2018-19 Blaze King Performance Thread Part 2 (Everything BK)

[Ashful]

Ok...Hibbing MN! Going to be -35F! Who knows with wind chill. Looking forward to Indiana next week!

You know, Minnesota is there all year 'round, even in July.

 

[Mnpellet]

Might be more interest in stoves now however!

You know, Minnesota is there all year 'round, even in July.

 

[BKVP]

I haven't seen a single mosquito today...

 

[Ashful]

Long day at work, sipping some Cognac by my office stove now (Reviseur Single Estate, BKVP), so too lazy to go back and try to remember who was asking about flame patterns in a BK 30 with a partial load. But I just loaded a few splits to run high the next two hours, and I am observing exactly the same behavior, flames licking up to the back corners at the air entry tubes. So, to whoever that was, I guess we'll call this normal.

 

[Tar12]

How old is the stove and how many hours o burn time do you have on it? Mine would peg if I left it wide open for too long when it was new, but now after 4 years burning 6 - 7 months 10 - 12 hours a day I would really have to screw up to get mine about 75%.

The stove is 3 years old but the BK temp probe was replaced at 6 months old..

 

[kennyp2339]

There've been some great conversations here today and yesterday about performance, I just want to add a few things, today when I got home the fire was burnt down to just a handful of coals, so I took advantage of a cooler fire box and popped off the flame shield, I had some white ash build up on the outside of the shield, shook off some powder but looking at the cat there isn't any evidence of ash plugging.
I loaded the stove up with oak splits and let it catch and come to temp, now since using the dampers in tandem I have said that my brand new cat has not sent the cat probe needle much past 1 o'clock, I took BKVP's written advice and ran the t-stat a little lower, and my need shot every so slightly past 1 o'clock, but the interesting thing is how deep red the cat was glowing, I've been use to bright orange, this cat with the dampers gives a deeper red glow which indicated lower cat temps but since its red end to end there plenty of activity.
I am interested to hear from members here that installed there stoves and had the ultra bright orange pics (the kind that create a glow into the fire box reflecting off the front window) if any of them have experienced cat failure earlier than others, I can tell you that I've in the club of "over heaters" while keeping the t-stat air control within the normal limits (old label)

 

[darktower007]

In our AF25 i never saw it pegged. The highest it gets close to mid active range even when I run it at the highest setting for both tstat and fan with well seasoned oak.

Ditto. I’ve tried to overtire it and get it super hot.. it never goes above 60% on the dial. But than again... my wood sucks. So that may play a part.


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[kennyp2339]

Ditto. I’ve tried to overtire it and get it super hot.. it never goes above 60% on the dial. But than again... my wood sucks. So that may play a part.


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Im burning 12-16% oak, ash, maple & cherry... little bit of BL for the cold snap starting tomorrow night

 

[darktower007]

Im burning 12-16% oak, ash, maple & cherry... little bit of BL for the cold snap starting tomorrow night

I’m Tennessee my Ambient minimum MC is about 17%. It’s never super cold here but humidity is fairly high so i it will take longer to season and won’t get super low on the MC. I’m really pondering a Solar kiln next spring.


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[Tegbert]

In our AF25 i never saw it pegged. The highest it gets close to mid active range even when I run it at the highest setting for both tstat and fan with well seasoned oak.

Ditto. I’ve tried to overtire it and get it super hot.. it never goes above 60% on the dial. But than again... my wood sucks. So that may play a part.


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Remember the 25 series inserts do not have the same gauge as the rest of the lineup. BKVP has stated that many times that it is more like a switch. Yes it does move slowly up to the red and then when the bypass closes it will move more but it is just like an oil pressure switch in most modern vehicles the gauge is really only there for peace of mind and in this case verification that the cat is either active or not.


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

 

[darktower007]

Remember the 25 series inserts do not have the same gauge as the rest of the lineup. BKVP has stated that many times that it is more like a switch. Yes it does move slowly up to the red and then when the bypass closes it will move more but it is just like an oil pressure switch in most modern vehicles the gauge is really only there for peace of mind and in this case verification that the cat is either active or not.


