2020-21 Blaze King Performance Thread (Everything BK)

[kennyp2339]

Currently in a heat wave, 30 deg f outside lol, brought a ton of wood in this morning for the week, supposedly we are due for a major freezing rain / ice storm this week, preliminary forecasts suggest between .25 and .75" on accretion, although depending on where you are there could be either a change over to plain rain or sleet, but there will be an unfortunate sweet spot that gets the ice, tree & power line damage, just hope it isnt me.

 

[begreen]

I just recently bought a used blazeking-king that’s in great shape. I won’t be installing it until this spring/summer when I remove my wood furnace and what not.. it’s got some blemishes and scratches from use but no rust or anything. I just figure since it’s out in my garage I might as well give it a new coat of paint and make it look brand new again before it’s in my house. Just curious do I need to give it a light sanding or just wipe it down with tsp or something like that?

Check with BK support for paint compatibility. They use a different paint than on many stoves. I like to use steel wool going from a coarser pad to a finer one. Vacuum all dust and go over with a tack rag. Then wipe down with denatured alcohol before painting.

 

[Nealm66]

I’m on cruise control @ 4:00 o clock

 

[begreen]

Warming up here. Just hit 32º.

 

[BKVP]

After about 6 weeks of burning now one thing I noticed is my Ashford 30.2 burns better on the right side of the stove than the left. Like this morning I put 3 NIELs in after raking coals to fairly evenly distribute them. The on on the right caught first (given I had to crack the door to help it light this isn’t too surprising with the latch also on the right). After a little while the middle one also got going well. But the one on the left barely smoldered until there was enough heat to have the whole box full of orange flames. And even with “real” wood the left side always takes the longest to catch and has the biggest coals left.

Is this because the door seal isn’t quite as tight by the latch vs the hinge? Or is that just characteristic of the Ashford? Or something else? Note, I’m not complaining. Just curious.

My King 40 burns more completely based upon how I load it. If I have charred wood due to low burn, the air gets pushed to the side of least obstruction. When I burn hot, it's not an issue but slow and low, burns down the middle.

 

[DTMKTM]

Thought I’d say hello.
I’m in B.C.

Installed my Chinook in October.
First time ever using a wood stove and definitely still trying to figure it out I’ll be honest.
Not bad overall but the odd time just doesn’t burn like it does the other day etc...

Still tying to gauge the stat too - sometimes wake up and fires gone out and a decent log left over just charred.

Plan is to do a cold air intake in the sumner to rule out air pressure changes and obviously stop burning warmed air.

reading this thread I also want to lube up the bypass mechanism as soon got harsher compared to when new.

Thanks for all the posts it’s an awesome source of info

 

[Nealm66]

Was kinda funny this am reload, I looked out the window to see if I could see any smoke in the steam. Nothing. Really nice bark covered fir snag. I’m a bit perplexed but still not really in the top ten on my wth meter. Anyways, I get my jacket on to feed the animals and happened to look back and it was a very rare wind from the north blowing it back over the house. Steam only was my guess lol

 

[BKVP]

Thought I’d say hello.
I’m in B.C.

Installed my Chinook in October.
First time ever using a wood stove and definitely still trying to figure it out I’ll be honest.
Not bad overall but the odd time just doesn’t burn like it does the other day etc...

Still tying to gauge the stat too - sometimes wake up and fires gone out and a decent log left over just charred.

Plan is to do a cold air intake in the sumner to rule out air pressure changes and obviously stop burning warmed air.

reading this thread I also want to lube up the bypass mechanism as soon got harsher compared to when new.

Thanks for all the posts it’s an awesome source of info

View attachment 274559

Most guys will suggest potentially mc of fuel. Could be. But....you must have enough air entering the firebox to burn fuel to completion. I've posted many times, each install is unique. However, more draft combined with good mc fuel = happy Canadian! (That and Molson's)

With optimaldraft, you get higher peak Btu's and can run lower to burn fuel to completion.

So is the black pipe single or dbl wall? How long is chimney from stove top to cap? Is chimney within confines of attic or home? How much is not and is exposed to cold air? Do you buy your wood or cut your own? Do you have a moisture meter? What are the readings on a fresh split face...at room temp for 24 hours?

PM me your email and we can send our new technical support form.

Thanks...

 

[logfarmer]

Thought I’d say hello.
I’m in B.C.

Installed my Chinook in October.
First time ever using a wood stove and definitely still trying to figure it out I’ll be honest.
Not bad overall but the odd time just doesn’t burn like it does the other day etc...

Still tying to gauge the stat too - sometimes wake up and fires gone out and a decent log left over just charred.

Plan is to do a cold air intake in the sumner to rule out air pressure changes and obviously stop burning warmed air.

reading this thread I also want to lube up the bypass mechanism as soon got harsher compared to when new.

Thanks for all the posts it’s an awesome source of info

View attachment 274559

Nice setup

 

[kennyp2339]

Had a pretty lengthy power outage on Monday, about 10:30am thru 9pm due to a substation issue. Anyway, you can cook on top of the princess free stander, boiled water in a tea kettle, cooked grilled cheese ham melts on a cast iron pan on top of the stove also.

