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

[black smoke signals]

I should know better not to get a fire going in this type of weather (power went out) so I started with a few sticks instead of a full load.I learned to add small pieces (wind kept blowing out flames) till I got heat in the box stick by stick. I’m keeping my stove top at 250 with cat temp at12oclock t/stat at 4oclock. What do the people in Alaska do where blizzard are common and wood stove is there only heat to maintain a safe draft?

 

[Highbeam]

We get steady winds way past 60 and it doesn’t effect the draft on either stove. You can hear it whistle across the cap in the house. Is it really that common of a problem?

 

[AlbergSteve]

Last night I took the heat shield off to look at the cat, and half of it is covered with fly ash. I’m doing a shut down today to clean it off.
How often should a guy do this, and what is the best method?
Last night was the first time I’ve taken the cover off since my December install running it 27-7

Doing mine about every six weeks. Vacuum with brush attachment.

 

[AlbergSteve]

You get your door latch all dialed in then? Did you get a part from BK or jimmy-rig something up?

Not yet, still waiting for a call back. Making it work for now. Installing OAK tomorrow.

 

[maple1]

I should know better not to get a fire going in this type of weather (power went out) so I started with a few sticks instead of a full load.I learned to add small pieces (wind kept blowing out flames) till I got heat in the box stick by stick. I’m keeping my stove top at 250 with cat temp at12oclock t/stat at 4oclock. What do the people in Alaska do where blizzard are common and wood stove is there only heat to maintain a safe draft?

Probably add a pipe damper if it's that bad. Maybe one would help your situation?

 

[jetsam]

I should know better not to get a fire going in this type of weather (power went out) so I started with a few sticks instead of a full load.I learned to add small pieces (wind kept blowing out flames) till I got heat in the box stick by stick. I’m keeping my stove top at 250 with cat temp at12oclock t/stat at 4oclock. What do the people in Alaska do where blizzard are common and wood stove is there only heat to maintain a safe draft?

We get 50+ MPH winds here a few times a year, and they've never caused me stove problems. I have the same stove as you, too.

Hurricanes are the opposite of trouble- the stove burns fine, and people start begging me to come get free wood!

 

[Woodheat58]

I just got my new thermostat to replace, but it appears the color step by step instructions are no longer available via google. Does anyone still have the instructions or know where they went?

Thanks

 

[Highbeam]

I just got my new thermostat to replace, but it appears the color step by step instructions are no longer available via google. Does anyone still have the instructions or know where they went?

Thanks

These things are so dependable that very few people have experience changing them. Paging @BKVP for the link!

And about that new, clean burning princess model.....

 

[Tar12]

I noticed when I took the old gasket out of the Princess that the ends were laced together...is that necessary?

 

[jetsam]

I noticed when I took the old gasket out of the Princess that the ends were laced together...is that necessary?

I butt the ends and tape it on with masking tape. It fits snugly, and the aliens in the stove take the masking tape off when you're not watching.

I spent about 15 minutes trying to put the cat in without the masking tape, then I said 'fugggit' and taped it. After I was done I read the manual to see how you were supposed to do it, and..... masking tape.

 

[Tar12]

I butt the ends and tape it on with masking tape. It fits snugly, and the aliens in the stove take the masking tape off when you're not watching.

I spent about 15 minutes trying to put the cat in without the masking tape, then I said 'fugggit' and taped it. After I was done I read the manual to see how you were supposed to do it, and..... masking tape.

Thanks...I knew there was no way I was going to get that laced together...

 

[Highbeam]

We’re going to have a lot more days like this for the next few months. Using that low low setting.

 

[MMH]

Greetings all! Stoked to say I have joined the site! Let me preface by saying please forgive me I’m a newbie to wood burning..but I’ve done my homework. Recently switched from pellet stove to BK Ashford 30, stove is awesome. I’ve got a couple questions looking for input/opinions and also I apologize if this is somewhere else I’ve spent I don’t know how much time going through all the forums I could.

Some background info; I’m in northeast NV with winter temps that range from negatives-30s in heart of winter shoulder seasons teens-40s or so at night. House is new build 5 years old, 1960 sq ft.

Question 1: are hardwoods worth it? More specifically I could obtain oak or almond but would have to drive 300 miles west or 240 miles east to get them. I have a small truck so with a trailer I could only get a cord at a time. Pricing in these areas is probably going to run $ 3-400/cord. Locally available are pines junipers/softwoods etc, do have mountain mahogany but would have to work pretty hard to get some. So, all in all are they worth it? And would it be worth the trips described above to get them? If you had the choice between almond or oak which one would you choose?

Question 2: anyone running bk Ashford 30 or similar? Specifically can’t really find anywhere any info regarding temperatures; what is good stove top and flu temps? What is the good “cruising temps,” and what temps do I need to stay away from/be weary of?

