.. What length do you cut them to?

I'm a professional scrounger, I have all different lengths. I just fit em in however they will fit. And ya, often times they are almost touching the glass.

 

[dh1989]

As requested, here are the low burn FLIR images. The stove was on a medium-low setting (between 2-3 oclock on the thermostat) with no visible flames for about 1 1/2 hrs:

 

[BKVP]

As requested, here are the low burn FLIR images. The stove was on a medium-low setting (between 2-3 oclock on the thermostat) with no visible flames for about 1 1/2 hrs:

View attachment 165298
View attachment 165299
View attachment 165300

Sort of wonder why in first two images the flue collar is not as hot in 3rd image.

 

[BKVP]

O.k. So here is early into 114F day cutting, splitting and stacking. Got to love Honey Locust!!

 

[BKVP]

$50.00 per truck load....

 

[webby3650]

View attachment 165306 View attachment 165305 View attachment 165303 View attachment 165303 View attachment 165304

O.k. So here is early into 114F day cutting, splitting and stacking. Got to love Honey Locust!!

Holy crap!! Do you ever stop moving? You make me feel like a bum!

 

[BKVP]

Don't put off until tomorrow what your wife wants done today!

 

[Highbeam]

Sort of wonder why in first two images the flue collar is not as hot in 3rd image.

With the angle of the photo, looking down, I suspect the bright flue collar blends in with the bright stove top. The glass still looks hot.

 

[Highbeam]

$50.00 per truck load....

I'll take some loads if your guy makes it this way...

 

[Ashful]

One thing that gets a little old is the folks with non-cats claiming you'll miss having any flame show, if you buy a BK. I get plenty of flame show on any setting medium or higher, probably corresponding very closely to the full burn range of most non-cats. In any case, one thing I did not think we could replicate was the false gas light behavior of a tube stove, where they talk about flames dancing down from the tubes in the top of the box, rather than off the wood. Well, I found the setting that makes my BK do just this, last night. Only lasts a few minutes, tho, on the way down from full blast to low burn.

 

[blueguy]

If I have wood in the stove that is just dry enough, I can get the ghost flames in a dark box during cold temps. It's pretty cool to watch [emoji4]

 

[BKVP]

One thing that gets a little old is the folks with non-cats claiming you'll miss having any flame show, if you buy a BK. I get plenty of flame show on any setting medium or higher, probably corresponding very closely to the full burn range of most non-cats. In any case, one thing I did not think we could replicate was the false gas light behavior of a tube stove, where they talk about flames dancing down from the tubes in the top of the box, rather than off the wood. Well, I found the setting that makes my BK do just this, last night. Only lasts a few minutes, tho, on the way down from full blast to low burn.

View attachment 165327

Ashful:

You are so right you have no idea how right you are. You see, in order to burn cleanly in the low burn rates in a stove without a catalyst, you must still burn hot enough to consume as much particulate as possible. 1176F is the button number for non catalyst equipped stoves. Now, in a catalyst equipped stove, you can do so at 550F. So, as you have now discovered, the very definition of low is NOT the same between the two technologies!

Set both technology based units side by side, same draft, fuel etc and then set the consumption rate at 1.5 kg/hr and watch real close at the flame show in BOTH units. Then turn down the NC to low (1.15 kg/hr) yes there is flame, then dial down the cat to .67 kg/hr and there's no fire...but nearly half the consumption rate!

 

[Highbeam]

Ashful:

You are so right you have no idea how right you are. You see, in order to burn cleanly in the low burn rates in a stove without a catalyst, you must still burn hot enough to consume as much particulate as possible. 1176F is the button number for non catalyst equipped stoves. Now, in a catalyst equipped stove, you can do so at 550F. So, as you have now discovered, the very definition of low is NOT the same between the two technologies!

Set both technology based units side by side, same draft, fuel etc and then set the consumption rate at 1.5 kg/hr and watch real close at the flame show in BOTH units. Then turn down the NC to low (1.15 kg/hr) yes there is flame, then dial down the cat to .67 kg/hr and there's no fire...but nearly half the consumption rate!

I too get flames at medium settings. Ashful's application will probably be at higher outputs and so usually have flames and maybe cleaner glass. 90% of the time I am running the BK as low as possible since the stove is sized properly for my home which means no flame show at all and perpetually dirty glass.

So, if you choose to run the BK at medium or higher then you can have flames. You have the option of also running so low that the flames go out. It's a feature.

 

[kennyp2339]

BKVP - Nice stacks, what impresses me the most is how clean the yard is after all that splitting, my yard had heaps of bark and saw dust everywhere, more power to you!!

 

[Mrs. I]

New season thread!

Hello! Pretty sure I am not doing this correctly. Recently pruchased an Ashfor 20, which was installed yesterday. Waiting for inspection before we light it up. In reading the "problem section", it recommends a 36 inch vertical rise to prevent smoke spills from the door. Two feet, minimum. My concern is that I have 12 inches on my stove. Will this be a problem?

 

[BKVP]

BKVP - Nice stacks, what impresses me the most is how clean the yard is after all that splitting, my yard had heaps of bark and saw dust everywhere, more power to you!!

The wife suggested I rake, shovel and them can all the saw material. I filled all 5 trash cans.

 

[claybe]

$50.00 per truck load....

What the??? I will take 10 loads please! How many cords did that yield? Where are the other 12 cords?

 

[BKVP]

12 cords is enough! I will get more walnut and locust after the next wind storm!

 

[Poindexter]

The wife suggested I rake, shovel and them can all the saw material. I filled all 5 trash cans.

Happy wife = happy life.

 

[MacinJosh]

View attachment 165303 View attachment 165304 View attachment 165305 View attachment 165306
O.k. So here is early into 114F day cutting, splitting and stacking. Got to love Honey Locust!!

How do you arrange that? Do you call up logging companies??

 

[Joe dirt]

It should read between 68 to 72 when the stove is cold. If it does not show that, then calibrate it to more less that temp.

Here's my flue thermometer after not using the stove for a few days. Should the needle be a little higher up when completely cold?