2019-20 Blaze King Performance Thread Part 1 (Everything BK)

[Diabel]

Mine came with the ceramic. The only experience I had with a steel cat was when I purchased one for the VC, thinking it will cope better with the overheating. @begreen had a name for it as I posted a pic of it totally bent out of shape, diesel foil i believe. It was a total waste of money.

 

[chemie]

Only those who are clogging their cats, I suspect. I didn’t elaborate, but that was the point, the only time I ever experienced cat cloggage was on extended high burns with my 30’ tall chimney. In fact, before adding the pipe damper, I could easily and repeatedly clog a steel cat on-demand, just by running a day or two on high.

I run the stove -AF25 insert-mid to high most of the time during a cold spell. I have about 30’ tall chimney too. During Thanksgiving, we were with our friends and stayed over. The following day before I started the cold stove, I lifted the shield and looked at the cat. Pics are inserted before and after cleaning with a paintbrush.
This is only after using the cat for almost 8 weeks. Is this much of clogging normal? I read on a brochure I found online that air compressor comes from a can could be used to clean the cat though I didn't.

 

[MissMac]

When I clean the cat, I first brush the faces with a 'chip brush' or old toothbrush, then manually blow hard through the cat repeatedly, from both sides. A lot more dust comes out than when you just vacuum.
It's possible that the black-smoke Pine may deposit more fly ash in the cells. In that case, some of it may be hard to remove, and the distilled vinegar/water wash I described earlier will clean the catalyst surface better than brushing and blowing.
I don't think she got a new cat, but yeah, how old is the cat you have in there now, MissMac?

Ya that was mr ras that got a new cat - mine is original to the stove - this is the third winter. First year i ran it pretty hard on high a lot. Last year, dialed it down a lot more.

 

[Diabel]

I run the stove -AF25 insert-mid to high most of the time during a cold spell. I have about 30’ tall chimney too. During Thanksgiving, we were with our friends and stayed over. The following day before I started the cold stove, I lifted the shield and looked at the cat. Pics are inserted before and after cleaning with a paintbrush.
This is only after using the cat for almost 8 weeks. Is this much of clogging normal? I read on a brochure I found online that air compressor comes from a can could be used to clean the cat though I didn't.

@chemie, what is that red color around the cat and just below it. Is it just a picture ?

 

[Woody Stover]

He then suggested the Regency Pro-Series F5200. Does anyone agree that I should only use a stove designed for a 8” flue? Other than the BK King Ultra, does anyone have a stove with an 8” flue?

Buck 91 is a stove I've used and liked, and I think there are a few others. The F5200 is Regency's new hybrid. You have to be a bit circumspect about committing to an un-proven design. @bholler may have seen one and be able to answer some questions such as, does the cat look well-protected? He may have even worked on one in the field..

 

[bholler]

Buck 91 is a stove I've used and liked, and I think there are a few others. The F5200 is Regency's new hybrid. You have to be a bit circumspect about committing to an un-proven design. @bholler may have seen one and be able to answer some questions such as, does the cat look well-protected? He may have even worked on one in the field..

It is not new it is the same stove as the 5100 they have been selling for a few years now. Just renamed when it was retested

 

[TheTodd]

I read on a brochure I found online that air compressor comes from a can could be used to clean the cat though I didn't.

BKVP confirmed that earlier in this thread with the caveat that the cat had to be room temperature when doing it.

 

[ratsrepus]

when i get my steel cat for the princess, im going to change it out and see if it makes a difference

 

[chemie]

@chemie, what is that red color around the cat and just below it. Is it just a picture ?

It is just red. Something to worry about?

 

[Diabel]

It is just red. Something to worry about?

Hm
In other stoves that I have seen, red indicates over fire but I am not an expert. Calling @bholler

 

[Ashful]

Hm
In other stoves that I have seen, red indicates over fire but I am not an expert. Calling @bholler

Red cat = no issue
Red stove = serious issue

 

[Diabel]

Red cat = no issue
Red stove = serious issue

Could just be the picture then. On cast iron red like this would indicate trouble

 

[Poindexter]

I have yet to run mine wide open. The only reason I would do it is to clean the glass.....it would surely get blackened again in the next low run.
What flue temps do you see running it wide open like this?

For me the big variable is outdoor ambient temperature, which the firebox feels as total draft. Colder outdoor air, more draft. My flue probe is 19" above the firebox. I think I am currently running 18 feet of stack.