Thank you all I appreciate all I’ve learbed here thus far and here’s for more to come! I work and go to school full time so please forgive me if I don’t respond quickly.

Also included some pictures for you all enjoy!

 

[begreen]

We’re going to have a lot more days like this for the next few months. Using that low low setting.

64º inside? Is that in the shop?

 

[lsucet]

They work good with softwood. It is up to you if you want to go through all that and spend the money for hardwood. Yes it will be better if using hardwood. Takes longer to dry hardwood compare to what is available around you.
In my opinion the differences are not to say, ohh wow.

About temperatures go for the heat you need to heat your place and comfort. The tstat will do the rest. Just find what is your lower setting without stall the cat for those warmer weather.
Congrats. Welcome to the dark side.

 

[Highbeam]

64º inside? Is that in the shop?

In the house. That sudden warmup caused me to overshoot to 80 on 3/14 so I didn’t reload that night. Had to catch up today!

At the moment shop and house are 75 inside with hot stoves. Bk is set to minimum.

Need to quickly adjust to the sudden shoulder season arrival.

 

[MMH]

They work good with softwood. It is up to you if you want to go through all that and spend the money for hardwood. Yes it will be better if using hardwood. Takes longer to dry hardwood compare to what is available around you.
In my opinion the differences are not to say, ohh wow.

About temperatures go for the heat you need to heat your place and comfort. The tstat will do the rest. Just find what is your lower setting without stall the cat for those warmer weather.
Congrats. Welcome to the dark side.

Thank you

 

[begreen]

In the house. That sudden warmup caused me to overshoot to 80 on 3/14 so I didn’t reload that night. Had to catch up today!

At the moment shop and house are 75 inside with hot stoves. Bk is set to minimum.

Need to quickly adjust to the sudden shoulder season arrival.

LOL. Yes, I overshot a couple days ago with a normal sized morning fire. Living room was up to 78 and for the first time my wife complained it was too hot. Since then I have been doing smaller 6 split fires and letting it die out as the sun takes over heating the house. 44º last night was our low temp. I think we'll be running on just the heat pump by Monday.

 

[jetsam]

I can keep the stove going on minimum up to the low 60s outside. After that it gets too hot in the stove room.

"Too hot" is a funny thing too. In the middle of winter when it's below freezing and windy and dark, 85 is not too hot.

When it's 60 and sunny, "too hot" starts around 75.

Stove psychology!

 

[Rickb]

I can keep the stove going on minimum up to the low 60s outside. After that it gets too hot in the stove room.

"Too hot" is a funny thing too. In the middle of winter when it's below freezing and windy and dark, 85 is not too hot.

When it's 60 and sunny, "too hot" starts around 75.

Stove psychology!

Ok im glad I am not alone with this weird phenomenon. Summer the ac is set to 67 at night so I can sleep and anything over 70 is just too hot. my living room in the basement stays around 68 all summer. Come winter anything under 70 is cold. Usually keep the living room at 71. Just seems odd to me.

 

[begreen]

My wife is the same way, though she has a much narrower comfort range. She is good from 68-75. We both hate when we visit a relative back east that has the house at 80 in the winter. Might be good to get thyroid function checked.

 

[BKVP]

Lots of new stoves at Hearth Expo. Many, many new cat stoves. One company even promoted "their cats can take 2600F"! Oh my...lots of learning curves ahead. We debut the new Princess 32. .4g/hr/80% HHV Efficient. Show was slow due to Denver airport being shut down...well over 1,000 flights cancelled. Webby's coworkers were in Dallas. They might have some pictures to share...off to Fairbanks this week...

 

[begreen]

Looks like Kuma has a new hybrid introduced as the Cambridge LE.

 

[jetsam]

Lots of new stoves at Hearth Expo. Many, many new cat stoves. One company even promoted "their cats can take 2600F"! Oh my...lots of learning curves ahead. We debut the new Princess 32. .4g/hr/80% HHV Efficient. Show was slow due to Denver airport being shut down...well over 1,000 flights cancelled. Webby's coworkers were in Dallas. They might have some pictures to share...off to Fairbanks this week...

Is a Princess 32 3.2cf?

And why didn't you show the 10cf Ultra King with the ice cream dispenser? You know I am waiting for that one...

 

[Ashful]

I can keep the stove going on minimum up to the low 60s outside. After that it gets too hot in the stove room.

"Too hot" is a funny thing too. In the middle of winter when it's below freezing and windy and dark, 85 is not too hot.

When it's 60 and sunny, "too hot" starts around 75.

Stove psychology!

You have your biological thermostat set to "female".

How my wife can claim 73F is freezing one day, and then too hot on another, I will never understand.