2021/22 VC Owner thread

[Jmorg]

I’ve had about 4 fires now in the new Dauntless and I am loving this thing so far. It is so much more efficient than my old Century Heating insert. Just running it “flex burn” and still have hot coals after about 9-10 hours! My only complaint so far is that the glass doesn’t stay as clean as my old stove but as long as the wood is good and dry it’s not too bad. Happy fire season, y’all!

 

[NewGuy132]

I’ve had about 4 fires now in the new Dauntless and I am loving this thing so far. It is so much more efficient than my old Century Heating insert. Just running it “flex burn” and still have hot coals after about 9-10 hours! My only complaint so far is that the glass doesn’t stay as clean as my old stove but as long as the wood is good and dry it’s not too bad. Happy fire season, y’all!

View attachment 283666 View attachment 283667

When you say you are running "Flexburn" does that mean damper open/no cat? Have you ran it with the cat? If so is there a big difference?

 

[Jmorg]

When you say you are running "Flexburn" does that mean damper open/no cat? Have you ran it with the cat? If so is there a big difference?

I don’t have a cat…yet anyways. I try to get stove temp up to about 500 degrees and then close the damper for secondary combustion. I’d like to try to get the cat for Christmas, but we’ll see. So far it’s working great without it though!

 

[RandyBoBandy]

I did as much dremel work as I could before the wife stopped me. Apparently the little ones need their sleep. I did dry fit the upper and lower in the stove and there is still just the smallest amount of metal to metal contact making it tough for the lower to sit flush in place. The hole for the damper rod is almost 1/16th off between the new upper and old upper. I’m wondering if this is my hang up. So I’m going to do a little grinding with a flap wheel on the bottom edge of the upper and the top and bottom edge of the lower and this should give me adequate clearance. I did throw the old upper back in to compare and there definitely is not any room between the edges of the firebacks. A new Ashford is sounding better and better every day I have to keep messing with this damn stove. My goal for tomorrow after work is to get all my grinding done and a final dry fit. If that goes fast enough I will cement the upper in.... again. If not, it waits until Monday unfortunately.

 

[Diabel]

I did as much dremel work as I could before the wife stopped me. Apparently the little ones need their sleep. I did dry fit the upper and lower in the stove and there is still just the smallest amount of metal to metal contact making it tough for the lower to sit flush in place. The hole for the damper rod is almost 1/16th off between the new upper and old upper. I’m wondering if this is my hang up. So I’m going to do a little grinding with a flap wheel on the bottom edge of the upper and the top and bottom edge of the lower and this should give me adequate clearance. I did throw the old upper back in to compare and there definitely is not any room between the edges of the firebacks. A new Ashford is sounding better and better every day I have to keep messing with this damn stove. My goal for tomorrow after work is to get all my grinding done and a final dry fit. If that goes fast enough I will cement the upper in.... again. If not, it waits until Monday unfortunately

I do love my BK Princess. Boring but amazing in-terms of constant heat out put. Superior to anything I have experienced in my limited wood burning life.

 

[Jimmy C]

You can take the cover off of the secondary air shutter and use a clip to secure the cable to. It will help keep the probe in place.

View attachment 283633

Interesting! Do you have the clip on the bottom of the shutter cover?

 

[NewGuy132]

Did the last of my initial burn ins today. I’ve been slowly upping the stove top temp by 100 degrees or so each time.

I saw that it hit 500 and change so I flipped the damper and heard the cat kick in. It was a good sound. Now I’m ready for lows in the 30’s this weekend. Once the temp in the house hit 77 in the room with the stove my wife finally said that it was hot and took off her sweatshirt.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Interesting! Do you have the clip on the bottom of the shutter cover?

No. Once the cover is removed there are two ridges in the stove itself. That’s what I clipped it to. The cover never went back on. As a matter of fact my secondary air shutter is disconnected and tightened shut. Far less oh $hit moments with the cat trying to go nuclear. I’m not even going to install the secondary probe into my new refractory box if I can ever get the stove back together.
Once I get this heater back on its feet and running I will post some pics of my set up. At the moment it is still gutted and laying on its back on the hearth.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Did the last of my initial burn ins today. I’ve been slowly upping the stove top temp by 100 degrees or so each time.