At give or take +20dF with the throttle at full swoosh for an extended burn I expect the flue gasses to be at or perhaps a bit below 200dF. At give or take -30dF on extended full throttle burns I expect flue gas temps in the 400dF range and I don't care. In that kind of demand my priorities are keeping the combustor in the active zone and not having coals accumulate in useful firebox volume.

 

[Poindexter]

Thank you. I so appreciate this forum. AOK will be going in this coming spring. Again, I joined here a long time ago, I learn something here every season.

You are welcome. If it made financial sense I would put an HRV in the 1980 build I own now, but just moving all the cellulose in the attic around is a problem. I could just rip out all the ceilings in the lower level and put all the ductwork in the space between the upper and lower floor but it is a still a multiweek multithousand dollar mess with an extended payback period, before little tiny feet start dropping legos through the grates in the floor. If buy a house that is pulling combustion air through the HRV popping in an OAK will get done before the stove is lit the first time.

 

[Woody Stover]

It is just red. Something to worry about?

No, I think it's just rust.

 

[Ashful]

Could just be the picture then. On cast iron red like this would indicate trouble

Ah... I see what you’re talking about, there. I thought the question of red indicating an overfire was about a currently-lit stove glowing, unrelated to the photo posted above.

No idea what that red crap is. The stove is showing rust, but I’ve never seen a cat frame rust in any aggressive way.

 

[chemie]

Ah... I see what you’re talking about, there. I thought the question of red indicating an overfire was about a currently-lit stove glowing, unrelated to the photo posted above.

No idea what that red crap is. The stove is showing rust, but I’ve never seen a cat frame rust in any aggressive way.

Do you guys do any care to prevent “rusting”?
The stove is only one year old.

 

[Diabel]

Do you guys do any care to prevent “rusting”?
The stove is only one year old.

I can see the stove rusting a bit if you hardly use the stove, live right on the ocean. I am sure you are not the first one with rust showing in your stove.

 

[chemie]

I can see the stove rusting a bit if you hardly use the stove, live right on the ocean. I am sure you are not the first one with rust showing in your stove.

I use the stove everyday. I wish I was nearby ocean weather but no luck with that.

 

[Woody Stover]

I use the stove everyday. I wish I was nearby ocean weather but no luck with that.

Huh. I thought New York City was on the coast.

 

[Ashful]

Do you guys do any care to prevent “rusting”?
The stove is only one year old.

Mine are stuffed into damp 250-year old mud-stacked stone fireplaces, with doors that I close on them all summer. It’s an ideal environment for rust, but so far I have zero rust inside or out. I do place a dry rod heater under each stove for the summer, when I close the doors on the fireplace in June, but I don’t do anything else. Heck, I’ve gotten into the habit of not even cleaning the ash out of them from the last spring fires, until I’m ready to light up the following October. I guess my wood must be dry?

 

[Diabel]

Mine are stuffed into damp 250-year old mud-stacked stone fireplaces, with doors that I close on them all summer. It’s an ideal environment for rust, but so far I have zero rust inside or out. I do place a dry rod heater under each stove for the summer, when I close the doors on the fireplace in June, but I don’t do anything else. Heck, I’ve gotten into the habit of not even cleaning the ash out of them from the last spring fires, until I’m ready to light up the following October. I guess my wood must be dry?

There is something else going on here. My BK sits 50 yards away from a big lake. It is only used on weekends, zero rust inside out.

 

[Highbeam]

There is something else going on here. My BK sits 50 yards away from a big lake. It is only used on weekends, zero rust inside out.

Probably has more to do with the fuel he is using. The cat can is stainless steel isn't it?

Nobody even noticed the melted and sagging stainless steel flame shield support thing under the cat ?

 

[Highbeam]

Munching some doug fir last night. These pieces are pushed all the way back. That big guy only had a couple of inches to the glass but left no black spot.

These large splits of doug fir burn differently than small stuff. I need to run the stat higher but the burn times are still just as long. Getting a good 20 hours with large coals and 24 hours with enough coals to restart a new load. Zero ash.

 

[Woody Stover]

The cat can is stainless steel isn't it?
Nobody even noticed the melted and sagging stainless steel flame shield support thing under the cat ?

I've seen rust on "stainless." Depends on the actual composition, I'd think..
Well, I noticed that warping, but I'm trying to be a little nicer this year.

These large splits of doug fir burn differently than small stuff. I need to run the stat higher but the burn times are still just as long.

More heartwood in the big ones?