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

Yes I remember that now. Wish they had a temp gauge inside the units... would be super helpful


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[Tegbert]

Yes I remember that now. Wish they had a temp gauge inside the units... would be super helpful


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I’m adding a digital one this weekend as long as I don’t have to work


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

 

[Diabel]

Long day at work, sipping some Cognac by my office stove now (Reviseur Single Estate, BKVP), so too lazy to go back and try to remember who was asking about flame patterns in a BK 30 with a partial load. But I just loaded a few splits to run high the next two hours, and I am observing exactly the same behavior, flames licking up to the back corners at the air entry tubes. So, to whoever that was, I guess we'll call this normal.

I think it was Mac from Nothern Ontario. I get the same on partial loads.

Cheers to the Tue eve surly bell deserved drink.

 

[black smoke signals]

There've been some great conversations here today and yesterday about performance, I just want to add a few things, today when I got home the fire was burnt down to just a handful of coals, so I took advantage of a cooler fire box and popped off the flame shield, I had some white ash build up on the outside of the shield, shook off some powder but looking at the cat there isn't any evidence of ash plugging.
I loaded the stove up with oak splits and let it catch and come to temp, now since using the dampers in tandem I have said that my brand new cat has not sent the cat probe needle much past 1 o'clock, I took BKVP's written advice and ran the t-stat a little lower, and my need shot every so slightly past 1 o'clock, but the interesting thing is how deep red the cat was glowing, I've been use to bright orange, this cat with the dampers gives a deeper red glow which indicated lower cat temps but since its red end to end there plenty of activity.
I am interested to hear from members here that installed there stoves and had the ultra bright orange pics (the kind that create a glow into the fire box reflecting off the front window) if any of them have experienced cat failure earlier than others, I can tell you that I've in the club of "over heaters" while keeping the t-stat air control within the normal limits (old label)

This was my first combustor picture (2years ago)i have replaced it with an exchange from my dealer.

 

[Diabel]

There've been some great conversations here today and yesterday about performance, I just want to add a few things, today when I got home the fire was burnt down to just a handful of coals, so I took advantage of a cooler fire box and popped off the flame shield, I had some white ash build up on the outside of the shield, shook off some powder but looking at the cat there isn't any evidence of ash plugging.
I loaded the stove up with oak splits and let it catch and come to temp, now since using the dampers in tandem I have said that my brand new cat has not sent the cat probe needle much past 1 o'clock, I took BKVP's written advice and ran the t-stat a little lower, and my need shot every so slightly past 1 o'clock, but the interesting thing is how deep red the cat was glowing, I've been use to bright orange, this cat with the dampers gives a deeper red glow which indicated lower cat temps but since its red end to end there plenty of activity.
I am interested to hear from members here that installed there stoves and had the ultra bright orange pics (the kind that create a glow into the fire box reflecting off the front window) if any of them have experienced cat failure earlier than others, I can tell you that I've in the club of "over heaters" while keeping the t-stat air control within the normal limits (old label)

My BK cat has never gone past 3 o’clock (that I am aware of). Have never seen it glow bright orange.

My VC.......sure thing it has been super bright!

As BKVP has stated yesterday......not to worry about the glowing cat colours........”it is all covered under warranty” (quoted are my words).

 

[kennyp2339]

it is all covered under warranty

first one is anyway, after the second one is done the wallet gets opened for the third

 

[black smoke signals]

I’m not worried about it someone(Kenny) wanted pictures!

 

[kennyp2339]

I’m not worried about it someone(Kenny) wanted pictures!

Yup.. thanks, and that's the pic I was looking for, mine use to do that, now its a much gentler deeper red, I'll take a pic

 

[kennyp2339]

 

[black smoke signals]

Most of the time this is the color of my cat too

 

[Diabel]

View attachment 239610

That is the shade of mine. Sailing at 3 o’clock

 

[MissMac]

Long day at work, sipping some Cognac by my office stove now (Reviseur Single Estate, BKVP), so too lazy to go back and try to remember who was asking about flame patterns in a BK 30 with a partial load. But I just loaded a few splits to run high the next two hours, and I am observing exactly the same behavior, flames licking up to the back corners at the air entry tubes. So, to whoever that was, I guess we'll call this normal.

That was me

 

[BKVP]

You know men are mostly colorblind......

 

[charger4406]

You know men are mostly colorblind......

My wife says this all the time, and says the way I dress is proof

 

[kf6hap]

Females have more color receptors. Males have more black and white receptors. The trade off for less color sensitivity is ultimate sensitivity. Men don't need to use a flashlight to get to the bathroom at night.

Always let her pick out the paint color.