I saw that it hit 500 and change so I flipped the damper and heard the cat kick in. It was a good sound. Now I’m ready for lows in the 30’s this weekend. Once the temp in the house hit 77 in the room with the stove my wife finally said that it was hot and took off her sweatshirt.

Does this stove come with a cat probe?

 

[NewGuy132]

Does this stove come with a cat probe?

To get the 26% tax credit I had to buy the cat kit. It included the cat and the temp probe for it. Unfortunately this is installed in a fireplace so it’s hard to see the temp probe in the back. I can see it but it isn’t easy.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

To get the 26% tax credit I had to buy the cat kit. It included the cat and the temp probe for it. Unfortunately this is installed in a fireplace so it’s hard to see the temp probe in the back. I can see it but it isn’t easy.

Look into the Auber Instruments AT100. It’s a digital probe. A must have with the older VC stoves. Most of us have one on our stoves.

 

[Todd]

Look into the Auber Instruments AT100. It’s a digital probe. A must have with the older VC stoves. Most of us have one on our stoves.

or you could hang a small mirror back there?

 

[RandyBoBandy]

or you could hang a small mirror back there?

Yes that would be a cheaper option however the At100 is not expensive and it has an alarm you can set to warn you when the cat temps are entering the danger zone

 

[begreen]

To get the 26% tax credit I had to buy the cat kit. It included the cat and the temp probe for it. Unfortunately this is installed in a fireplace so it’s hard to see the temp probe in the back. I can see it but it isn’t easy.

Maybe try using an inspection mirror?
Amazon product ASIN B01D4QMUVI

 

[RandyBoBandy]

First fire of the season! Just not in my house stove. That one is still gutted. I’m at my cabin for the weekend. Time to test out the beech we cut done a year ago.

 

[NewGuy132]

Is there an easy way to tell what is steam and what is smoke? I’m burning my flexburn for the first time this week I have the cat package and it is in the operation zone. I’m getting light smoke/steam out of my chimney with the cat engaged. I’m burning biobricks so I wouldn’t think that there is much moisture in them.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Is there an easy way to tell what is steam and what is smoke? I’m burning my flexburn for the first time this week I have the cat package and it is in the operation zone. I’m getting light smoke/steam out of my chimney with the cat engaged. I’m burning biobricks so I wouldn’t think that there is much moisture in them. View attachment 283887

Steam disappears within 10-15 of chimney and is white. Smoke is more of a grey and is visible much longer and of greater distances from the chimney. I think what you are seeing is a small amount of steam.

 

[begreen]

Most likely steam. If a 2 lb. brick is at 10% it has over an ounce and a half water in it.

 

[wjohn]

I guess I should tag into this thread to follow it now - I finished installing my Aspen C3 and look forward to learning how to get the best out of it!

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Alright. Going back together again and I thought I was doing good. I’ve seemed to have cracked the refractory box tightening down the upper. Need some advice. Run it or replace it?

 

[Diabel]

Hm
Both ends damaged? If you reinstall the lower, are the gaps?

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Hm
Both ends damaged? If you reinstall the lower, are the gaps?

My hatred for this stove is increasing by the day. Umm. Once the lower is installed I can’t tell. I suppose I can take the cat and cat cover back out, put the lower in and check. I did have some refractory cement laying around. So I sort of patched over the cracks. Trying gently push some into the cracks. At this point I think I’m going to just run with it. I’m tired of sinking money into this stove. I would rather start saving for the next stove.
It is cracked for sure but no separation. So no gap. Hoping for the best at this point. I really don’t feel like taking the upper out again nor do I want to spend and $250.00 on another refractory box. Above all I do want to do what is right and safe. I’m open to suggestions and advice.

 

[ajayabb]

The upper part of my refractory box separated a bit from the lower part. I reinstalled it as is and I have had no problems so far Randy.

 

[gthomas785]

I would just run it and check in a month to see if it's causing any issues.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

The upper part of my refractory box separated a bit from the lower part. I reinstalled it as is and I have had no problems so far Randy.

Thank you. This helps easy my nerves a little bit. If I could lift this stove up it would be in my front yard... then I would have to be looking into replacing a picture window in my living room.