 

[Highbeam]

Had a pretty lengthy power outage on Monday, about 10:30am thru 9pm due to a substation issue. Anyway, you can cook on top of the princess free stander, boiled water in a tea kettle, cooked grilled cheese ham melts on a cast iron pan on top of the stove also.

Have you ever heard of an engine block burrito. You can “cook” on anything that’s hot. Even a candle. Did the water come to a boil much slower than your regular cooking method?

 

[Diabel]

I will sometimes heat things up on my VC. The stove is in my family rm close to the kitchen area. I will use it just to keep the food warm not to actually cook on it. My BK is too far from my kitchen (different level). Plus, the paint on the BK is too weak to put anything metal on it.

 

[Indianawood]

Wood with less coal question
With the cold most of us are experiencing i have been running my stove on full open (6pm position) during day and 4:30 position at night to heat my 5000sq ft. The king is doing an excellent job. Geo may come on a few times between 6 and 8am.
My problem is the coals during the full open burns during the day. Too many coals. I can't just burn them down like i can during warmer weather because the heat load is too great.
What would be your favorite less coaling hardwood?
Here's what I have easy access to
Cherry
Elm
Soft maple
Some walnut
Green ash
Hackberry
Sassafras

 

[stoveliker]

Wood with less coal question
With the cold most of us are experiencing i have been running my stove on full open (6pm position) during day and 4:30 position at night to heat my 5000sq ft. The king is doing an excellent job. Geo may come on a few times between 6 and 8am.
My problem is the coals during the full open burns during the day. Too many coals. I can't just burn them down like i can during warmer weather because the heat load is too great.
What would be your favorite less coaling hardwood?
Here's what I have easy access to
Cherry
Elm
Soft maple
Some walnut
Green ash
Hackberry
Sassafras

I get quite a bit of clinkers with the sassafras, if I burn it on high.
Ash is really good for less coals imo.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Haven't read through all 72 pages so don't know if this has been discussed. I used to post this every year or so, but it's been awhile. Short story: a very small number of Blaze King stoves have faulty thermostats, in which the bi-metallic coil is wound backwards, so instead of providing negative feedback to control the stove temperature to a set point, there is actually positive feedback (bad !).

Blaze King thermostat faulty

Well folks, I had a suspicion I had a problem - ever since I got my new BK Princess Ultra (freestanding) last autumn, and it looks like I was right. I finally removed the cover on the thermostat. I tried to do it awhile back, and after I removed the two square-drive screws, it was still really...

www.hearth.com

 

[Indianawood]

To add to my question, does split size affect coaling or there lack of coaling?

 

[begreen]

Wood with less coal question
With the cold most of us are experiencing i have been running my stove on full open (6pm position) during day and 4:30 position at night to heat my 5000sq ft. The king is doing an excellent job. Geo may come on a few times between 6 and 8am.
My problem is the coals during the full open burns during the day. Too many coals. I can't just burn them down like i can during warmer weather because the heat load is too great.
What would be your favorite less coaling hardwood?
Here's what I have easy access to
Cherry
Elm
Soft maple
Some walnut
Green ash
Hackberry
Sassafras

If you have access to any good, dry, softwood, you could try alternating with that to burn down the coals. It often creates less coals, but will provide heat, albeit for a shorter period of time. This is what I have alternated with to burn down the madrona coals. It's worked out pretty well.

 

[Indianawood]

If you have access to any good, dry, softwood, you could try alternating with that to burn down the coals. It often creates less coals, but will provide heat, albeit for a shorter period of time. This is what I have alternated with to burn down the madrona coals. It's worked out pretty well.

Technically i think the only soft wood i would have access to is white pine.

 

[begreen]

Technically i think the only soft wood i would have access to is white pine.

That is fine as long as it is fully seasoned. Some folks save up a stash of 2x4 cutoffs from construction sites for this purpose.

 

[Indianawood]

That is fine as long as it is fully seasoned. Some folks save up a stash of 2x4 cutoffs from construction sites for this purpose.

It will be. Im asking this question for next year burn

 

[Indianawood]

That is fine as long as it is fully seasoned. Some folks save up a stash of 2x4 cutoffs from construction sites for this purpose.

I have focused to much on the best hardwoods (white oak, hickory, beech) this winter not realizing that I may need some softer woods.

 

[kennyp2339]

Did the water come to a boil much slower than your regular cooking method?

yes, very low roll

 

[BKVP]

Haven't read through all 72 pages so don't know if this has been discussed. I used to post this every year or so, but it's been awhile. Short story: a very small number of Blaze King stoves have faulty thermostats, in which the bi-metallic coil is wound backwards, so instead of providing negative feedback to control the stove temperature to a set point, there is actually positive feedback (bad !).

Blaze King thermostat faulty

Well folks, I had a suspicion I had a problem - ever since I got my new BK Princess Ultra (freestanding) last autumn, and it looks like I was right. I finally removed the cover on the thermostat. I tried to do it awhile back, and after I removed the two square-drive screws, it was still really...

www.hearth.com

It's been 11 years since those 4 units came to our attention and not one since. The winding process keeps that from happening....

 

[RustyShackleford]

It's been 11 years since those 4 units came to our attention and not one since. The winding process keeps that from happening....

Glad to hear it ! Kudos on the QC.

 

[Nealm66]

I wonder if those 4 units where the clock went backwards have any collector valve