2016-17 Blaze King Performance Thread (Everything BK)

[Lokidric]

Possibilities:
1. Any cat bypass will result in a dirtier burn. Not good. How much dirtier and if you care are different questions but as for me, I still inhale. I paid the big bucks to have and am proud of a stove that emits .8gph. I do brag about this.
2. Due to thermal movement, the cat might flop out of the frame and lean against the anti flame impingement plate. Bad things might happen.
3. Creosote might build up and lock the cat in place. It might, in the long term, cause corrosion of the holder.
4. An unanticipated bad thing might happen. BK has already spent the time and dollars to a prove a combustion system. For $13 why change it. BKVP is the authority here. He might enlighten us to the specifics as to why the gasket is %100 of the time to be used.
5. Having a gasketless cat makes cleaning/inspection somewhat easier. Good selling point for Condar. The pollution police might disagree tho.

I brag about the 0.8 also, and my stove isn't even in yet

 

[Mr. Jones]

How is it that my princess insert is not only smaller in cubic feet of box space, but over 3 times dirtier, at 2.8 vs .08?

 

[Woody harrelson]

View attachment 184629

I used the tip of the screwdriver to push the cat up. It was easier to show the gap from the bottom than trying to get a pic from the top of the cat. Besides the tip of screwdriver makes a good reference.

I doubt I will pursue this any further with Condar. It's pretty clear that they believe no gasket is needed and I believe it is.

What is the gap on the sides? Will you be able to wrap the whole can with a gasket?

 

[moresnow]

Couldn't wait to join this thread. Now I have a reason. BK Sirocco 20 was ordered today. Feels like a huge relief to get it done!

 

[tarzan]

What is the gap on the sides? Will you be able to wrap the whole can with a gasket?

There is play from side to side. Kinda hard to tell exactly how much gap do to the tabs that sit on each side of the cat. I think it would be safe to say that the whole can could be wrapped.

BTW, that black (masking?) tape burns off to reveal the word CONDAR.

 

[kf6hap]

You are going to love the Sirocco burn time. Overnight burns will be effortless. Good looking too. I have the next larger Ashford 30.1

If anybody wants to compare stove emissions: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-08/documents/certifiedwood.pdf
All BK stoves are great low emission units but, in my book, if you are <1gph ya got bragging rights. Carbon neutral fed by renewables. You could make the case that wood stoves are all solar powered too.

I find that EPA stepping into the wood stove arena has done a world of good. Efficiencies have gone way up and emissions have plummeted. The low emission numbers are an indication of more complete combustion and more heat going into my house. A standard brick fireplace can do 80gph and because it gulps in so much air it can actually cool your house.

 

[Woody harrelson]

There is play from side to side. Kinda hard to tell exactly how much gap do to the tabs that sit on each side of the cat. I think it would be safe to say that the whole can could be wrapped.

BTW, that black (masking?) tape burns off to reveal the word CONDAR.[/. I ordered gasket material from firecatcbustors.com it's 2$ a foot and free shipping

 

[Woody harrelson]

Last post got screwed up. I was trying to say firecatcbustors.com has the gasket material for $2 a foot with free shipping.

 

[Highbeam]

How is it that my princess insert is not only smaller in cubic feet of box space, but over 3 times dirtier, at 2.8 vs .08?

I find that EPA stepping into the wood stove arena has done a world of good. Efficiencies have gone way up and emissions have plummeted. The low emission numbers are an indication of more complete combustion and more heat going into my house.

Whoa now. Look closer. The highest efficiencies come from the dirtiest burners in the BK lineup. Low emissions does not mean high efficiency.

The most efficient of the BK designs was the apex wood furnace which even beat the current champion of the EPA, the king, but made emissions well into the 3s in gph.

The insert princess is from the old lineup and is only slightly dirtier than the princess stove but also less efficient. It is an insert after all. The 0.8 line includes steel cats and design changes that also leave some efficiency on the table.

I prefer to focus on excellent efficiency, longest burn times, and very good emissions that all of the BKs make.

 

[kf6hap]

Yes, you are right! I was thinking back to my old previous stoves and how much more wood they used. Interesting chart from the early 90s:

 

[kennyp2339]

Brings new meaning to active cat, and Rawr says there will be only one active cat!! Bring it on BK

 

[Captain Caveman]

I've been patiently waiting for the weather to cool off so I can try out a burn in our new Sirocco 25 insert. Looking forward to it!

What did you pay for your Sirocco 25? I just got quoted $2,600.00 from the local guy... That is just for the stove only.....

 

[Mr. Jones]

I noticed bk has an option for Canadians only to order king and princess stoves in a non cat version. EPA laws or something regulate us out of that option?

 

[Gotrek]

Why would you want a catless bk? (Serious question)

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[mwhitnee]

I have the princess so I'm not sure this will work for you but it's very simple. In between the two fans is the thermostat housing. Mine had a sticker on it saying do not remove this cover. It's held on by 2 screws and possibly a blob of silicone. Pull that off and lube where the shaft rotates with nickel anti-seize. If I remember correctly I used a little acid brush. I was told don't worry about reapplying any silicone when you reinstall it. Btw nice swoosh sticker

Thanks Woody made my life easier. Done in ten minutes, turns like buddah...

 

[mellow]

What did you pay for your Sirocco 25? I just got quoted $2,600.00 from the local guy... That is just for the stove only.....

That is an awesome price, you will have shipping and the shrouds and tax added on to that, but $2600 for the stove only is the lowest I have seen.

 

[ejn327]

What did you pay for your Sirocco 25? I just got quoted $2,600.00 from the local guy... That is just for the stove only.....

I think I was right around $2900 for just the stove

 

[mellow]

I was quoted the same, $2900 for stove only.

 

[Mr. Jones]

Why would you want a catless bk? (Serious question)

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

I suppose it's because Canada gets colder, and if I'm correct here, you may lose burn times without a cat, but you gain BTUs with burn tubes?

 

[Scoutin Wyo]

I suppose it's because Canada gets colder, and if I'm correct here, you may lose burn times without a cat, but you gain BTUs with burn tubes?

I disagree here. The cat pulls more btu's from each piece of wood and puts it in my house. My tube stove (hearthstone) would put out the same amount of heat as my princess but would chew through the wood load much faster. That's only one man's real world observation though.

Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

 

[kennyp2339]

I was quoted the same, $2900 for stove only.

That's close to what I paid for a brand new princess 2 years ago

 

[mellow]

I thought the only one that was non-cat was the Briarwood, where do you see they will swap out to tubes for Canada users?

 

[mellow]

That's close to what I paid for a brand new princess 2 years ago

You got a deal on your Princess, I only found one princess insert for $2500, it was from a dealer that was going out of business, I didn't have $2500 at the time so I had to let it go, still regret that.

 

[Mr. Jones]

Go to BK's website, and look under user manuals.

 

[Highbeam]

Thanks Woody made my life easier. Done in ten minutes, turns like buddah...

Plan on doing this once a year or so. I use gun oil (non gumming)on the flapper pivots and high temp antizeize on the operating shaft friction washers. The grease lasts way longer than gun oil on the shaft friction washers which keeps that buttery smooth turning feeling.

A few pics so that everybody knows what we're talking about and one of the most important parts of the BK.